.Without having decided to do so, she had arrived again at the front of the house, outside the door to her brother’s study.
“Hugh?” She pushed the door open, but his desk sat empty. He’d always had a way of making light of life in general. When he could not do that, he was a good person to point out rational choices. Her gaze traveled around the familiar furnishings, remembering when this room had belonged to their father. It represented purpose, security, the endurance of those who had come before her.
Was she brave enough to be open to new life experiences? A tremor ran through her.
And then the liquor cabinet caught her eye.
* * *
“I’m proposing a toast,to Lady Danbury, for her kind concern in assuring that I had the softest mattress possible and also to my dearest nephew for charming all the ladies with his title and looks so as to be worthy of entrapment! To the lovely Lady Danbury and to my nephew, Sebastian!”
Uncle George lifted his glass toward nowhere in particular as Riverton leaned over the pool table, cue in hand.
“Cheers,” the baron mumbled as the velvet tip made contact with the ball.
Sebastian glanced down at his glass of brandy before grudgingly taking a sip. Was Margaret happy about this turn of events? She’d intended to break off her engagement, but Sebastian doubted she would have wanted her freedom in this manner. She would have wanted it to be a quiet and amicable parting of ways.
She was an intriguing mix of the proper English lady and defiant woman and he couldn’t help but wonder which of them would emerge from all of this.
George had sought him out immediately, gleefully, and Sebastian could not help but realize he’d made a lucky escape. What if they had not switched out chambers again?
But Sebastian knew.
He would not have offered for the chit no matter how large the dowry. If he were going to marry anyone it would be—but, no, it wasn’t even worth contemplating. He’d never marry again. Danbury, as Miss Drake’s host, would have sent him packing. Sebastian would have become known as a rogue of the very worst kind.
The poor girl had thought she’d climbed into the bed of a future duke. She’d thought she was on the verge of becoming a duchess. But she’d gone too far, and the debutante from America had no choice, now, but to settle for becoming a mere Mrs.—Mrs. George Kirkley. She was going to have to marry a man who cared only for her dowry. Part of him thought that it served her right, another part felt sorry for the chit. It had likely been her mother’s idea.
“You are a lucky, lucky boy,” Riverton commented to Sebastian.
George laughed. “Indeed!” He lifted the decanter to fill his glass once again. “Imagine my surprise when a sweet little thing pressed herself against me in the wee hours of the morning. Cooing and My Lording me.”
It was unsavory for his uncle to speak of his betrothed in such a manner. “She is to become your wife,” Sebastian reminded his uncle. Sebastian couldn’t help but wonder if George had spoken of Margaret similarly.
What would he have done if Miss Drake had climbed into bed withhiminstead of his uncle? Sebastian had certainly not discouraged Margaret when she had done just that a few nights ago.
But hehadstopped her. It had pained him to no end, but when he’d realized the mistake she was making, he’d halted their lovemaking. Despite how much he’d been enjoying himself at the time.
Her mother and Mrs. Redcliffe had been waiting outside George’s door.
Sebastian shuddered and ran one hand through his hair. He had, indeed, made a lucky escape.
“Do you know what the dowry is yet, Kirkley?” Riverton asked.
“Not until I’ve met with her papa, whom I must travel to London to meet.” George winked. “Certain to be a pretty penny.” Turning to Sebastian, he added, “We’ll depart tomorrow. Sorry to cut the house party short, my dear boy, but I know you only attended because your mother insisted. Which reminds me. I need to get the ring back from Lady Asherton.”
Sebastian couldn’t help but shake his head.
He’d realized that Margaret had had no choice but to abandon the plans they’d made to search that day. The entire household had been in an uproar before he’d even made it out of his room. Not eager to hear the gossip and speculation, he’d slipped downstairs and out the back and searched for a few hours before giving up.
The endeavor had not been nearly as enjoyable without her crawling around on the ground beside him. What was she doing now?
“If you’ll excuse me, Uncle.” Sebastian placed his glass on a nearby table. “Riverton.”
“We’ll leave early,” George reminded him.
Sebastian only nodded. Although his uncle was eager to leave Lady Asherton behind, Sebastian wasn’t sure that he was.
20
