Chapter 28
Making his way down the hall, Sebastian scoped the cards room and cigar room in search of Thomas. He nodded to familiar faces but kept moving on, wanting to make certain Isabel could feel secure and free from her worries. Even if it meant tending to a brother who couldn’t be trusted.
We all have family we cannot choose. The best thing I can do is to help her through it, that is all. Then perhaps I can steal another dance and we can go home together this night.
Holding her in his arms again sounded more satisfying than he cared to admit.
His pace picked up. There had been one evening back in Eastwynd where he had read aloud to Isabel while she dozed off beside him, her head falling against his shoulder.
He couldn’t get over her floral scent and was still looking for another excuse to bring them together again.
“You look like a man on a mission.”
Ronan had stepped out of the ballroom and was playing with a gold coin. He often had one in hand, always in the pocket otherwise. It was a habit so old no one could remember where it came from. At least, no one that cared to ask Ronan about it. Probably something to do with his father’s gold mines.
As for now, his friend with a crooked grin raised an eyebrow. “Well? What are you about now? Do you need any assistance?”
“Not at all.” Slowing down, Sebastian glanced around. “You haven’t seen Thomas Ravenshaw about, have you?”
“The blasted fool? Your brother-in-law, that one? No. He wouldn’t dare be in London after all that has happened.” Ronan frowned. “Would he? Actually, I might be wrong. He was bear-baiting friends with our host.”
Sebastian hadn’t seen that in his papers. “With Lord Dernshire? Truly?”
“It’s why I stopped betting with him some years ago. Thomas, the old boy, has few limits for what he’s willing to do to get what he wants.” Ronan said with a scowl. “Actually, you know, I might have seen him after all.”
“Really?” Sebastian asked as Ronan slowly turned around. “Where? Was it recently?”
“I didn’t recognize him. He always had that ridiculous mustache, if you recall. Thinner now, too? Short hair?” Ronan shoved his coin away. “I don’t like that. Yes, I saw him. He was talking to someone. Some lady, I can’t recall. She didn’t look familiar. But he can’t be trusted, Sebastian.”
Sebastian hesitated. “Was it my wife?”
“No, not her. She’s looking dashing tonight, by the way. Fine dancer. She didn’t mind when I stepped on her toes. No, that wasn’t her. Someone with light hair I think? I can’t recall. Doesn’t matter. Don’t trust Thomas, that’s all I will say.”
As though Ronan minds speaking ill of others. He loves gossip, the scoundrel. Only he should know more if he’s going to indulge in it. I wonder with whom Thomas might have spoken... the hostess, perhaps?
“I know,” Sebastian told him. “I don’t trust the man a single inch.”
“But what about your wife?” Ronan asked with a wince. “They are family, and she does strike me as rather kind.”
“She is very kind. She’s also wise, but sympathetic. I believe she has indulged him somewhat,” Sebastian grudgingly admitted in a low voice. “But I trust her. She will be careful as best as she can be.”
Ronan nodded unconvinced. “Even the philosophers can be tricked, however. You had best be careful. They aren’t spending much time together, are they? If he’s back in London, he must be up to something. Since the final decision was made in the courts…”
It had come out the other week, shortly after everyone had settled into London to begin the season again.
Sebastian hadn’t been too surprised. The Crown would want matters decided for good, and yet leave a window open for hope.
Allowing the title to return to the young man should he repay all his sins was as best as could be expected.
It wasn’t as though anyone really wanted him to end up with the noose.
“We will manage, Ronan, but thank you for your help.” Considering the other places where her brother could be, Sebastian gave a short sigh of annoyance. “If he’s not with all the other guests, where do you think he might be?”
“I don’t know. The terrace, perhaps? There are a few private corners there. Or the conservatory. That’s connected to the side hall here, and has another door to the terrace,” Ronan explained when Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “It’s not technically off limits. It’s good for the occasional, er––”
“Don’t say it.”
Ronan snickered. “Then don’t give me that look. And if not the conservatory, check with Lord Dernshire. He might know.”
“Thank you. Let me know if you see her or Thomas,” Sebastian requested. “I’ll carry on.”
Nodding, Ronan tipped an imaginary hat before passing him by toward the cards room. The man had nimble fingers and enjoyed his games. Rather, he preferred playing mental tricks with the other card players, but that was his matter.
