“Heavens,fine,” her mother snapped, standing in front of Lord Birchwood, who tried to protest once more. “Justgo.Go, and do not bother us again until we call for you, Phoebe. You are proving to be more trouble than you are worth.”
“I agree,” Lord Birchwood muttered behind her. “A wife must be docile and compliant. Where ishercompliance, Tripleton? I was promised a good, silent wife.”
Phoebe’s heart withered as she saw her father’s shame at the accusation. He had truly promised her to be that without ever telling her. She had been quiet with them, needing to please, needing to keep her mouth shut, but for them to promise that behavior to others…
It made her feel rather ill.
A pull on her hand brought her out of her thoughts.
“Phoebe, come with me!” Genevieve exclaimed happily, and Phoebe took one last look at her parents and Lord Birchwood. Her mother flicked away her attention with a dismissive wave of her hand. Lord Birchwood’s mouth curled in distaste, while her father did not even look at her.
Hurriedly, she turned to Genevieve, then finally,finally, let herself get lost in the excitement of the day.
“Why did you even bother bringing me here?” Sebastian groaned while scowling at Percy.
“Because it is interesting, and because my wife wants to see the hot-air balloon take off. She is extremely invested in this little science experiment and wants to know all she can about this new method of travel.”
“You know that I have been introduced to Verity, do you not? It is not necessary to always call heryour wife.”
“I enjoy it.” Percy’s mouth twitched with a small smile. “I like the way the words roll off my tongue. My wife… See there is a nice sound to it. Give it a try yourself. You might think it so nice that you shall be tempted to find your own wife soon enough.”
“Heavens,” Sebastian laughed. “You have come a long way, Percy.”
“And if I recall correctly, it was you who encouraged such a thing, no? You told me to cherish what I had, so I did.”
“Well, I am glad you finally listened to me. It only took, what, ages?”
Playfully, Percy nudged into his side, and Sebastian chuckled as they ventured deeper into the field where a scientist was setting up a hot-air balloon. The take-off was scheduled to be one of the biggesttonevents for a while, and Sebastian could not lie.
He was actually quite excited to see such an invention, despite his complaining. He was only bemoaning that fact that Percy and Verity had insisted they join his party because he felt guilty for taking a day off work after experiencing such a massive breakthrough.
“Myhusbandis stubborn,” Verity chimed in as she hurried to rejoin them and link her arm through Percy’s. Sebastian raised a brow at her. Just a few moments ago, the Duchess had become distracted by a bow and arrow target range near the entrance. “But all is forgiven. In the end, he came back to me.”
Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. “He might be an obstinate man, but that goodness, that love was always in him, Verity.Youwere always in his heart; he just needed a nudge to realize it.”
“And what of you?” Verity asked. “Who is in your heart, Sebastian?”
He blanched, stumbling in his steps, an unusual thing for him to do. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Oh, let us not pretend. We all know how much you have been asking about a certain Lady Phoebe,” Verity teased. “Is that who resides in your he?—”
“Nobody resides anywhere,” Sebastian said quickly. “In certain dreams, perhaps, but definitely not...”
He could not even allow himself to finish the statement. It ought to be a crime to deny his true feelings to his friends.
The lie was like acid on his tongue, for Lady Phoebe had, in fact, been the subject of his intimate dreams. He dreamed of his Thisbe taking off her mask, entering his side of the privacy booth the night of the ball.
And the dream had ended before he could see her face. His bloody imagination couldn’t offer even a semblance of satisfaction.
“Percy,” Verity whispered far too loudly, “I think Talwyn has found himself someone he cares for deeply.”
Sebastian stiffened. “No. No, I have not. Certainly not who you think. Why would you think that?”
Verity laughed delightedly. “Because you have not stopped asking about her.” She reached over and tapped her fingertipson Sebastian’s forearm. “And even though I have known you for what seems like a very long time, I have never once before heard you protest so loudly and vehemently all while managing to trip over your own words.”
Percy sniggered. “You are an absolute wreck, Talwyn. The lady has turned your head and now you cannot string together a proper sentence.”
“I…I can speak coherently,” Sebastian muttered, which only made his friends laugh more raucously. “My power of speech is my greatest strength.”
