He cocked a brow. “Your secret society specializes in private inquiries, does it not?”
Damn the man. How does he know about the Angels?
Theories flitted through her head about how Sebastian had gained knowledge of her activities. Not that she cared how he spent his time. What he did, who he did it with…none of that was her concern any longer. She had, however, spent the last dozen years establishing her own life, and she was not about to allow him to destroy everything she’d worked to build.
Reminded of all she had to lose, she cast a surreptitious glance around. The grassy hill was a secluded spot and sparsely attended. Yet she spotted another gentleman making his way up to the summit, his striped frock coat flapping in the wind, and she did not want to risk being seen in public with her husband who was supposed to be dead.
“What do you want?” she said tersely. “You have a minute to tell me before I leave.”
“I want you to be safe.” The ore in his eyes glowed as if it were molten. “That is the only thing I have ever wanted, Charlotte. Promise me that you will stay away from Quinton, and you will never see me again.”
Her pulse fluttered like a trapped butterfly. If she were an objective observer, she would report that he seemed earnest—that he was truly concerned about her well-being. Yet experience had taught her better than to believe anything Sebastian Courtenay had to say.
“What I do is no concern of yours,” she said.
“You will always be my concern.” He braced his hands on his hips, the familiarity of the gesture wringing her heart. “Whether or not you like it.”
Sudden fear spiked through her. Although his death had legally ended their marriage, what if he wanted to reclaim his life? She did not trust the courts; when it came to the legal system, men gave themselves all the advantages.
“If you are planning on resurfacing from the dead, I’ll have no part?—”
“Rest easy, wife. Your widowhood is safe with me.”
His crooked smile made her heart clench, memories slamming into her. She’d always loved this smile of Sebastian’s; the boyish uncertainty of it was absolutely at odds with the rest of him. The juxtaposition was even more pronounced now with his harder, wearier features.
Don’t be seduced by his smile like some feather wit. He’s a liar. Get him out of your life—for good this time.
“Do I have your word of honor that you will not try to reclaim what you abandoned twelve years ago?” she asked.
“Does my honor still mean anything to you?”
His quiet words punctured the bubble of her anger. For the first time, she regretted her perspicacity and wished she couldn’t see the remorse and self-recrimination glittering in his eyes. Yet what did it matter if his conscience suffered over his betrayal? He’d abandoned her in a heinous fashion, betrayed every vow he’d ever made to her. Now he was back, and he was still keeping secrets. Still lying. Still completely and irrevocably unworthy of her trust.
“I want your promise that you will stay dead,” she said flatly.
After a moment, he said, “If you want me dead, I am dead.”
“Splendid.”
“But I will not stand by and watch you come to harm.” The softness of his tone did not diminish its ferocity, nor the fact that he was suddenly crowding her, his smoldering gaze holding her captive as surely as if he’d put his hands on her. “If you will not stay away from Quinton, you are inviting me into your life. Is that what you want, Lottie? Think about that the next time you have the impulse to follow that bastard into a bloody orgy or alleyway.”
She balled her hands, not backing down. “Interfere in my business, Sebastian, and youwillregret it.”
“I say.”
At the new voice, they both spun around. A dozen yards away, the fellow in the striped coat had emerged upon the knoll, his face sheened with sweat. He mopped at his brow with a handkerchief. His affable countenance conveyed his obliviousness to the crackling tension he’d interrupted.
“Quite a climb, eh?” the newcomer said.
“Quite,” Sebastian replied.
While his response was cordial, Charlie noted that he kept his face averted from the other man's view. Then he addressed her like one would a stranger.
“I hoped my directions were helpful, ma’am. If you follow them, you will find your way.” He bowed. “Good day.”
Without another word, he walked away from her.
Something, she silently fumed, that he had no trouble doing.
