“If that’s the case, start talking,” Cassian said as if he truly meant to go through with the threat. “Lest Ronan here turns a grump.”
“When is he ever not?” Alaric chuckled.
“Yes, yes, pick on me then,” Ronan sneered over his tankard. “Just remember who it is that you’re picking on. I don’t forget.”
“Unless it’s to shower,” Cassian hooted. “Honestly, Ronan, when you skulked in here, I thought I imagined the trail of rats following you. Don’t tell me… friends of yours?”
“Nah,” Ronan said. “Just some of your old girlfriends, Cassian.”
“More like Sebastian’s,” Alaric joined in, laughing along with Ronan. “Not that he’d remember them.”
“Not from their faces,” Cassian added, to which all the men howled.
Sebastian joined in on their laughter, expecting it now, for his personal life was a constant cause of mockery among the three men. Of the four, he was the known philander and rake, and most often these little meetings were spent detailing his latest conquests for them to judge him on. Ronan never had much time for women. Alaric was now married and supposedly in love. And Cassian…he could act as I do, for he is charming and attractive enough. But the only person Cassian has ever cared about is himself.
“So?” Alaric eventually pulled the men out of their humor. “Where have you been? And do not dare lie,” he made sure to add with a knowing look. “I can tell that there is a good reason for your tardiness.”
“Perhaps I slept in?” Sebastian shrugged. “The natural consequence of having a late night with a woman whose name I don’t remember, nor do I care to.”
“Oh…” Alaric smirked, and Sebastian’s stomach dropped as he understood the meaning. “So, these rumors about you and Miss Harcourt are unfounded, then? No truth to them.”
Ronan laughed darkly. “See how he squirms. He’s either sat himself on a nest of ants or for once rumors are true.”
“What…” Sebastian swallowed. “What have you heard?”
“Everything,” Cassian said with a wicked grin. “So, you can either tell us the truth about it, or we can simply guess. Bewarned, I don’t think you’ll enjoy the conclusions we come to if left to it.”
Alaric chuckled. “I doubt the truth would suit him much better.”
Sebastian groaned to realize the trap that he’d walked into. The reason he was late was on account of his trying to decide whether he would attend today’s meeting or not.A near thing, as I very nearly said to hell with it and stayed home. The only reason I didn’t was that the thought of leaving these three to gossip among themselves would be a recipe for disaster that I would surely pay for.
It was just yesterday when Miss Harcourt appeared at his home unannounced and declared her wish to marry him. A true shock it had been, because when Sebastian had made her the offer, he’d immediately regretted it, comfort found when she had turned him down. Only for her to come to him the next day… again, he was supposed to deny her, but found himself unable for reasons he did not like to think about.
Alas, he was committed to the marriage now and would indeed go through with it. And where he knew that it was for the best, something he had to do for obvious reasons, he could not escape the feeling that he’d made a terrible mistake.
“The whole thing was a true catastrophe,” Sebastian sighed and shook his head. “And I have myself to blame as much as anything.”
“Well, that’s not a surprise,” Cassian chortled.
“Through no fault of my own, I found myself alone with Miss Harcourt – and before you say anything, it was not as you think.” He looked warningly at his friends. “It was an accident, for I was a little drunk and looking for the washroom.”
Cassian snorted. “If that is the lie you wish to tell yourself.”
“The point is,” Sebastian emphasized. “Miss Harcourt is clumsier than a baby deer, and she tripped and fell. I caught her, found the woman in my arms, and the next thing I knew Lady Weatherstone was accusing the two of us of…” He could not help but chuckle. “I am sure you can figure that part out.”
“Lady Weatherstone…” Alaric’s lip curled. “She gossips like the wind blows.”
“A fact I know too well,” Sebastian sighed. “No need to say that Miss Harcourt was aggrieved and terrified of what this would mean – you all know her history, I assume?”
Ronan scoffed. “Didn’t she trick some young count into proposing to her? Tried to steal his fortune?”
“I heard she threatened to spread a rumor that he had bedded her without consent, lest he marry her,” Cassian added.
“Whatever the truth, the point remains that she was at breaking point,” Sebastian took hold of the conversation once again. “And, seeing a young damsel in distress, I did the honorable thing and suggested that we marry.”
“The honorable thing!” Cassian cried with laughter. “That would be a first!”
“And she said yes?” Alaric asked curiously, his brow furrowed as he studied Sebastian closely.
