Page 83 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
“As it turns out, sheisalways right. Who on earth would have thought that, eh?”
“And you don’t like that she was right?”
He leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed nonchalantly over the other, while Sebastian leaned heavily on the table, the alcohol slowly taking effect.
“I don’t like that I didn’t believe her,” Sebastian said. “She was right. I’ve been made a fool of, and it’s all my own fault. I am a gullible buffoon.”
“We all knew that already,” Percival said, teasing him. Sebastian picked up the cushion from the seat behind him and threw it at Percival. “Seriously though, Sebastian. We all make mistakes in love. These maidens, they are there to trick us into offering them the world, and when they get it, they run away with it—and our hearts tucked in their pockets.”
Sebastian laid his head on his arms and pouted. “That’s a very pessimistic view, Percy.”
“Are you saying you disagree?”
Sebastian paused. Hediddisagree, despite what had happened that day, despite what he had discovered about Jenny. There were some good women in the world, he was as certain of that as he was that Jenny was not one of them.
“I don’t know,” he muttered, not having the energy to explain himself. “But I do know that my heart will be closely guarded from now on. And I will spend more of my time and energy looking after my sister.”
“Speaking of whom,” Percy said, perking up and looking across the room at the lady bustling in through the door. “Isn’t that her now?”
Sebastian jumped to his feet in surprise. Diana would never allow herself to be seen in such a place, and unchaperoned, too! He couldn’t move, he felt frozen to the spot, and as she stormed closer to him, he saw the panic and the rage within her.
“What is going on?” she demanded.
Sebastian had still not sat down, and Percival watched with an amused expression from his seat. Sebastian’s jaw worked up and down, but only the vapor of past alcohol came out, his words lost to the air.
“If I may interrupt,” Percival said. “I don’t quite know what has happened, but I do know that it is a rather romantic issue. And I have never seen your brother in such turmoil before.”
“Lord Blackmore,” Diana said. She turned to face him, turning on her heels and landing heavily back down on the wood floor. “I have made no secret of the fact that I do not like you, not one bit. You are a bad influence, and an even worse gentleman.”
“Charmed,” he said. “I’m sure.”
“However,” she continued, her voice matronly and firm. “I cannot express my gratitude to you for sending for me. It would appear that perhaps you are a kinder friend that you portray yourself to be.”
“I will take that as a compliment,” Percival said, bowing with exaggeration.
“Do,” Diana continued. “For it is the only one you’ll get.”
“Diana,” Sebastian said, the words finally coming to him. “What are you doing here?”
“Your friend thought to send for me. I was told that you were in a bad way and I can see that is true. Let’s go.”
“Diana, you cannot speak to me in such a manner.”
“And you are embarrassing me even further. Please will you leave with me, now?”
Sebastian nodded mutely, then he drank back the last of the brandy and followed her out to the waiting carriage.
Once they were settled and they began to trundle across the cobbles, Diana spoke again.
“Are you going to tell me what is going on? Or did I have to come and rescue my brother—further damaging my reputation, I may add—for nothing?”
“I’m sorry, Diana,” Sebastian whimpered, looking down at his hands. “For everything.”
“Yes, well, that is not an acceptable answer. What has happened?”
Sebastian looked up at her, took a deep breath, and told her everything.
“You were right, Diana. I heard her say it, and I heard Mrs. Jones laughing along as though it was the most amusing thing in the world.”
For the tiniest of seconds, Sebastian thought he saw a smirk across Diana’s face.
Is she happy about this?
But no. It disappeared as quickly as he had thought it, and he let it go. His imagination—and no doubt the alcohol—was playing tricks on him.
“Well I hate to tell you I told you so, but—”
“I know. You told me. I should have listened to you. I promise I will never ignore your advice again.”
