Page 21 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
Chapter Nine
After the dance, Sebastian wandered sadly to the seating area, scowling at anyone who dared stare. The idea of asking her to dance had come to him spontaneously, and at the time he had thought it a wonderful one. Even as they took up their places, he didn’t realize his obvious mistake.
But when he noticed the reaction—these two outsiders having taken solace in each other—he blanched. He had wondered whether to tell Miss Jones at all, so engrossed in the dance she had been. But he knew that, had she noticed on her own, she would have panicked and potentially run away.
If Sebastian had learned anything in all his long years, it was never to back down or to give to the bullies what they wanted. That’s why he’d continued dancing, and encouraged her to, as well.
He looked up as her brother approached Miss Jones, his expression furious. Sebastian’s heart cried out—both because he could not protect her, and because he feared what her brother would tell her.
“Sebastian,” Diana hissed, storming to his side. “What do you think you are doing?”
She spoke through her teeth, her cheeks red with anger and her eyes blazing. Sebastian didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look at her. All he could see was Miss Jones and the apparent argument. Sebastian knew her brother would have heard of his reputation—and probably in great detail—and that terrified him. He would do anything to keep Miss Jones’ good opinion of him, even for just one more day.
“Answer me!”
Sebastian turned in his chair to look at his raging sister.
“What have I done to offend you so much now, Dearest Sister?” he asked, although he was weary and he sounded it.
“Don’t act the fool, Sebastian Nicholes,” she spat. “I saw you. Everyone saw you!”
“Saw me doing what?” he asked, pretending he had no idea what she was talking about. He knew she would be furious with him, but wasn’t he allowed some happiness in life, too? Even occasionally?
“Dancing with the harlot’s daughter!” Diana hissed through gritted teeth. She hovered, unsettled, looking down at Sebastian as he leaned back on the chair until his back hit the wall and faced forward.
“Oh, that,” he said, shrugging. “I’m really not sure that’s a kindly name for her, though.Miss Joneswould certainly be more appropriate. She is far more than whatever rumors you have heard.”
“I do not care to be kindly,” she snapped, finally letting herself fall heavily into the stool next to him. They sat side by side, both looking out at the newly resumed ball, seemingly lost to the outskirts.
“I have noticed,” he said wryly. “You are so rarelykind.”
“Do not be cruel to me yet again,” she said through the side of her mouth. “And it was not appropriate for you to dance withher, either.”
“She has a name,” Sebastian said again. “And Miss Jones was the perfect dance partner. Beautiful, witty, an excellent conversationalist. And, you know, her dance skills are really very—”
“Stop it, Sebastian! Just stop it!” As she said those words, the hair that had been so carefully piled on top of her head began to wobble, and Sebastian glanced at it, worried for its stability.
“All right,” he said, holding his hands up, but smiling. “I will not continue to speak the truth. You may spout more of your lies and rumors, should you wish.”
“It isnota lie that you have embarrassed us,” she said, her voice calmer if her actions were not. “And it is certainly not a lie that you have further damaged our reputations.”
“Further damaged?” He looked at her in surprise. “You have told me often enough that our reputations are damaged beyond repair, and now you tell me I had the opportunity tofurther damageit all along.”
She growled at him, and he sighed.
“You know full well what I mean,” she said. “Your reputation cannot withstand—”
“I care not for my reputation,” he said, offhand and nonchalant. “As well you know, Diana dear.”
“That is clear enough from your behavior alone,” she said, her nose wrinkled in a sneer. “ButIcare, and you know that your reputation has a direct effect on mine. You are a reflection of me, Brother—or rather, I am a reflection of you, as this world has it all backwards.”
“Backwards?” he asked.
“They should always judge the man by the woman in his life,” she said, leveling her voice. “Females have so much more sense than you men, you cannot think further than your—”
“Whisky?” he offered, an eyebrow raised. She blushed a little.
“Yes, or brandy, or whatever you have to hand.”
