Chapter 24
“Oh, there she is.”
Sebastian immediately lifted his gaze, feeling guilty, as he raised his hands from where Pearl was purring in his lap. “I didn’t… erm, I didn’t steal her.”
“No?” Isabel raised her eyebrow. “Then did she steal herself in here?”
She hesitated a second in the doorway of his study before entering. It wasn’t as though he would keep her away. They had gone nearly five days now without saying more than a few polite words to one another.
There had been one fiasco after another that kept them occupied.
First it was the sheep, and then food poisoning among half the staff over a new attempted recipe that soured too quickly.
A pipe had collapsed on the side of the house following this, and he’d just recovered from sending off one of the stableboys two towns over after he broke his foot to a proper physician for better care.
Exhausted and ready to relax for a day without troubles, Sebastian hadn’t had the heart to remove the cat from his desk. Fluffy Pearl had immediately made her way into his lap, pawing at him until she was comfortably curled up there.
“She did. She was here before I ever entered,” Sebastian vowed.
Lips quirking, Isabel gave a short chuckle before sighing. She crossed her arms and sighed at the sight of Pearl in his lap. “She definitely likes you more than me.”
“I can hand her back,” he volunteered immediately.
“Don’t bother her, there’s no need. But I do appreciate the offer. And I don’t mind having some time to myself. Kittens are quite destructive, so Amber and I have a few stitches to fix in a few draperies.”
Noticing the lilt on the last couple of words she said, he echoed, “A few?”
“I would recommend you don’t look too closely at them for some time,” Isabel advised with a sheepish smile. “We’ll have them mended soon, I promise. It’ll be like it never happened.”
He nodded. “I trust you. If you need anything, please let me know how I can help.”
“Keeping an eye on Pearl is help enough. I was beginning to worry I was losing her beyond a normal amount. But I think she likes exploring and she especially likes you. Not that she can be blamed for that. Oh, there is something,” she added before he could focus on what she’d just said.
“Something what?”
Isabel paused for breath before leaning forward, biting her bottom lip. His eyes snagged on the sight for a moment. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought I would invite Thomas to supper. He is staying in town, and I think he could use a proper meal.”
“Supper? Tonight?”
She nodded. “Do you mind?”
Yes.
Truthfully, Sebastian had expected the man to be gone by now. Or so he had hoped. It seemed other matters were afoot, however, and there was only so much he could control.
As he gave Pearl scratches down her spine, he considered the question for a moment. Because he did mind, very much, but he didn’t want to tell Isabel. There was a light in her eyes that told him how the answer mattered, whatever he might say.
Would she even listen? I don’t trust him. The man keeps coming to visit. How many times has he come now, three or four? Five? He sprang out of nowhere.
Sebastian wanted to refuse her but couldn’t when Isabel’s eyes shined so bright in the daylight. “Is that what you want?” She gave a hasty nod. “Very well. I’m sure the kitchens can manage one more plate.”
“Certainly. Where did you say he is staying in town?” He asked after a moment.
“I’m not certain, but you can ask him tonight,” she volunteered. There was a heartbeat pause before she added, “I don’t… Well, I hope you can be friends. He is trying, Sebastian, and I think he intends to make matters right.”
Can he? If he didn’t have a title, he would have been tossed in prison. Or worse.
“If that is your wish,” he said in response, albeit reluctantly.
A shadow crossed her brow when Isabel tilted her head at him. But she shuttered her thoughts away before nodding, excusing herself. Pearl stayed in his lap as the two of them were left behind.
“What do you think?” Sebastian murmured to the sleepy cat. Her pale-yellow eyes opened and closed blearily. “Do you trust the man?”
She just so happened to sneeze right then, twitching her little nose, before burying her face between her paws. That felt like enough of an answer to Sebastian, however. He nodded in agreement. No matter what Thomas did and no matter what Isabel wanted to believe, the man couldn’t be trusted.
I just hope she can see through him.
That evening, Isabel and Sebastian greeted Thomas together at the door at one of his few planned arrivals. He seemed to keep appearing there, almost like he wished to move himself inside for good. As they shook hands, Sebastian swore that would be a line that couldn’t be crossed.
“What, no drawing room?” Thomas asked when they made their way straight to the dining room. “I was looking forward to a brandy before supper.”
“Thomas,” Isabel scolded him. “You were ten minutes late; it’s best we enjoyed our supper when it’s hot. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Up came the practiced smile and silvery glint in his eye. “Yes, of course, Isabel. You’re always right.”
Sebastian held back a huff of annoyance. Lingering behind, he watched as Thomas walked straight with his head tall, the practiced confident manner of a gentleman. And something else. When he turned his head, Sebastian could tell he was up to something. The expression was too clear, too calculating.
“What a fine house this is. I don’t believe I’ve been to this dining room yet,” their guest remarked. “Isabel, you must have decorated this immediately upon your arrival. You have such a good eye for color.”
“I was always interested in decorating,” Isabel agreed before shaking her head. “However, there wasn’t much to touch here. All I did was brighten up the place.”
“With your smile?”
“Now you’re being obnoxious,” she said with a short laugh. “We updated a few curtains, and rearranged some paintings. The dining room in particular here was already beautiful. Have you seen anything like this furniture before? Hand-crafted from Belgium.”
