Armored Hearts - By Melissa Turner Lee Page 0,13

room dedicated to my…” Tabitha glanced around. “…bonnets. Some of the ladies have designed all new original bonnets. I’ve never seen the like of them. We have several talented members in our bonnet club.”

Jessamine glanced up at Gareth. “Lord Smyth, have you seen her bonnets? Do you approve?”

Gareth let out a sigh. “Why the devil would I care about ladies’ bonnets?” He turned and glowered at Tabitha. “I’m going in.”

“We still haven’t had cake,” Tabitha pleaded.

“Save me a piece for later.” He handed his plate to Tabitha and started pushing his wheels.

“I’ll push you in.” Jessamine jumped up and took hold of the back of the chair.

“No, I can take myself in.”

“I really don’t mind. Consider it my penance for falling all over you. Besides, maybe Tabitha could show me her bonnet room?”

Tabitha leapt up from her spot on the blanket. “Yes, of course. I’d love to.”

Gareth crossed his arms and slouched in his chair. With Jessamine there, he’d have to wait for a servant to carry him up the stairs. He glanced back at her and noticed she was examining his chair as she pushed it. Her eyes perused the thing from top to bottom and then at Gareth. It made him even more self conscious than normal.

“Do you have a problem with my chair?”

Jessamine blinked hard, a surprised look on her face. “I was just wondering why Tabitha hasn’t made it a bonnet project. It would be very easy to do.”

“Stop!”

Tabitha stepped in front of Gareth. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes. There is nothing wrong with my chair. It does not need ribbons and flowers like Tabitha’s remade bonnets. You are getting on my last nerve. Run along to the bonnet room. I’ll take myself the rest of the way in.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind pushing you.” Jessamine bent around from behind Gareth to ask. He caught a whiff of her floral scent. It muddled his brain for a second before he answered. “Go! Just go.”

The girls made their way into the manor. He overheard Jessamine ask, “Is he always so grumpy?”

Tabitha answered, “Only on the days ending in ‘Y’.”

They both giggled and scurried away.

With a sigh, Gareth pushed his wheels, heading for the foyer. He was just about to fly up the stairs when he heard laughter from above. They were probably still laughing at him and his inability to socialize the way other young men his age could, laying on false charm to attract the pretty ladies.

The thought of remaining in the house with them down the hall repulsed him. He spun his chair around and headed for the kitchen exit in order to avoid the other guests. The halls were empty as the staff would be out tending the crowd.

He would go visit Mr. Strong. The old man was no longer his tutor, but Gareth often visited him for swordplay.

Gareth entered the kitchen and halted when he saw Sarah with her head bent over the table, face in hands. Her breath caught between sobs. Gareth froze. He had no idea how to handle emotional moments. The idea of backing out of the kitchen appealed to him, but he was afraid any movement might rouse the weeping woman. Sarah lifted her eyes, and they met his. She leapt to her feet and wiped her eyes with her shirtsleeve. “Oh, Mr. Gareth. Do ye be needin’ something?”

Gareth shook his head. “No, I…” caught off guard, he temporarily forgot where he was headed. “I’m off to visit Mr. Strong.”

“Today?”

“Of course today.” Gareth glowered and wheeled himself past her toward the door.

“Will he be expectin’ ye?”

“Yes.” The lie burned on his tongue as usual. He swallowed and felt sick. Lies always did that to him. Even small ones. “I’ll be back later this afternoon.”

Sarah curtseyed. “Aye, m’lord.”

He was halfway down the lane when he heard the kitchen door slam. He glanced back to see Sarah running full speed toward the stable. He shook his head at her odd behavior, and then he remembered her tears. Perhaps she and Thompton were fighting. That was probably it. All those years of acting happy and loving. No married people could be so happy all the time.

Gareth made his way to Mr. Strong’s. He hated when he had to wheel himself instead of fly, but he couldn’t risk being seen in daylight. People in town knew him.

The townspeople glanced his way and ignored him, as they always did when his grandfather wasn’t around. He wondered if they would continue to treat him so nonchalantly