Chapter 11
Eleven
“Well, this is a surprise,” Cassian chortled as Sebastian strode into the empty tavern. “It looks as if I owe everyone a drink.”
“It would be coin if you weren’t too scared to make a real wager,” Ronan scoffed. “You’re like an old lady without its teeth. All bark, no bite.”
“The way you drink, Ronan? It might have been cheaper to offer up a coin over a drink.”
Ronan chuckled with mirth as he took a long mouthful from his tankard, draining it dry and then pushing the empty vessel across the table at Cassian. “Time to make good on the offer, I think.”
Cassian rolled his eyes. “Ravencourt, are you getting in on this also? Might as well, while I’m at it.”
Alaric did the same as Ronan, finishing his drink and pushing across the empty tankard to signal that he was ready for another. This saw Cassian indicate toward the bartender, holding up four fingers and pointing at the tankards before him.
“What are you three prattling about now?” Sebastian said as he took his seat at the table, the last to join the group of four. “And do I even want to know?”
“Just a little wager we made,” Cassian said with a wicked grin that was mocking. “Whether our happily married friend here would be able to drag himself away from a life of wedded bliss to join us. And no, we are not referring to Alaric.”
Sebastian looked at Cassian flatly. “Oh, very funny of you. Well done.”
“If it makes you feel any better, Ronan and I both bet against Cassian,” Alaric said with laughter. “Although it was a close thing.”
“It doesn’t,” Sebastian snapped. “And I would prefer it if my personal life were not the center of discussion, nor used for illicit gambling practices, so the three of you might be able to fill in the dullness of your lives.”
“Someone is touchy.” Cassian leaned back as if to get away from Sebastian. “What’s the matter? The wife kick you out of bed this morning?”
“More like she didn’t let him in in the first place,” Ronan added.
“Come now, gentleman,” Alaric stepped in as if he meant to support Sebastian. “Sebastian is right, and we should not be speaking of his marriage so candidly. What happens between him and his wife is his own business.”
“Thank you,” Sebastian said.
“Of course, it is not as if we need to guess,” Alaric continued, then winking at his friends as he did. “We all know Eastmoor here well enough to know the likelihood of how married life is treating him.”
Cassian laughed. “That we do. If I were a different type of man, I might even feel sorry for him.”
“If I was a different type of man, I’d feel sorry for his wife,” Ronan joined in with dark laughter.
“Are you quite finished!” Sebastian snapped again, glaring across the table at his three friends.
“Not even close,” Cassian jeered just as the four tankards of ale arrived. “Ah, right on time! Shall we do a toast? To marriages, happiness, and romantic sufferings? Or is it more akin to a eulogy? The death of bachelorhood as we know it.”
“And every maiden in London can be heard breathing a sigh of relief,” Ronan chuckled as he snatched at his tankard and took a mouthful.
Sebastian took the tankard and glared above its lip at his three friends… although I use that word loosely because surely, were they my friends, then they wouldn’t be taking such pleasure in tormenting me.
He almost hadn’t come today – but not for reasons that the three jackals seemed to think.
Sebastian had known that his married life would surely be the topic of conversation should he make an appearance, just as he had known that he’d do well to avoid such a thing.
Alas, he decided to join the Wicked Duke’s Society in their meeting for the simple reason that he needed to get out of the house.
Now I am wondering if this is even worse than the alternative.
The problem was Margot, or perhaps the problem was him? He wasn’t quite sure. But these last few days of marriage had been an interesting affair, one which Sebastian was struggling to wrap his head around fully.
On the surface, there was nothing to complain about.
Apart from that first evening where he had lost his way slightly, Sebastian had been the picture of a perfect husband – at least as far as their agreement was concerned.
He had kept his distance. He had controlled his more amorous nature.
He had left Margot to herself more often than not, doing all he could to prove to her that he was not the debauched rake everyone seemed to think of him.
Sadly, and as Sebastian was starting to learn, this was nowhere near as easy to do or as effective as he might have liked.
“Jokes aside, Sebastian,” Alaric began, stifling his laughter. “How is married life? Truly?”
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at his friend. “Careful, Ravencourt. I am in no mood.”
“I ask because I care,” Alaric said with genuine sincerity.
“I do not care,” Cassian snorted. “Although I, too, am interested.”
“Married life is perfectly adequate,” Sebastian said simply.
“A marriage of convenience, which is turning out to be a most convenient thing.” He nodded once as if that was answer enough, only to find his three friends looking to him for elaboration.
He sighed. “As I explained the last time we met, this marriage was arranged to avoid scandal only. It is not romantic in nature. It is certainly not sexual. In fact, I have hardly seen my wife since I brought her home…” He shrugged. “Which is how I plan on keeping it.”
“Is she of the same mind?” Alaric pressed.
“Of course she is,” Sebastian said with emphasis, as if he needed force the point to make it true. “She has no desire to spend more time with me than is necessary –”
“For which we cannot blame the poor woman,” Cassian cut in.
“—and is perfectly happy to continue as if we are little more than strangers sharing a home,” he finished, ignoring his friend’s jibe.
“I know you, gentlemen, were hoping for drama as leeches hope for blood, but in this, you will have to go wanting.” He scoffed and took a sip of ale. “Sorry to ruin your day.”
“Doubtful,” Ronan grumbled.
“That just raises the next question, though, does it not?” Cassian said with a wicked grin. “How long can it last – my meaning, of course, is how long can you keep your best friend in your pants.” He laughed and slapped the table, and the others joined in.
“That will not be an issue,” Sebastian sneered through the laughter, his insides twisting at the lie in ways he had come to expect. “I know what you think of me –”
“For good reason,” Ronan spoke.
“—but this is different,” Sebastian continued over him, nodding firmly. “I have no desires for my wife, and she has none for me. And it really is that simple.” If only it were.
The truth was that Sebastian and Margot’s relationship was a strange thing, which Sebastian was struggling to fully reckon with.
On the surface, it was easy enough to say that neither he nor she cared for the other and were happy to keep it that way.
But to dive a little deeper would be to uncover a much darker truth.
Sebastian wanted his wife. There was no other way to say it.
He yearned for her. He pinned. He spent nights lying awake, picturing her in the room next door, wondering what might happen if he were to give in and simply walk to her room and take her.
The curves of her body… the softness of her skin…
full lips… devilish eyes… oh, the fun we could have.
It would be easier to control these urges if Sebastian were not convinced she felt the same way.
His mind went back to their shared moment yesterday, when she had cut her finger, and he had gone to her aid.
Holding her hand as he had been, he had felt her pulse quicken, just as he had seen in her eyes the confusion.
She was so determined to pretend that she loathed him, but such fallacies could only last for so long.
As to what this might mean for the future? Sebastian was determined not to succumb to desire, knowing full well that he was only so strong. I do have a reputation for good reason.
“If you say so,” Alaric said simply. His words suggested that he believed Sebastian, but the look in his eyes told him differently.
Indeed, the other two also fixed Sebastian with a look that told him his lies weren’t being swallowed so easily.
Not surprising, as they knew the man to whom they spoke, just as they knew how weak-willed he was in the face of a beautiful woman.
Oh sure, he would try his best and do all he could to control himself, but his lust for his wife was a beast not so easily tamed.
More than that, despite how I tell myself that I wish to control this beast… There is a very large part of me that wants no such thing. Such was Sebastian’s current state, a situation which he knew would worsen long before it got better.