“Is that what they are calling it now, Rockingham? Friendship?”
Oh, hell. Sebastian hadn’t felt so much like squirming since he’d crashed his father’s shiny new curricle the day after his twenty-first birthday. “Lady Asherton is a grown woman.” Which sounded like a load of crock even to his own ears.
“She is also a woman who has suffered a great deal of loss over her lifetime. And one who has recently experienced a most unfortunate rejection.”
How in the hell was Sebastian supposed to explain that he was fucking the man’s sister ather request—and in every imaginable manner? The thought managed to stir him despite such inappropriate circumstances. Damn, butMaggiestirred him. In more ways than he’d bargained for.
“What type of an understanding exists between the two of you? Is my sister harboring unrealistic expectations regarding your… friendship?”
Sebastian immediately shook his head. It had been she who had set the parameters of their affair. It would end when the house party was over, although he wasn’t nearly as comfortable with such parameters as he had been when he’d agreed to them. “She is… appreciative of my company. I am able to offer her… comfort and encouragement on the heels of my uncle’s unfortunate behavior.”
Sebastian cleared his throat and hoped this answer was an acceptable one. Margaret deserved the benefit of his discretion on such matters. He would respect her privacy and Danbury could hang if he couldn’t accept that.
Danbury set his empty glass onto the sideboard. “But does she love you?”
“She does not,” Sebastian answered quickly and then examined the question a moment after. She saw him as immature, did she not? He was something of a balm for her wounded pride.
Danbury stared at him hard. “My sister is not an overly effusive woman.”
Ah, but in some matters, she was. “She has specifically requested that we curtail our… friendship at the culmination of the house party.”
They had six more nights. Initially, he’d presumed to believe that would be more than enough time to work her out of his system. But being with her was resulting in the opposite. Suddenly, he wanted more than a week.
Would she be willing to see him in London beforeThe Dianasailed? Depending on her progress, he might not be leaving until late next spring. But it was also possible that she would be ready to sail upon his return, in which case they’d depart before the coldest winter months were upon them.
“Do not hurt her,” Danbury said. “Or I shall hurt you.”
It was Sebastian’s turn to make a point in no uncertain terms. “I’d cut off my own arm before I’d see your sister harmed in any way.” And he meant it. He’d wanted to strangle George for setting out to use her in the manner that he had—even though Maggie had been willing to go along with it.
She deserved so much more—more than she herself would ever admit to. She was an adventurer at heart. He’d seen that in her painting, in the expression on her face when she’d admitted to wanting to fly. She deserved security but also the knowledge that she was the center of her husband’s world.
His heart dropped. He wanted to be that person for her but he could not. He’d hated that he’d had to walk her to her own chamber very early that morning. He’d wanted to awaken with her at his side. He could make no promises to her regarding the distant future, but he could promise her weeks? A fortnight? It was a sorry bargain for her, for certain.
He would be away from England for months, if not years, onThe Diana, an untested ship with a crew of raucous sailors.
She lived in a townhouse in London and upon his departure, she would be courted by other men. Men better than himself—better than George. The thought ought to reassure him. It did not.
Danbury went to pour himself another dram and this time, Sebastian stepped forward. “I’ll take you up on your offer after all.”
He’d make love to her tonight. He’d request that she not remain at Land’s End for the holidays. They could enjoy one another in England before he sailed—without the curious eyes of her family and all the other guests. They could have weeks together, possibly months.
If she came, he might consider delaying his travels—perhaps allow Captain Edward to make a short commercial journey without him.
But would she?
And why was he feeling a sense of desperation that she should? As he stepped out of Danbury’s study, Sebastian sought her out first thing.
Maggie was absent from the drawing room, however. Lady Danbury said she’d gone outside.
Cold hovered in the air, indicating that winter was not far off.
An odd sense of urgency had him searching the terrace and heading toward the gardens. Perhaps Lady Danbury was mistaken. Perhaps Margaret had retired early.
She had promised to come to him again. And then her voice reached out to him from the darkness. “I didn’t think anyone knew I was out here.”
24
Is “More” Enough?
