Page 66 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
“No,” he said, sounding defeated, “I suppose you didn’t. I was certain you had come here to taunt me. I can see now you did not.”
“Of course I would not taunt you about such a thing,” she replied softly.
“No,” he murmured, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time, “I suppose you wouldn’t. And though you did not wish for it, please allow me to say how sorry I am for causing such trouble. I was only trying to do the right thing. Yet I fear I was blinded by my own arrogance.” He gave her a pained smile.
Katrina, blinking back tears, replied softly, “Thank you, Mr. Gadfeld.”
He nodded before, heaving a sigh, he rose to his feet. Katrina and Mouse did the same.
“I suppose I should return you to Lady Tesh’s house,” he said, moving for the door. “I can ready the pony and cart in short order and have you home safe. And it will give me a chance to extend my apologies to the dowager. Though I am not looking forward to Lady Tesh’s reaction to my groveling—for she will take great pleasure in it, I’m certain.” He laughed lightly.
Katrina hardly heard anything past one very important word, however:home.What a lovely word, she thought with a small smile as she followed the vicar. She had thought that home could only be where her family was, and that to have a home again she had to return to her brother’s house. Now, however, she saw that she’d had a home all this time. Lady Tesh had given her a home. And the Oddments had made her feel welcome and were like family to her. Blood did not matter, but hearts that loved one another truly did, no matter who they were or where they came from.
If only Sebastian could be part of that.
She sucked in a sharp breath. No, he never could be. And the sooner she got that through her mind the better off she would be.
Though that thought was decimated as Mr. Gadfeld opened the front door and Sebastian nearly fell through into the narrow hall.
Chapter 22
Sebastian’s first instinct upon seeing Katrina standing next to the vicar was to grab her hand and pull her away from that man who had made her life hell and plant a fist in the holy man’s face.
But he would never know if he would have followed through on those urges. Mouse boomed out a massive bark and bounded toward him, his massive nose headed straight for that place that had already taken a punishing blow from the beast.
Blessedly he was much quicker this time around. A swift step to the side, and the dog’s snout missed his privates by mere inches, landing with a solid thud against his hip and nearly sending him sprawling backward across the flagstones.
“Mouse!” Katrina cried, lunging for the animal and pulling him back. “You naughty thing. Sebastian, are you all right?”
Never better. The words whispered through his mind as he took in her lovely face. God, he loved her, so much. He wanted to make a life with her, to have children with her, to grow old with her. And to work together, through good and bad, through every hardship and heartbreak.
But for the first time since he’d left Seacliff to come after her, anxiety took hold. And not a small bit, but a healthy dose. Not that he doubted her love for him. He knew she loved him, as deeply and completely as he loved her. But would he be able to convince her to take a chance on a life with him? She had been willing to give up her own happiness, her very future, to protect those she loved. He had never met anyone so selfless and strong. Could she overlook all the reasons they shouldn’t be together and instead focus on the one reason why they should?
But he had been silently staring at her for far too long. “Your Grace,” the vicar said, his voice solemn. “I am glad you are here, for I have something I wish to say to you.”
At once Sebastian remembered where he was—and with whom. “I have something I wish to say to you as well, Mr. Gadfeld,” he said, facing the vicar as he did before. Though this time things were so much clearer and more frightening and hopeful. And he had something very concrete he was fighting for: namely, a possible future with Katrina.
“Miss Denby is a kind, loving, generous person, who does not deserve the heartache you have caused her this past month or more.”
“That is absolutely true.”
“You shall cease your campaign against her, and against Lady Tesh as well.”
“I agree.”
“And you will repair the damage you have done on Synne.”
“I will.”
“Furthermore—”
But whatever he had been about to say was lost as the vicar’s words penetrated the furious haze his brain was in. Frowning, he peered at the man—and truly saw him for the first time. He appeared a changed man, all the bluster gone out of him. “What was that?”
“I agree with everything you’ve said, Your Grace.”
Sebastian blinked. “Oh. That’s… good.”
He looked to Katrina then. And for the first time since arriving at the vicarage saw how clear her eyes were. Was there still pain there? Yes. But the anxiety and fear were gone.
