Chapter 28 #2
“I…” he started to look away, thinking he heard movement. But then her hands were on his waist coast. “I beg your pardon, my lady, but you must have me confused with someone else––”
She leaned forward with a look of intensity. “Not at all, Your Grace. I know just who you are. And I know just what you deserve.”
“What?”
There were few times in his life where Sebastian felt he was caught by surprise.
The carriage accident, for starters. Then the bewilderment of living in the filthy corners of London.
But in time, it had all faded away. He hadn’t even felt particularly surprised to find a young lady to rescue on the edge of Covent Garden, nor the realization when they would have to marry.
This moment, however, shocked him to his core as this Annabelle Lacey struck him with her lips on his. He staggered back a step, part of his training kicking in. But she pursued him steadily, further leaning the rest of her body onto all of him.
Tearing himself free, he heard a cry and thought he had hurt her. But Annabelle had a dreamy expression on her face, a smile that kept growing as she turned––
And so did he––
In the doorway stood a figure he could recognize no matter how the light case her face in shadow. But he felt the emotions washing over him, all that she felt, as she brought a hand up to her mouth.
“Wait,” Sebastian said immediately when he realized that Isabel had just witnessed this strange moment. He felt the hurt and the anger. “That wasn’t––”
“I never should have trusted you,” Isabel choked out.
Her words and her tone nearly broke him. It left his feet frozen to the ground as he watched his wife turn around to flee, leaving him behind.
“What the devil––” When he moved at last, forcing his body to do something, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Annabelle was right there. He brushed her off sharply. “Don’t you dare touch me again.”
And then Sebastian started after his wife.
Already he was trying to put the words together in his mind. He hadn’t meant to kiss the woman. He didn’t even know her. He didn’t want to kiss anyone but Isabel.
How would she know that, a quiet voice asked in the back of his mind. Hadn’t he spent enough time telling her that they could not be close?
I didn’t mean it. Not like that. Not like this. I do want Isabel. But I never wanted to hurt her.
Somehow, Sebastian realized, he still managed to do just that.
But he was determined not to let that happen for long.
All he had to do was tell her. Correct her.
There was no one else but her. He would do anything to prove it, too.
He would never talk to another woman again, never dance, never even look at them.
The only one for him was ever going to be Isabel.
He would find some way to tell her this, to show her how much he cared, and then everything would be all right.
Turning the corner, Sebastian stopped. Isabel disappeared into another room. And in between them stood her brother, Thomas, with crossed arms.
“You’re just like every other cad calling himself a gentleman,” Thomas said with a bitter smile. “I knew it all along. Eventually, my sister was bound to find out the truth.”
Sebastian stared. “What are you talking about?” His gaze darted over the man’s shoulder and wondered if it was worth flaying Thomas out to get to his wife. “It was a mistake. Whatever she said, it was… it was all mixed up. I’ll tell her and she’ll know the truth.”
“I don’t think so,” Thomas said just when he tried to take a step. “Because you’re not telling her anything.”
His hands balled into fists. Seeing the man’s face shift to reveal a cold smile, Sebastian sensed something was wrong. Terribly, awfully wrong. “You don’t know anything.”
“Except I do.” Thomas moved again when Sebastian tried to get around him. “Because she believes what I told her. That there was another woman. There was always another woman. Tsk. You should have hidden your deception better.”
“There was no deception!” He couldn’t help but snap. “Move, Thomas, or I’ll move you.”
“And what? Hurt her brother? I can’t imagine Isabel would take well to that. No, you are done here, Your Grace,” Thomas said snidely. “She won’t believe you now, no matter what you say. She saw it. And should she ask my sweet Annabelle, well, she’ll have more people to believe.”
There were too many feelings pent up in Sebastian then. He felt Isabel’s horror and something worse. Something heavier former in the pit of his stomach.
Breathing hard, he tried to fight the instinct to fight. To run. He swallowed hard. “What are you talking about, Thomas?”
“I mean that you are nothing but a tool here. Isabel dearest is never going to believe another word you say to her. She has no reason to. Especially not because she has her beloved brother at her side.”
“No. She won’t trust you.”
“But she has to now.”
