He was a good man and he would make her a good husband. He would give her appropriate affection and fidelity. She could fill her days with seeing to the vicarage and church, visiting the sick, helping the needy, being an attentive wife, and raising the children, once they were blessed with them. Her life stretched out before her, every day the same.
No adventure in sight.
But wasn’t marriage an adventure in itself?
And it wasn’t Mr. Pomeroy’s fault that any association she had with the word “adventure” led her to think of rolling down hills, eating breakfast in bed and learning how to swim. All with a blue-eyed misanthrope who had charmed her with his blunt honesty and false flattery.
Even if it hadn’t felt false at the time.
You are more than a cliché.
He was skilled at smooth deception, evidenced by her easy confidence in him and his history in politics. He had presented temptation to her on a silver platter and she had not hesitated in sampling it.
“Miss Collins?”
Sara was jerked back to the present conversation. “Yes?” What had they been talking about?
A large grin spread over his face and Mr. Pomeroy stood up, drawing her to her feet along with him. “You have made me the happiest man.”
Her eyes widened. Had she just accepted his proposal? Her eyes flew to the audience at the windows. Expressions of delight were on their faces; Claire was smiling broadly at her with Jacob at her back while Louisa’s face was unreadable.
He kept speaking. “We can post the banns this week. I will have to send for another to officiate, but that should not be a problem.”
Dear heavens, it had happened. She had accepted his proposal, even if it was inadvertent. And in front of the entire town. There was no possible escape from this. She could not embarrass him in front of everyone, in front of his congregation; he could not lose face as they watched and still act as their spiritual leader.
He certainly thought she had accepted. “It won’t?”
He shook his head. “No. I am sure Mrs. Knightly and Miss Hurst will help you with all the arrangements. Whatever you want, my darling.”
My darling? So cliché. Sara blinked at Nathan’s voice in her head. You are more than a cliché.
Mr. Pomeroy’s face took on an expectant look. “If I may, I should like to kiss you now. Seal our betrothal with a kiss.” He smiled.
How trite.
He took her silence as acceptance and leaned down, pressing his lips to her cheek. They were warm and gentle, dry and unremarkable. No excitement danced across her skin, no warming feeling spread through her bones.
Nothing.
Exactly what Nathan Grant felt for her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
* * *
The hugs and handshakes took several minutes. The friends, all four reunited, could hardly stop talking long enough for Bonnie to assist the boys with their coats. It had been several months since their last visit, the occasion being Bonnie’s wedding to Sir Stephen Montgomery. He had been named guardian to her two charges after the sudden death of their parents and they had fallen in love as they struggled to help the boys recover from their trauma. They continued to live at Darrowgate, which belonged to eight-year-old Viscount Henry Darrow, the eldest of the two young brothers.
“Stephen, see them settled please,” she said, smiling at her husband.
“It would be my utmost pleasure,” he replied. “All I have dreamed about this entire journey is settling them in the nursery.”
“You’re being sarcastic again, Uncle Stephen. Aunt Bonnie says that’s rude.” Henry gave him a castigating look.
“Women say many things you will learn to ignore,” was the reply.
“Stephen,” Bonnie reprimanded.
“But never ignore your aunt,” he amended. Henry smiled at that. “Come along, you too, young Arthur.” The four year old clung to his hand, his eyes shying away from the unfamiliar people.
“My study, when you are ready,” Jacob called out after him.
“Have the rejuvenating potion at the ready,” Stephen replied over his shoulder.
Claire led them all into their private drawing room, tea having been ordered. “Bonnie,” she said, her tone scolding. “How could you not tell us? We write frequently enough that this should not be a surprise.”