What could he say? That he wouldn’t? He meant it, but why would she believe him?
He stared at her, feeling more helpless than ever. “Tell me what to say, Aurelia.”
“How can I?”
How had everything gone so wrong so quickly?
“It is not who I am anymore,” he managed, hearing the defensiveness in his voice but feeling unable to stop it. And feeling less able to believe it. “You are blowing the entire situation out of proportion. So I never intended to live with you before I knew you. Having met you, I changed my mind. What is so very wrong about that? Why do you see it as a reflection of my poor character rather than the inevitable choice of a recluse?”
“Because you refuse to see it the way I felt it!” she snapped as she reached the door. He felt as though she took an indefinable, precious part of him with her as she went. “Oh, and I will be sleeping in my own rooms tonight, Sebastian. Just as you intended for me. Don’t disturb me, please.”
To her bitter relief, Sebastian made no attempt to disturb her or join her, true to her words. She lay awake, listening to him finally making his way upstairs and to bed around midnight.
She felt numb.
Sleep eluded her for large parts of the following night, and when she rose the next morning, ringing for Jane, she knew she could not stay in the house any longer. If Sebastian wanted her gone—hadeverwanted her gone—then she would grant him his wish.
Her hand came to her stomach. Was she with child? Impossible to know yet; her last bleeds had been several weeks ago, and she’d lain with Sebastian since then.
Well, if she were, then she'd find a way to raise the child without him. After all, what use did he have for a baby if he wanted nothing to do with its mother? If the child's sole purpose was to inherit, he wouldn't need it for decades yet. If the child grew to be a son, at that, and not a daughter, as Aurelia had been.
Her own mother had raised her well enough alone. Her child would live in far more comfort than she ever had—with money, security, a proper education. Everything Aurelia had lacked. The child wouldn't need a father who saw it as nothing more than a future title-holder.
She’d make certain of that.
“Good morning, ma’am,” Jane said, appearing in the doorway.
“Pack my things,” Aurelia instructed, wrapping her arms about her body. She didn’t feel like herself—she felt cold all over.Hollowed out.
Sebastian had betrayed her. Evenifhe thought he cared now. And of all the times to tell her, he had waited for it to come from that shame-faced goblin Lord Redwood of all people.Hehad been the one to humiliate her.
“How many days should I pack for?” Jane furrowed her brows.
Aurelia shook her head determinedly. “No. Pack everything I own. We are leaving.”
Her maid paled a little. “Leaving to where, ma’am?”
“Does it matter? We are not staying here with His Grace.” She strode from the room, descending the stairs to find Sebastian already in the breakfast room. To her gratification, he looked as terrible as she felt.
There was, at least, some justice in the world.
He pushed up the moment he saw her. “Aurelia.”
“I came to inform you that I will be leaving immediately.” She selected a slice of toast from the table, merely so she had something to do. She wasn’t hungry—she felt as though she would never be hungry again. “I’m not sure where to yet. But I can assure you, my supposed family in Manchester is not where I intend to go, nor to whom I will throw myself.”
His face, already pale, turned a shade whiter, sending the dark circles under his eyes to stand out in greater relief. “You don’thave to go anywhere, Aurelia. Stay here with me. You are my wife.”
“That meant little when you were planning our union.Then, I was perfectly disposable.” With great effort, she kept her temper in check. Seeing him like this was almost enough to break her resolve, but she needed time and space to think. Whatever his intentionsnow, he had betrayed her trust and her faith in their marriage. “You cannot keep me here.”
She needed out. Out of this room, this house, away from him, before she said something she couldn’t take back.
“Aurelia, please—”
“I’m leaving.” She started for the door to the foyer, but he moved faster, blocking her path. Her heart kicked against her ribs.
“No.” The single word was granite. Final. “You’re not.”
“Get out of my way, Sebastian.”
