Page 74 of The Duke of Fire
“Please do not tell her,” Finch begged, breaking down. It was true. Octavia Warton was his weakness. What he saw in that vile woman he could not begin to guess. However, perhaps the two were just the right pair.
“Then listen to me carefully. I will not repeat myself,” he said, looking at Finch with deep scrutiny. “You must find a husband for your sister. Find a good man, not a brute like you. Not someone who would hurt her. I will find out. Make sure that this man will make her happy. She deserves to be happy after all the years of pain and suffering.”
“She is ruined,” Finch said in despair, shaking his head. “No good man will marry her.”
“She is not ruined,” Sebastian corrected. “You will make certain that nobody else will say otherwise. Dote on her as if she were truly your beloved sister, not just someone you treat as a burden. You will introduce her to potential suitors at teas and musicales. Then, when you finally find a good man who is interested in her, you will entrust her to him with a smile.”
Finch took a deep breath. He looked back at his house, possibly wondering if his wife or his sister were still awake. Finch’s shoulders sagged, defeated. Sebastian watched him, his expression unreadable but without pity. He did notwantto have this conversation. Butno oneharmed Amelia and walked away unscathed.
“I will find her a husband, Your Grace,” Finch finally muttered, even though he could not meet his eyes.
Sebastian remained standing, waiting for the rest of the promise.
“Oh, I know what you are waiting for,” Finch said grudgingly. “He will be a good man. Someone who will treat her well. He willnot hurt her. He will love her and make her happy.”
Sebastian should be content. However, the little victory was bittersweet. If Amelia were any other woman, he would be relieved to find a way to help her retain her reputation so that she could find a husband. Yet, it did not give him the satisfaction he hoped for. He nodded his goodbye and turned on his heel.
Back in the carriage, the tension in his chest remained. He had provided the protection that he promised he would give, but she would haunt him forever. He did not sleep as much as he had let Amelia believe. He had stayed awake most of the night just to watch her sleep, memorizing her face like a man who knew he would never be that close again.
She will marry someone else. As she should.
The thought lodged in his chest like a blade. Someone else would hold her. Laugh with her. Love her.
He stared out the window, his jaw tight.
He had done the noble thing.
So why did it feel like he had just torn his own heart out?
Chapter 28
“Why does it have to be so hard?” Amelia asked the ceiling.
She could not sleep. It was past dawn, and she knew that Octavia might have a million tasks for her to do by morning light. She needed to rest. However, her mind continued to be bothered by thoughts of Sebastian and Finch.
They were two stubborn men who were used to getting their way. A few minutes later, though, she heard the door open and close. She assumed her brother had entered the house. There was no more noise. Just silence. It seemed that they had been able to settle whatever it was between them without any violence.
Days later, something more unnerving was happening in their household. She thought that because of what happened that fateful night, she would be subjected to more abuse. The opposite seemed to have happened.
Her brother, Finch Warton, had suddenly begun acting kindly.
At first, it was subtle.
One morning, he did not scold her about the merits of eating every crumb because he was spending money on her. Instead, he even buttered her toast. Even Octavia looked understandably suspicious.
When getting ready for a ball, Finch even defended her to none other than his favorite person, his wife.
“Your gown is no longer in fashion, Amelia,” Octavia said. “I swear I saw Lady Hippolyta wearing that two Seasons ago. Your little writing must not have been benefiting you as much as I thought it was.”
“You must be mistaken, Octavia. Even if it is no longer in fashion, the blue suits Amelia well.”
Octavia grumbled, while Amelia’s jaw dropped, together with her spoon splashing into her soup.
The strange changes continued to show. It was like her childhood dream come true—Finch finally treating her like a brother would a sister. He rarely raised his voice anymore and even bought her a shawl.
“It is getting chillier,” was his reason.
Amelia could not guess what spell Sebastian had cast upon Finch. Perhaps there were threats involved, but she could not ask him because he had stopped sending her notes and invitations. It was like he had vanished into thin air. She could not initiate a meeting, either. Her reputation was close to being completely damaged, and she vowed she would be more careful.
