Sarah's Duke: and Ellie's Gentleman (The heir and the spare, book 1) by Fiona Miers Page A

He gambled too much and drank more than he had in years. His plans for meeting the demi-mondaines and partying until the early hours of the morning were forgotten in the endless glasses of hard liquor. John poured him into his carriage and it was the last thing Oliver remembered. He didn’t remember getting home, he didn’t remember his butler getting him into bed. All he remembered the next day was a pounding in his head that beat to the drum of Where is Sarah?
    ****
    Sarah had not enjoyed her days off from the ton circuit. She had spent them eating pastries, and now wondered if she would fit into the expensive wardrobe her mother had invested. She had also spent the week trying not to think about a certain Duke who invaded her thoughts even whilst she slept.
    She dressed carefully for the night’s festivities. She had never been to the opera before and would most likely never get to attend again. Especially not in a ducal box, which she would be sharing with Charlotte and her older brother John tonight.
    “Sarah, the Duke’s carriage has arrived.” Her mother’s shrill voice rang through the house. Sarah knew her mother was more nervous than she was, if that was possible.
    “I’ll be down in a moment,” Sarah called out, smoothing her dress down her slim waist and noting the roundness of her full breasts, which her opera dress did nothing to disguise.
    “Good night mother,” Sarah kissed her mother on the cheek, grabbed her cloak and headed off into the night with Charlotte and her brother John.
    “Good evening to you, Miss Collins,” John nodded his head slightly, as the carriage didn’t allow him to stand and make his bow.
    “Good evening. Lord John. Good evening, Lady Charlotte.” Sarah breathed. Almost unable to get past the anxiety in her stomach, she grabbed for her friend’s hands.
    “Oh, Lady Charlotte, what if I do something wrong? What am I meant to do at the opera? I have never been and I’m so nervous. Please tell me everything.”
    Charlotte and John both laughed loudly, making Sarah blush crimson.
    “You do not have to do anything other than be yourself. Walk in, watch the opera and walk out.” Charlotte smiled confidently and Sarah felt her stomach drop nervously again.
    “But will I have to talk to anyone? Will people be able to see me?”
    This time, only John laughed but Charlotte smiled.
    “Of course people can see you. That is half the fun of the opera. Being able to see what everyone else is wearing and doing, but not having to talk to them.”
    “Oh.”
    “Is anyone else going to be there tonight whom I know?” Sarah asked quietly, dropping her eyes so her new friends would not see the emotion in them.
    “None of which I am aware.”
    “Oh, that is good.” Sarah said, putting on her sunniest smile.
    John and Charlotte shared a glance but didn’t say anything more, so Sarah rode the rest of the way happily, listening to idle chatter and hoping that she would be noticed by her husband-to-be, whoever he may be.
     
        When they arrived, they were personally escorted to their box by a footman and Sarah’s heart fluttered in her ribcage the whole way. She had never seen anything so grand or beautiful. The velvet curtains, the view of the stage, oh, that she had lived to see this day!
    “Oh my goodness,” she cried and rushed toward the edge to see the view properly. Sarah heard John chuckle softly beside her.
    “You shouldn’t get so close to the edge, Miss Collins,” he teased, putting one hand on her wrist and the other on her waist to draw her back to the safety of the first row of seats.
    “Please, call me Sarah. I don’t really like being called Miss Collins,” she told John, liking the attention he was giving her but safe in the knowledge that he wasn’t pursuing her in any way.
    John’s hand on her waist fell away, but he held onto her hand and raised it to his lips.
    “I would be delighted, Sarah.” He bent at the waist and chastely kissed her gloved