'Tis the Season for Lady Sarah - Maggie Dallen Page 0,13

caught herself in the nick of time.

Still, a sound of disdain slipped out quite unintentionally. Marigold shot her a questioning look as they greeted a baron and his wife. She forced a quick smile and laughed at whatever it was the baron had said.

Of course, he was no rogue. Mr. Stallworth had been nothing but kind to her at that fated house party last year, and tonight…

Her gaze darted around the room as it began to fill with a cheerful crowd, ready to celebrate, her hands clasping and unclasping as she tried to remain patient.

But tonight, surely, after all these months, he would make his intentions known, and then she would not have to hide these feelings any longer.

“Lily is here!” Marigold exclaimed the moment her redheaded friend arrived with her new husband at her side.

Sarah grinned and waved them over. She’d always liked Lily. A kindred spirit, of sorts. And to see her so happily matched made Sarah’s heart swell.

Even more so because tonight, finally, her own love story would begin.

“Lily, I’m so happy you’ve arrived,” Marigold gushed beside her as the two women embraced. She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “There are so many people here. And I don’t know half of them.”

Lily laughed, wrapping an arm around Marigold’s slim shoulders as she gave Sarah a warm smile. “I see you’ve had some help from your new sister.”

Marigold gave Sarah a weepy smile as she reached for her hand. “Sarah has been so wonderful. And sister,” she said with a joyous smile. “I love hearing that word.”

“As do I,” Sarah said, squeezing Marigold’s hand in return.

“Unfortunately you’ll have to make do with just me, Merrick, and Sarah, for the time being,” Lily said. “And Max, of course.”

“Daisy isn’t coming?” Marigold asked.

Merrick was the one who answered, his arm tucking around his wife’s waist as he held her scandalously close. “She and Dolan will be here tomorrow, along with her cousin, Virginia,” he said. “Virginia has only just arrived from America, so they wanted to give her a day to rest before traveling here.”

Marigold smiled up at Max as he joined them. “Well, I am just glad Daisy will be here in time for the small ceremony we have planned.”

“A small ceremony?” Lily asked.

Max began to fill her in on the plan, pulling Lily to the side and whispering the details—a sort of private elopement before his mother’s outlandishly extravagant wedding. As he spoke, Marigold’s eye was caught by someone entering the ballroom.

Sarah looked over quickly as well, hope flaring bright in her chest, even though she knew very well that Marigold was not on the lookout for Mr. Stallworth.

“Oh dear,” Marigold whispered, nibbling on her lower lip. She glanced over at Lily to see that her friend was still talking with Max.

“Oh dear, indeed.” Sarah shot her new sister a wince of sympathy as they watched Lady Abigail enter, looking down her nose at everyone in the room.

“Your mother insisted that she be invited,” Marigold explained.

Sarah sighed as she patted Marigold’s arm. “Do not worry about a thing.”

“Yes, but if she and Lily have words—”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t come to that.” Sarah winked. “You have my guarantee.”

She headed toward Abigail swiftly, keenly aware of the eyes on her as she went. Well, one set of dark brown eyes in particular.

She would not glance over at the harbinger of doom. Everly had been glowering in a corner ever since the festivities had gotten underway. He’d been watching her like a hawk, as if suddenly she was secretly planning to drink the entire carton of champagne by herself and dance around in her undergarments.

She sniffed haughtily as she walked past him. Let him watch. All he would see was a lady on her best behavior.

She hid a secret smile as she glanced at the door where Mr. Stallworth should be arriving any moment now.

And perhaps he’d see a lady being wooed by a man she adored.

“Lady Abigail,” she said cheerfully as she approached the other woman. “How good of you to come to our Christmastide celebrations.”

Abigail's smile was knowing as she returned Sarah’s embrace and allowed her to link arms so she might escort her...to the opposite side of the room from Lily and Merrick.

“Sarah, always a pleasure, my dear,” Abigail said. “But while you are always a delight, and one of my very favorite young ladies of the ton…” She tilted her head in closer. “You are far from subtle.”

Sarah tipped her head back with a