Page 59 of The Duke of Fire
“Good evening, Your Grace,” she said. Her words were respectful, but her tone was icy.
“You did not come,” he said simply, knowing that she would know what he was talking about.
“I… I could not,” she whispered.
That was all that he needed. A crack that he could enter. She was not as unbothered as she pretended to be.
“Oh, is that so?” he asked. “Perhaps, you did not intend to? You did not even care to inform me. If it were not for my grandmother’s meddling, I would not even know you were attending this ball.”
“Don’t tell me that you would not have come to this ball if I were not here?” she asked, her eyes wide. She truly wanted to know his answer. He could tell.
“That is precisely what I am telling you,” he replied huskily.
Her eyes darted to different parts of the ballroom. He knew what she was thinking. People would be watching them, listening in. Some members of thetonhad eyes and ears only for scandal and gossip.
“The discussion you want is not for here. Not for a ball,” she said softly.
“Then where?” he asked, clearly frustrated.
He was impatient enough to have thought of leading her to a spot, choosing it for her. He groaned as he caught Amelia staring at someone else behind him. His grandmother seemed to have the best timing for everything.
The dowager suddenly appeared and stole Amelia from him. She held the young lady’s hand by the elbow. It was not something people would be whispering about. After all, his grandmother was sponsoring the woman who could not let him sleep in peace.
“My dear,” the dowager addressed Amelia, linking her arms with hers. “I believe Lady Rivington wants to talk to you about your gown. She likes that it stands out in the crowd. She wants to know if you have chosen it and which modiste made it for you. Do come along with me.”
Sebastian’s brows knitted together at his grandmother’s maneuvering. The older woman looked at him with her usual wide-eyed innocence. After batting her eyelashes at him, she gave him a wink.
What was that?
He stood on the edge of the ballroom, trying to avoid small talk or the gazes of women who were trying to catch his eye, hoping that he would dance with them.
After a few moments, his grandmother was back. She linked arms with him, as well, loudly saying, “I know you do not feel too well tonight, but you still came. Thank you, my dear boy.”
“Grandmother?” he whispered.
“Hush, and play along, Sebastian,” she chided softly.
She shepherded him away from the crowd, presumably to provide him the opportunity to rest and feel better. They passed through an archway that led to a short corridor with walls covered with eerie portraits that seemed to be watching him.Finally, they entered a side room, hidden in velvet curtains. Inside, there was one lamp, dimly lighting the secret space.
“Do not take long,” his grandmother advised.
Sebastian was still confused when the door clicked closed and the hush seemed to hum around him. He turned to see Amelia standing in a corner, looking every bit as bewildered as he was.
Chapter 21
“What is this?” he asked, his control about to snap.
He thought he was the one who liked playing games, but his grandmother and her protégée seemed to be playing one of their own.
“This?” she echoed.“What do you mean?”
“You were gone for days, Miss Warton. Now, you are here, and it seems that you and my grandmother have an… understanding.”
Amelia did not shrink even as his voice rose. She met his gaze.
“You and I both know that whatever this is cannot work.”
“Remember the agreement. You were supposed to come whenever I summoned you. You were not supposed to refuse,” he gritted out, not proud of himself at how angry he sounded. But it was the truth—the one that had him trapped in his house, or trying to entertain himself to no avail.
