Page 61 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
He paused, looking at her in horror for a second, then his face crumpled into an embarrassed laugh that she matched with a happy one.
“Oh, no,” he said, rubbing a hand to his forehead. “Oh, Lord, I am, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are,” Alison said, nodding kindly at him. “I suppose I still love you, though.”
“Have I really changed that much?” he asked, his brow creased, a hint of worry creeping into his tone.
“No,” Alison said, seriously this time. The tease and the play were gone, replaced by understanding and love. She reached over the desk and clasped his hand in hers again. “You care deeply for Jenny, that’s all. And that’s understandable. She’s your sister, and unwed still.”
He looked at her through the corner of his eyes, a little wary.
“Not for much longer,” he said. “And I suspect that’s not all you have to say.”
She chuckled, nodding again at him.
“You know me well,” she said, grinning coyly at him. “But I wanted to remind you of our story.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“We were not so different,” she said. “Think of her feelings, Luke. Remember how we felt when we were told we could not marry, and think of how Jenny must feel now.”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing,” Alison urged. “Jenny is old enough to know her own mind and make her own decisions. If this is what she wants, we need to respect that.”
“I know,” Luke said with a sigh. “You are right, My Love, as you always are.”
“Well, then,” Alison said, slapping her thighs and leaning back, satisfied. “We should embrace it and try to enjoy it. I love a good wedding.”
“All right,” Luke replied, his smile growing. “But I’ll be watching him, Alison, mark my words. And if he sets a single foot wrong, then I’ll—”
“He won’t,” she said. “You’ll see.”
* * *
When Sebastian arrived at home, he was still in somewhat of a daze. He had not expected any of what happened, determined as he was to do this right with Jenny, but things had rolled quite out of control.
I am to be married!
The shock of it still had him breathing rapidly, but that she had said she could, possibly, with time, love him too, sent a thrill through his soul. When he suggested they marry, he had half expected Luke to throw him from the house in disgust. And when he had said the words, he wasn’t even entirely sure he wanted it. It was so soon, and yes, they got along well, but marriage? It was quite the leap of faith so early on in their courtship.
But once the words were out and he looked at their shocked expressions, he knew with unending certainty that it was what he wanted more than anything in the world. It was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, a beam of sudden and bright clarity, and he knew, in that instant, that it was right.
“Good afternoon, Diana,” he said as he let himself flop into a chair opposite her, a satisfied sigh escaping quite without his control.
She had her legs curled beneath her on the sofa, her sky-blue gown spread across the seat, covering her legs entirely. On the floor in front of her, there rested a pair of dainty looking slippers, and across her lap rested an open book, the pages flopped down on either side.
She looked up at him with an amused smile, his entry clearly having made an impression on her, and he grinned back.
“Why are you so happy?” she asked, blinking her confusion away. “This is the third day in a row you have come home positively giddy.”
“Iamhappy, that’s why.”
“What on earth has got into you?”
He raised his eyebrows at her, unsure whether she meant it cruelly or not. If she did, that was antagonistic even for her. It was always so difficult to tell with Diana. Her natural manner was harsh.
Even if she wasn’t yet annoyed, however, he knew she soon would be. She wouldn’t take his news well. He didn’t want to argue, nor less ruin his positive mood, but he knew he couldn’t put it off. Word was bound to get out, and if she heard it from anyone but him, there would be trouble—and rightly so.
