“Lady Sabrina,” Mr. Lawson said, “would you please marry me before I have to leave London? My mother will be ever so disappointed when I return, yet again, without a wife.”
Sabrina tsked and shook her head. “My answer will always be the same, Mr. Lawson. You could not possibly match a wife like me, not with wealth nor wit.”
Another bout of laughter erupted, and Sabrina smiled at the men’s good humor as she crossed to Nathan, sitting in one of the chairs near the fire, looking exhausted but happy. He’d kicked off his shoes, at ease now that he could be. She leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
“You are off, then?” Nathan said as she straightened.
“I am back to Wimbledon first thing in the morning.” What would her first interaction with Mr. Stillman be like? Should she keep a firm position or soften? Would he be sufficiently dried out by now for them to interact reasonably?
Nathan pushed himself up from the chair. “Let me walk you out, then.”
“No, let me walk you out, Lady Sabrina,” Mr. Lawson said, springing to his feet and bending sharply at the waist.
“No, no, let me,” another man said.
Nathan did his best to click his stockinged heels together as he looked down his nose at the roomful of men. “She is my sister, and I shall defend her against you devils to my last breath. I shall keep my right to walk her to the door.” Nathan jutted out his elbow, which Sabrina took while rolling her eyes.
The men groaned in good-natured protest and called out their goodbyes as she and Nathan exited the room.
“I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me these last months, Sabrina,” Nathan said as they passed through the great hall. “I would not be half the man I am without all the effort you have put into establishing me here in London. Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” she said, squeezing his arm and then letting go. “But you have done me far more good than I have ever done you.”
“Do not speak that way,” Nathan said, shaking his head.
“I won’t, then, but only because I know it makes you uncomfortable. I am grateful, though, and glad to be a part of your life.”
She would have been little more than a whisper behind hands if not for Nathan having treated her like a full sister. After losing the baby and then Richard’s death, she’d hidden in Wimbledon, but Nathan had drawn her out, and the ways she had grown through that challenge had made all the difference. It felt good to be able to return some of his favor through acting as his hostess.
They reached the foyer, and Nathan touched her arm, indicating he wanted to say something else. He would be on to Cambridgeshire by Monday, and the hushed seriousness of his expression reminded her that this was their goodbye.
“Did you have chance to speak with Lady Carolyn tonight?” Nathan asked.
The anxiety in his expression made her smile. “I did. She’s a lovely woman, Nathan. I like her very much.”
“You approve, then?”
“Completely,” Sabrina said, touched that her opinion meant so much to him.
“We are thinking of a February wedding. Will you be returned from Naples by then?”
Sabrina’s eyebrows shot up. “You have discussed timelines?”
He nodded nervously. “I know it is not usually done, but does that not seem to be a silly thing? I did not want to pursue a match if she did not welcome it, and we are living in a modern age after all. I also wanted to make sure she would be comfortable with such a wait.”
“Seven months is a very long engagement, Nathan.”
“You do not return until January, I believe, and then we shall have to be back in London for Parliament.”
Sabrina swallowed against the sudden thickening of her throat. “You are waiting on the wedding for my return?” she said quietly.
“Of course.”
“Nathan,” she said, putting her hand on his arm. “You should not wait so long on my account. It is not fair to Lady Carolyn, and the duchess will be displeased.”
“Lady Carolyn had no hesitation when I explained my reasons, and Mother is not a consideration. She knows my regard for you and has even acknowledged the service you have done for me these last years. I am telling you this only to confirm when you will return so that we might move forward with the planning.”
The duchess had acknowledged Sabrina’s help for Nathan? Sabrina