Page 52 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
Sebastian’s brow lifted. “We do not have one.”
“Oh, don’t we?” Eleanor’s brother demanded. “Is that how you wriggle clear of it? You toffee-nosed lump of lard!”
“What did you say?” Sebastian demanded. He reached forward, grabbing the man’s collar.
“I said...” the man began, reaching for Sebastian’s hand. When he could not prize his fingers loose, he raised his other hand in a fist.
“Jonathan!” Eleanor shouted. “For pity’s sake!”
Her brother wheeled round, glaring at his sister.
“Enough!” Sebastian yelled. He stepped between Eleanor and Jonathan again and glared at the man.
“Jonathan, please,” Eleanor whispered. She was almost in tears, Sebastian noted, and his rage against the fellow grew to new levels. He had not been pleased bybeing insulted or having someone shake his fist at him, but having Eleanor in distress was too much for him.
“You have already caused enough problems,” Sebastian growled at the man. “Coming here, disrupting our ball. Howdare you? You’re not even a guest.”
“No. I’m sure,” Jonathan shouted back. “Why would you include a wanted criminal on the list?”
“I beg your pardon?” Sebastian stared at him, horrified. “What have you done?”
“Sebastian,” Eleanor whispered. “It’s true. He...the charges...your father...” she was close to tears, her words tumbling out without clear meaning. Sebastian went to her, taking her hand and resting his other hand gently on her head.
“Shh.” He whispered. “It’s all right.”
“Your father promised him,” Eleanor began, talking more slowly now. “He promised that the charges that were laid against him for embezzling money would be dropped. He never stole anything, Sebastian.”
“Shh,” Sebastian said again. “I believe you.”
He looked at Jonathan. The man was silent.
Eleanor sniffed and held Sebastian’s hand. He gripped her fingers tightly, trying to bring some comfort to her. Her hands were icy, and she was shivering lightly all over in the thin gown with its filmy sleeves. He could see how distressed she was, how upset all of these things had made her. He felt his stomach twist with rage.
“Now,” he said, turning to Jonathan as soon as Eleanor was calmer. “You had best come inside—it's cold out here. And I warn you, any insult to Eleanor or to myself will not help you.”
“You’re an earl and it’s no wonder that you think you can order us about,” Jonathan began angrily, but Eleanor looked at him crossly.
“Stop it, Jonathan,” she said softly. “Sebastian can help you.”
Sebastian smiled at Eleanor and took off his coat for her. She wrapped it tight around her, still shivering in the cold.
“Why should I trust you?” Jonathan asked, narrowing hisgaze at Sebastian.
“For Pity’s sake,” Sebastian sighed. “You don’t have to trust me. Tell me what all this is about, and I’ll tell you what I can do to assist. Then you can decide if you trust me or not.”
Jonathan glared but said nothing for a moment. Then, as Eleanor stepped closer as if to prompt him to speak, he began.
“Your father and I had an agreement,” Jonathan told him. “I was facing charges, and your father agreed, with my father, to have them dropped on the condition that my father gave Eleanor permission to wed you.”
“My father...” Sebastian stared. That made no sense. Surely, that wasn’t true.
“He did,” Eleanor said swiftly. “But it makes no difference to me,” she added hastily.
Sebastian breathed out.
“Nor me.”
Eleanor looked as though the weight of worry had dropped from her shoulders, her face relaxing, body limp.
