All of Fairview’s eyes were on us. From engaged to scorned lovers to reconciliation. We were more entertaining than any conversation they might have been having.
I made a show of pressing my fingers to my neck and squinting my eyes.
“Odd, I was sure I was alive a moment ago,” I said.
He stepped forward and reached a hand out to me, but I stepped back.
“Don’t touch me,” I ordered, amusement falling away like a bridal veil.
Murmurs broke out in the room, but I kept my eyes on him.
“Rosamund,” he said, voice dangerously low. “Do not make a scene.”
I could see his deep eyes calculating, trying to resolve the mess he was in.
“Do you want to tell them or should I?” I asked.
All of my earlier anxiety was gone under the hatred I felt for him. I let myself feel every fake compliment that reeked of insults he ever gave me. I reminded myself he chased me downand took what I loved most. Fed my brother to the wolves at the first chance.
His eyes flicked to Oscar behind me, and his eyes flashed, latching onto whatever chance he thought he had to overcome the inevitable scandal.
“Edmonds, what is the meaning of this?” James asked.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean, Lord Allan,” Edmonds smirked.
James whipped his head towards Edmonds, and the two held a silent conversation. It was a delight to see James’ face fall beneath the blatant amusement of Edmonds.
“We should all retire to the library for a more private conversation.” Lord Smith said, stepping forward.
I tilted my head and smiled up at him.
“I don’t think that’s necessary. After all, I’ve waited so long for this moment, and I know someone else who has waited even longer.” I said.
All the color that ever existed in Lord Smith’s ancient wrinkled face evaporated in an instant. The hard edges of his severe face pulled back, and I could see nothing of the man I loved in him. Not even the blue eyes they shared could ever echo the sea of Bash’s. Whatever made up Lord Sebastian Smith was long dead.
“Edmonds, I demand you explain this instant. We had a deal,” Lord Smith said.
Edmonds shrugged. “I made a new deal.”
James twisted to face him, his hands balling into fists. The careful gentleman he played, falling away in only a few moments.
Edmonds held up his hand. “I would, both of you, think very carefully about your next moves.”
I felt his eyes on me like a single light amongst the darkest night. He was my beacon on rocky shores. I turned to the stairs and my breath caught. As always, his timing was impeccable.The last months had carved away at the muscle of him, but he was still the man I longed for in the middle of the night when everything else melted away.
His face was freshly shaved, and his shoulder-length hair was pulled back into a tight bun. He looked out of place in his fine black jacket and white trimmed shirt beneath. Like he wasn’t a pirate captain at all, but instead born for London society. If it weren’t for the wooden hand at his side, he would have been a portrait on the galley walls. Bash’s blue eyes drank me in like I was water after the drought.
The announcer cleared his throat, eyeing Bash skeptically. Duty outweighed his skepticism, and his voice called across every crevice of England.
“Mr. Edward Smith,” he announced.
Behind me, Lord Smith hissed out a swear, but my attention was firmly on my captain. He closed his eyes for the briefest of moments, and I knew he was soaking in this moment. When he opened them once more, he looked to the man who fathered him in name only. I hoped with all that I was that it felt like everything it should.
Pride erupted, sharp and bright in my chest when he took his next step. Captain Sebastian Flynn did not run from a challenge. He’d worked his whole life for this moment, and even though it looked different than he thought it would, I was proud of the role I played in its fruition.
The music came to a screeching halt, and every eye tracked Bash’s movement, but his gaze was all for me. Whatever he found on his father satisfied him enough that everything that was left of him was for me. My arms ached with the urge to go to him. These past months were an eternity, and I needed to feel his body against mine.
But this was a carefully crafted dance, and I knew every step.