Thomas’s eyes widened comically though no one laughed. “How remarkable! Do tell me more.”
Everyone took their seats. As the first course was brought out, a steaming pea soup, Isabel chattered on about the room.
Sebastian listened in amazement to find how passionate she was about the setup of this room.
While he’d noticed the small changes prior, he hadn’t imagined the intention behind every little thing.
He sipped quietly at his soup and shot a glance at Thomas who nodded along with small noncommittal responses along the while.
So he heard, but he wasn’t really paying attention.
Rather, the brother picked up his spoon and was studying the silverware as though to ensure it all matched.
To test it for being real silver. His gaze browsed the room slowly, frequently stalling on more historic and expensive items like the large clock and the candlesticks and a French painting.
Thomas’s gaze slowly shifted around the room with the hungry look of a hawk until he looked at Sebastian.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
At once the man turned away. “Isabel, how fascinating to learn all of this about you. I always knew you loved your art. Does anyone let you still paint?”
Let her?
Before Sebastian could call him out on the rude phrasing, Isabel was nodding in response.
“Of course I still paint. I’m fortunate to have a room here all to myself to enjoy my artwork.
It’s a lovely corner of the house with large windows to see out across the estate.
Seeing the sun rise and set there is just beautiful. ”
“Good, you deserve everything beautiful,” Thomas reassured her with practiced ease.
He settled back in his chair to pick at nonexistent dust on his sleeves.
After patting his hair to ensure not a single strand was out of place, he told her, “Perhaps a tour is in store. Not tonight, I think, but on the morrow? I want to see where you live. How you live. I want to ensure your happiness,” he added emphatically.
Isabel’s widened gaze showed she was surprised. Wary, too, Sebastian hoped. “Oh. Well, yes, of course. I suppose you haven’t seen everything yet. It’s a strange house but very beautiful. Tomorrow, then.”
“I can hardly wait.” Thomas’s smile grew smug as his sister ducked her head to finish the last of her soup.
But Sebastian saw it. He saw the calculated moves, the practiced smiles, and he heard every rehearsed word slipping off that man’s tongue. He played good, and he played nice.
It wasn’t the first time Sebastian had encountered his ilk. Living on the streets in London taught a boy rather quickly who he could trust. That sort of smile on a liar was always the same. He knew it in his gut.
Only Sebastian couldn’t prove it. He couldn’t even find the right words to tell Isabel that they should turn him out for good.
Isn’t his past clear enough to prove he cannot be trusted? I don’t like holding my tongue and yet I don’t wish to upset Isabel.
He mulled over this through the meal, hardly saying a word. Soon Isabel excused herself to check on the kitchens while the two men enjoyed some port and brandy. Promising to join them in the drawing room soon, she was gone, leaving Sebastian and Thomas alone together.
“You have a very fine cook,” Thomas said once the drinks were poured. “That was the best meal I’ve had in ages.”
Sebastian offered a curt nod in thanks. “I’ve heard you’re staying in town; the fare at the Horse Head could be better, I suppose.”
“Horse Head?” The man snorted. “Odd name for an inn. No, I’m staying somewhere else.”
Except that’s the only inn within an hour’s ride. Where else could he be staying?
Sighing loudly, Thomas relaxed into a slouch at the table. He had an elbow awkwardly on the ledge as he slumped down, gazing casually around the room. “It is a fascinating sort of house. Isabel speaks as though she’s updated everything here. What a surprise to give a wife such freedom.”
“Her changes were welcome,” Sebastian said. He took a sip of his drink before deciding he wouldn’t have any more. Staring into the dark liquid, he told himself to be attentive and wary.
“Really? You don’t ever tire of her requests? She’s always had opinions, after all. It used to aggravate our father endlessly when she insisted talking to us during every meal.”
If he drank, he would surely do something foolish. Only Sebastian didn’t think he would be doing anything foolish. It would be Isabel thinking he was foolish, and he didn’t wish for that.
I only wish to plant a facer. Just one. Just something to knock him right out the blasted door.
“I like to hear her talk.” He looked up with a flat expression to Thomas. “If you don’t like your sister, you don’t need to be here.”
“What? No, I didn’t mean that,” the man said hastily. “I wouldn’t… That is, she’s a dear. I only thought you might have tired of her. She is full of spirit. Mother and Father worried that wouldn’t bode well for her as a wife.”
Sebastian couldn’t imagine what use Thomas had to speak negatively of her, and he didn’t like it. But he couldn’t tell Isabel what Thomas said. The thought of upsetting her didn’t sit well with him. “She makes a very fine wife as well as a duchess.”
Realizing his grip was growing too tight on his glass, he moved to set it down until Thomas’s words made him pause.
“Certainly, yes… Especially in her refurbishment efforts here. I cannot imagine the expenses she has put you through. New dresses, too, must have come from you. I don’t suppose my parents could have afforded anything for her trousseau.
It really is a miracle you would take her. Stubborn girl without a proper dowry.”
That brought Sebastian slamming his glass down. Brandy splashed over his wrist and the tablecloth. Rising to his feet, he stared down at Thomas.
“What?” the man squawked in protest.
“One word,” Sebastian warned him. “Isabel gives me one word, and I will remove you from the premises. That is all I am waiting for now.”
To his everlasting distaste, Thomas chuckled. “Then you’ll be waiting a very long time because that would never happen.”