Sebastian stewed for a long minute. He gulped in air and shoved a fist into the wall. Not hard enough to rip a hole, but enough to make the nearest painting quiver. Even Thomas jumped but pretended otherwise.
I could hurt him. Badly. No one would recognize him. I could make him disappear, ship him off somewhere… but what if he’s right? Have I lost Isabel? For good?
“Fine.” He faced Thomas again. At the edge of a far hall, no one was close enough to hear them. “What is it you want?”
The sum that the man gave him was staggering.
It was everything the Crown wanted back and then more.
Thomas gave a sly smile before crossing his arms. “I know you have it,” he added after a second when Sebastian was still struggling with words.
“You might have done your research on me, but I also did mine on you.”
“How?”
“My sister trusts me enough to leave me alone under your roof. What can I say? I’ve always been an enterprising fellow. Much like yourself, clearly.”
Sebastian considered his options. He wouldn’t be bankrupt. Close to it, but he could survive. He had been meaning to sell two other properties anyways and that would help.
But could he survive with being blackmailed?
“I won’t––”
“I’ll ruin her,” Thomas added helpfully. His blank expression with his eyes left Sebastian speechless. Many times in his life, he had witnessed cruel men. He had argued with them and fought them and learned how to beat them. Somehow, he would beat Thomas as well in his own game.
How? I don’t know what to do. Blast it, I don’t know what to do. How am I supposed to protect Isabel?
“You wouldn’t do that to your own family,” Sebastian said, deciding to call him on his bluff. It had to be. Didn’t it? Only Thomas was known for his unorthodox ways of playing cards…
“I can ruin her future. I can ruin your estate. And in case I need to make myself clear, if you attempt to expose me––to anyone, such as Isabel––then I will further ruin her. Do you understand me?”
“How? She hasn’t done anything wrong––”
“It doesn’t have to be about her.” Thomas scoffed.
“It could be about you. I’ve learned a few stories about you, after all.
And I know plenty about the people in Isabel’s life.
The list is small, but I paid attention.
I can ruin her maid in more ways than one, after all.
And her dear friend Emilia? Oh, I could ruin that girl’s entire family.
I can make matters so awful that Isabel could never recover.
Because she won’t have another marriage to hide behind,” he added sharply.
For a lot of his life, Sebastian hadn’t been able to rely on other people for much or for long.
He had received the occasional support. Marcus had helped him on the streets.
And the others in the Compass Rose had helped him learn how to be a gentleman again.
But for much of his life he knew he had to stand on his own two feet.
Only now, he wasn’t so sure. He desperately wanted to pull in his friends for help. Someone could tell him what to do. Marcus could help him trick his way out of this. Ronan could fight with him through words or bets. Someone might have a trick up their sleeve…
But Sebastian had nothing. Only his heart, which was breaking for Isabel right then.
I ruined everything for her. How could I let it get any worse?
“Fine, but… But she comes home with me,” Sebastian tried. “I tell her that all is well and I’ll do better for her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s not your pawn. No, it’s time you let her go. How long have you two been married? Six weeks? Seven? No. It’s time you let her go.”
He stiffened. “What?”
“Let her go. You lost your chance at protecting her. That’s what she always said, you know. You protected her. And now she’ll never trust you. She’ll never look at you the same. Truly, I’m saving you both a world of heartache. It’s my turn to protect her now.”
“No, wait––”
Thomas gave him a small shove, and for some reason, Sebastian let him. “You don’t have Isabel any longer, do you understand me? You’re free of her now. Isn’t that what you wanted all along?”
No! No, no, no, that was never it. That was never what I wanted. Blast it!
A hot and fierce fury burned through Sebastian as he imagined drilling his fists into the man’s face.
He wanted to hurt Thomas more than he had wanted to hurt anyone in a long time.
The man was an absolute viper. How could Sebastian have ever thought he was harmless?
How had he not thrown the man out the door at once?
It was always for Isabel.
And it was for Isabel as Sebastian swallowed his anger and forced himself to shake hands with Thomas, agreeing to the blackmail.
Then he was left in the hall, slowly realizing just how much his silence would cost him his wife. That he was losing Isabel. A woman he had come to respect, to like, to… to even love.
He scrubbed away sudden dampness on his face and walked off, not knowing what would become of him now that he had lost her.