Page 88 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
He stumbled over to his carriage and directed it to her home.
He arrived just as the three of them were leaving the house. He stepped out of carriage and watched, hidden by the shade of a tree and the rapidly falling nighttime. They were dressed as though for a soiree, Jenny in the most striking blue gown he had ever seen. It accentuated her body perfectly, and yet was demure and classical. It made him groan inside.
“Come on,” Luke urged, already at their coach while Alison and Jenny giggled to themselves, making their way across the street in their own time. “We’re going to be late if you two keep dawdling.”
Alison rolled her eyes exaggeratedly and turned to Jenny. “And they say it is the wives who nag. Seems to me Luke does enough so for both of us.”
At that, Jenny burst into laughter, throwing her head back with abandon, despite the impropriety of it. And at that, Sebastian felt himself break in two. While one half loved her more than ever, seeing her there, happy and joyful and full of life, the other half raged with a fury he hadn’t known possible.
It was all true. She didn’t care for him, or otherwise she would be as distraught as he was. No, those words he overheard must have come from her heart, her soul, and it ripped his own soul to shreds.
He watched as their coach trundled down the street and out of sight, and then he stumbled over to their front door, and he knocked as loudly as he could.
“What is it?” Fanny asked, clearly horrified at the sight of him, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
He knew he looked a mess—drunk and unshaven and barely washed—but her expression sent a shiver of shame through him. He rubbed a hand over his face, then did his best to smile at her.
“Where are they going?”
“Who?” Fanny asked, and Sebastian tutted loudly.
“The King and his wife,” Sebastian replied, unable to stop his snarling sarcasm from creeping out. “Who do you think?”
“I… I’m not sure I’m at liberty to tell you that, Lord Hartwood.”
“LordHartwood, that’s exactly right. You have no choice but to tell me.”
He hated himself for being so cold and hard with her; he hated the glimmer of fear he saw in her eyes. But he couldn’t stop himself, not if he wanted to see Jenny and he did so very much want to see her.
“A ball, My Lord,” Fanny stuttered.
“Any particular ball?”
She froze, her mouth working up and down as she tried to think of an answer that would not betray her employers. He reached out a hand and leaned heavily on the door frame, knowing he made an imposing figure.
Why can you not just tell me?
“I will make it worth your while,” Sebastian said after another long moment. He dug around in his pocket and pulled out a coin. She held her hands up in refusal, pushing it back toward him.
“I don’t want your money, My Lord. And I am certain my employers will not appreciate my telling you, but you are so keen to go. Miss Jones has been in such a dire way for days now, and although it is not my place to interfere, I believe she will be pleased to see you.”
“She’s been—”
Sebastian looked to the floor in confusion. She looked anything but upset as she left for the ball.
Could I have got it all wrong?
“Excuse me, My Lord, but she loves you and she was terrible hurt when you disappeared.”
Sebastian looked back up at the maid, who had softened a little, perhaps at the sadness rushing from every one of his pores.
“Where have they gone?” he asked again, his tone gentle and coaxing this time. Pleading with her.
“Lord Denninson’s, My Lord.”