In the meantime, Sebastian carried on. He passed two waiting rooms and checked in there to find a few gentlemen sleeping off their drinks. Just as he returned to the hall, he was greeted by their host.
“Eastwynd! What a delight to have you here,” Dernshire said with a heavy chuckle. He had a half-empty goblet in hand. “When I told the wife to put you on the list, she didn’t think you would come. How I love proving her wrong.”
“Good evening, it’s a pleasure to be here,” Sebastian decided to say in return. “I won’t take up your time, but I would like to know if you have seen an old friend this evening? Thomas Ravenshaw.”
The man brightened. “Ravenshaw! Good boy. Hard hand he was dealt, I’m afraid.
Oh yes, I believe you could find him here…
somewhere. Say, where did he go? I passed him near the servants quarter earlier.
He was coming up this way, and… hm. No, I cannot say it.
The man wanders in every house party. Good fellow, Ravenshaw.
Oho! And you married his sister. Now that makes you family! "
"Indeed,” Sebastian said, realizing he might find himself in a long and pointless conversation if he didn’t escape soon. “Thank you, and good evening.”
He pivoted away while Dernshire blustered through something else that didn’t make any sense. Letting it go, Sebastian passed down the hall.
It didn’t take him long to come upon the side hall that Ronan had mentioned. A conservatory was nearby. Noting the dim hallway with lights leading to double doors opened into near darkness, Sebastian hesitated a moment before finding his way in there.
Maybe he would find Thomas tonight and maybe he wouldn’t. But Sebastian was growing tired of the man. He didn’t like how he kept appearing and removing Isabel from him.
Only I know I need to be around more frequently for her in return. Even with our agreement, I fear I am doubting it more every day.
“You’re a fool to keep your distance,” Marcus had laughed at him the other day in the ring when learning that Sebastian still had not gotten his wife with child. “Keep her close, that one. She’s a deeeelight!”
“Marriages in the ton are different,” Sebastian had grunted before swinging and hitting nothing.
His friend had merely snickered. “So are you. Sure, you don’t belong anywhere. That’s what makes it right for you to be anywhere you like. Besides, the past is dead.”
“The past is the past, indeed.”
After blocking another blow, Marcus grunted and said, “Isn’t they all dead or gone?” He ignored Sebastian’s correction. “I mean it. The past is dead so live the future already. Don’t you want yourself a future?”
I don’t even know what to do with a future. The present is difficult enough.
And yet… Sebastian faltered as an image came to mind. He’d been dreaming more lately. Dreaming in general was rare. And even rare was having pleasant dreams. Lately, he kept seeing Isabel holding his hand. Riding with him everywhere. Laughing with him.
And then there were the children. A handful of them, always prancing around, hanging on him and Isabel. Almost like they were a family.
What if I do want a future for myself? What does that mean for me? For her?
He couldn’t simply take his words back. Could he? Sebastian wandered the shadowed conservatory with doubt. There was no one here. But he did want to find Thomas if only to help his wife. He liked helping her, spending time with her, doing anything with her.
A very smart woman was Isabel, one who had agreed to marry him. She had even painted him. Sometimes when he woke from his dreams he went to stand before it in the dark library, wondering if she really did see him that way. If she really did understand him.
She got all of it so terribly correct. She put in the shadows and the doubts and the past… and she brightened it with hope. She even made me handsome. The care she put into every stroke was more than what I’ve ever seen anyone do for me. Maybe things could change between us.
The very thought made his stomach queasy. He didn’t know what to do when he was nervous. Wiping his hands on his breeches, Sebastian turned back toward the door.
Maybe he would talk to her after all. Tonight, on the drive home, he could stop hiding from her.
“Oh dear!”
Just before he reached the door, someone came stumbling in a heap out of the darkness. Sebastian jerked backwards in surprise. But finding it a woman falling over, he hastily jumped ahead to catch her before she could collapse on the ground.
A breathy sound fluttered against his cheek. “Oh! Goodness me, I have a hero.”
How did this happen so quickly?
Hands tightened their grip on his arm and shoulder. He mostly restrained his flinch, pulling the two of them upright. He’d managed to catch her over a knee somewhat and it only took a moment to put them both on their feet.
Clearing his throat, he tried to politely nudge her back. “I beg your pardon, er, lady…?”
“Annabelle Lacey.” She had something stuck in her eyes as she gazed up at him. “And who might you be?”