Page 103 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
“Well enough,” he replied, and then he chuckled. “Whatever happens, I am well enough when I am with you.”
“Heavens, you are nothing if not sweet.”
“I try my best.” Sebastian winked at her and, despite herself, she laughed, already wooed by his good humor and his smile.
* * *
Sebastian had been nervous all morning, and he was nervous still as they walked around the park. He knew it made his conversation stilted, awkward even, but he didn’t know how to fix it. It was not that he wasn’t comfortable with Jenny—quite the opposite, in fact. He was too comfortable with her, and he wanted dearly to take her into his arms, to feel her warm body beneath his.
He cleared his throat and forced his mind away from thoughts of her pale skin against his.
“Your sister spoke incredibly kindly to me at the ball,” Jenny said, risking a sideways glance at him. “And then again, at your home this week.”
“She does have the capability of being amicable, when the mood suits her,” he quipped, but he saw Jenny’s cheeks flush pink and he felt a stab of guilt at making her feel bad.
“Of course! I did not doubt that. Although…” she paused and took an audibly deep breath, “although, I am aware of her dislike of me—”
“It’s not that she dislikes you.”
“It’s quite all right, I understand. But, if I’m honest, I was surprised at her friendliness toward me. Is she… maybe, beginning to accept our match?”
Sebastian paused for a moment, considering his reply, but a flash of something in the bushes caught his eye. He turned quickly to catch sight of what it was, but it was gone before he could see it. He shook his head, dismissing it as a fox or a stray cat.
“I’m sorry, what was that? I was… distracted.” He peered again into the bushes, but still nothing.
“Lady Diana. She seems less against our match than she was previously.”
“Ah, yes. I have never been able to tell what is going on with my sister, but you’re right. It does seem as though she’s softening a little.” He chuckled then at the thought of it. “It does make me wonder what she’s up to, though.”
Sebastian gasped and put a hand out to stop Jenny in her tracks. He took in a sharp breath, his hackles raised and his body on high alert. He had seen it again, the flash in the bushes.
“What is it?” Jenny demanded. “What on earth is the matter?”
“I—” Sebastian began, but he was too cautious and vigilant to give her a full answer.
He took a tentative step toward the greenery, eyeing it carefully, but the rustling had stopped and the flash of color he thought he had seen had gone.
“Whatever is the matter?” Jenny asked again, firmer this time. He sensed her closer to him, having taken a step toward his back. He turned and laughed, shaking his head.
“Nothing, it’s nothing. Paranoia, nothing more. I thought I saw something, but it’s just my mind playing tricks on me.”
He saw then the fear in her eyes, he saw the way her body tensed and froze.
“You don’t think it’s—”
“To do with those letters? No,” he said. But then he closed his eyes and sighed. “I cannot deny it has concerned me, but right now, I think I am being overly cautious.”
He turned to face the path again, and they began to walk. It was another moment or two before Jenny spoke.
“There was a third letter. To me specifically, again, and as equally threatening.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We’ve hardly had a chance to talk, have we?”
“We need to do something about this,” Sebastian said, his brow furrowed. “We need to put a stop to this once and for all.”
“I told my brother and Alison about it,” Jenny admitted. “They are as concerned as we are.”
