Not from duty. Not from necessity.
Because he wanted her.
The realisation struck with quiet, devastating certainty: the lie had changed his life, but the choice had been wholly his.
He drew a slow breath, some of the storm inside him settling.
“Thank you, brother,” he murmured at last, seeing how deeply Nicholas felt the burden of delivering such news. Nicholas always felt things strongly, even when he hid behind reserve and study.
“I hardly feel worthy of thanks,” Nicholas said sorrowfully. “I feel rather awful that I told you.”
Sebastian gave a soft, reassuring laugh. “I understand. But you have helped me more than you know. Perhaps more thanIyet understand.”
“Well…” Nicholas managed a faint, uncertain smile. “If you put it that way…”
Sebastian chuckled, unexpectedly lighter. “In a strange sense, I am relieved that it was not Father’s doing. Knowing that…it alters a great deal.”
He saw understanding dawn slowly in Nicholas’s eyes.
They had just settled into chairs with the tea the butler brought when Sebastian’s thoughts returned to the matter at hand.
“I am glad, too, to know that Father was not as absolute a tyrant as all that.”
Nicholas inclined his head. “Indeed. That is good news.”
After discussing what should be done, they made their way to his mother’s private parlour so Sebastian could confront her with the truth.
He swallowed hard. Years of her retreating into wounded virtue whenever challenged made the very act of speaking honestly feel like stepping into a storm. He did not wish to wound her—he loved her, despite everything—but matters could no longer remain unspoken.
He took a steadying breath and entered.
She sat at a small table, readingThe Lady’s Gazette. She looked up, smiling faintly—until she saw his expression.
“Why did you lie about the will, Mama?” he demanded.
Her brows shot up, indignation replacing confusion. “I never lied about anything! Whatever do you mean?”
If she had shown sorrow—true remorse—he would have forgiven her in an instant. Her reflexive offence instead only steeled him.
“Oh, I think you know precisely what I mean. The clause. Wilton spoke. We know the truth, Nicholas and I. Please do not tell me it is a lie.”
She stared at him, horror widening her eyes. “Wilton told you?”
“Yes,” he lied. “Did you pay him to keep it secret?” His voice was ice cold.
“Well…I—” She stammered. “I did it to help you! You must see that. I wanted only to secure an heir for the family, and you made no effort at all!”
Sebastian regarded her without expression. Once, seeing her flounder might have given him grim satisfaction. Now he only felt a distant ache. She no longer held the power she once wielded—neither over him nor over his life.
“You could have ruined my life,” he said harshly.
“But I did not. I made itbetter,” she insisted. “And now you will have an heir, and the estate will be secure for another generation. Succession is everything, Sebastian. Your father and I wed for that purpose alone. Duty must always come first. There is no other sensible aim in life.”
“No,” Sebastian said mildly. “You’re wrong.” He met her gaze squarely. “But so was I.”
Her chin lifted a fraction. “Whatever do you mean?” Her voice had lost some of its sharpness, shaded now with wary confusion.
“Duty is not the sole purpose of life, Mama. There is something higher—truer. Following what is written in our hearts. Perhaps you never found it.” His voice gentled despite himself. “But I have. And once found, the smallness of living only for duty becomes impossible to ignore.”
