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Authors: Stephanie Maddux
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the future. Even when she knew she would let Jake down in her ability to produce a child , she honestly thought he would have been happy adopting . That is until he firmly told her that it was not an option he would be willing to explore.
“A dog , h uh? That’s the life to have , ” Eliza said with a smile.
“What will you name it?” One of the maids asked.
“I think I will name him Jake. It would be fitting, no?” She said smiling.
“At least you could train the dog to do your bidding, ” t he other maid exclaimed and then they all started giggling.
“I can just see how the Duke of Ashbury would react to a dog being named after him , " Ana stated merrily.
“I’d wager he would find it amusing , ” Eliza shared with confidence. Ana slouched in her seat in a very unladylike fashion and closed her eyes , hoping to get some sleep, letting the other wom e n continue to contemplate what her imaginary dog’s name should be.
Sarah took one last look at the items her maid had packed. She wanted all the revealing gowns to come with her and anything else that would help get what she want ed . They would be leaving in the morn ing. Only her mother and herself would be traveling to the estate. Her father had begged off, citing business appointments. In all honesty, he had never really liked social affairs to begin with. Th at worked out perfectly , since her m other was the one who let her get away with things. Her father was strict and did not tolerate disobedience of his rules . Not for long, she thought smugly to herself. She was looking to get an offer by the end of the weekend. Why else would the Duke extend a personal invitation?
She was ecstatic that Ana would not be around to mess up her plans. How lucky that Ana did not measure up to the Duchess ' standards. Sarah was raised with proper training and background to take on such a position as Jake’s wife. Wom e n all over the countryside would envy her and then it would all be worth it .
It was all Ana’s fault. She had put her hands on something that did not belong to her. She was nobody, coming out of nowhere and way too old for having seasons in town. Her chances were up , now it was Sarah’s time to shine. She had heard the whispers behind her back and she was seething with anger and revenge. How dare these people treat the future Duchess with such disdain? She would show them and she would show Ana. The sooner she could get Jake hooked, the happier she would be. After all, she was beautiful , had the finest gowns and a generous dowry. However, now she needed to start plotting and planning. S he needed a backup plan just in case her pedigree or her beauty did not work to reel him in .
Word was that Jake was a man with a strong sexual appetite , so she could just sneak in his room and throw herself at him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would take the bait. After all, he would not be the first man to do it. She was not ashamed. She knew men like the Duke would appreciate the fact that she had experience in carnal delight. She was not a virgin and she liked to think herself adventurous in the bedroom. Jake had kissed her a couple times. Granted it had been years ago and right out of the schoolroom, but she still remembered how it felt being kissed by him. Her stomach fluttered just thinking about those kisses, and other things she would love doing with him. She shivered with her naughty thoughts. She could not keep the anticipation up much longer. She wanted him and she deserved him. Mother was wrong when she said he gave no indication that he was considering offering for her.
Sarah went downstairs to say goodnight to her father. She went past the new footman her mother had just hired. He was a handsome man, older than she was , and he had been giving her sly looks most of the day. She was flattered that he was interested. Well, she could use some practice before the weekend. Why not him? He was just what she needed to keep her mind off
“A dog , h uh? That’s the life to have , ” Eliza said with a smile.
“What will you name it?” One of the maids asked.
“I think I will name him Jake. It would be fitting, no?” She said smiling.
“At least you could train the dog to do your bidding, ” t he other maid exclaimed and then they all started giggling.
“I can just see how the Duke of Ashbury would react to a dog being named after him , " Ana stated merrily.
“I’d wager he would find it amusing , ” Eliza shared with confidence. Ana slouched in her seat in a very unladylike fashion and closed her eyes , hoping to get some sleep, letting the other wom e n continue to contemplate what her imaginary dog’s name should be.
Sarah took one last look at the items her maid had packed. She wanted all the revealing gowns to come with her and anything else that would help get what she want ed . They would be leaving in the morn ing. Only her mother and herself would be traveling to the estate. Her father had begged off, citing business appointments. In all honesty, he had never really liked social affairs to begin with. Th at worked out perfectly , since her m other was the one who let her get away with things. Her father was strict and did not tolerate disobedience of his rules . Not for long, she thought smugly to herself. She was looking to get an offer by the end of the weekend. Why else would the Duke extend a personal invitation?
She was ecstatic that Ana would not be around to mess up her plans. How lucky that Ana did not measure up to the Duchess ' standards. Sarah was raised with proper training and background to take on such a position as Jake’s wife. Wom e n all over the countryside would envy her and then it would all be worth it .
It was all Ana’s fault. She had put her hands on something that did not belong to her. She was nobody, coming out of nowhere and way too old for having seasons in town. Her chances were up , now it was Sarah’s time to shine. She had heard the whispers behind her back and she was seething with anger and revenge. How dare these people treat the future Duchess with such disdain? She would show them and she would show Ana. The sooner she could get Jake hooked, the happier she would be. After all, she was beautiful , had the finest gowns and a generous dowry. However, now she needed to start plotting and planning. S he needed a backup plan just in case her pedigree or her beauty did not work to reel him in .
Word was that Jake was a man with a strong sexual appetite , so she could just sneak in his room and throw herself at him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would take the bait. After all, he would not be the first man to do it. She was not ashamed. She knew men like the Duke would appreciate the fact that she had experience in carnal delight. She was not a virgin and she liked to think herself adventurous in the bedroom. Jake had kissed her a couple times. Granted it had been years ago and right out of the schoolroom, but she still remembered how it felt being kissed by him. Her stomach fluttered just thinking about those kisses, and other things she would love doing with him. She shivered with her naughty thoughts. She could not keep the anticipation up much longer. She wanted him and she deserved him. Mother was wrong when she said he gave no indication that he was considering offering for her.
Sarah went downstairs to say goodnight to her father. She went past the new footman her mother had just hired. He was a handsome man, older than she was , and he had been giving her sly looks most of the day. She was flattered that he was interested. Well, she could use some practice before the weekend. Why not him? He was just what she needed to keep her mind off
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