Ronan groaned and took a final sip of his ale, pushing it away. Then he sought the attention of the bartender, indicating for another. “Say what you came to say.”
“First thing is, I know what people are saying isn’t true. I would sooner believe that you sprouted wings and started to fly. Anything other than you being caught entwined around a young lady in such a fashion that those who found you could not tell where you started and she ended.”
“Of course I wasn’t!” Ronan snapped.
“Which means there has been a terrible misunderstanding,” Sebastian agreed. “Not that it matters, as we all know…” He raised an eyebrow at Ronan, his expression finally turning from humorous to serious. “What exactly are you going to do? I know what you should do, but what you, the Duke of Westvalearegoing to do is a different matter entirely.”
His friend knew the answer to the question, of course. Sebastian wouldn’t be here if he didn’t. They spoke rarely. Saw each other even less than that. But that he was here, had come to see Ronan at one of his worst hours, was a reminder he needed that the entire world hadn’t abandoned him as he had abandoned it.
A lesson Ronan might do well to remember…
But I won’t. I know better than to let others in by now. Even a friend like Sebastian would be better off without me.
“What do you think?” Ronan grumbled just as a mug appeared before him. He snatched it and took a large sip. “I proposed to Miss Carstone earlier today, and the two of us are set to wed at once.” Another mouthful. “It was the only thing I could do. It’s not right that her reputation… what?” he barked at Sebastian. “What’s that look for?”
Sebastian was beaming at him, a glimmer in his eyes that might suggest he’d just heard the most wonderful news. “Ronan…” Then, he laughed. “Who would have guessed! The Duke of Westvale, finally married and?—”
“This isn’t a matter to celebrate!”
“Not yet,” Sebastian agreed. “But things change. People change—look at me! Look at Alaric and Cassian. Were we not in the same situation as you? Were we not equally as sorrowful and filled with dread at the thought of marrying?”
Ronan snorted. “I am not you, or Alaric, or Cassian.”
“Not yet,” Sebastian said with a wink.
Ronan scowled at his friend, refusing to take the bait.
There was a good reason that Ronan was so dedicated to living alone, never wanting to fall in love and certainly not wanting to get married. It stemmed from his upbringing, a father who was as cold and cruel as he was distant, a mother who abandoned him because of it. That’s all love was in his eyes—an excuseto abandon someone and hurt them—and Ronan never wanted anything to do with it.
And that belief wasn’t about to change because a few of his friends were weak and happy to bend and then break in the face of a pretty woman. Their issues were not his, and his were infinitely worse than anything they could dream about.
“I won’t say anything more,” Sebastian promised, holding out his palms as if to surrender. “I just want you to promise me that you won’t approach this marriage with your usual gloom. Be open, Ronan. You never know what will happen.”
“I know better than most.”
Sebastian sighed. “And this Miss Carstone? I never had the pleasure, but is she as people say?”
Surprisingly, that turned Ronan rigid. A reaction not expected upon hearing disparaging words spoken about his wife, but one that came upon him nonetheless. “What do you mean?” he asked with a warning glare at his friend.
“Nothing too sinister,” Sebastian assured him. “But surely you have heard what people say of her. And even if half of it is true…” He blew through his lips. “That she ran off with some farmer or worker or what have you. Has spent the last four years roaming the countryside doing…” He grimaced. “Best that we not go there.”
“And where are you trying to go, exactly?”
“She is trouble, is my meaning.” Sebastian made sure to be looking across the table, worry in his voice and painted in his eyes. “I would hate to see you taken advantage of or… or for something bad to happen.”
“Bad? Like being forced to marry a woman I hardly know. Or any woman, for that matter.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
Ronan curled his lips in dismissal and took a long sip of his ale as he considered what Sebastain was saying. Like his friend, Ronan had heard what was said about Miss Carstone, and he knew too that there was likely more to those stories than what was told.
Funny that few of the stories mention an adopted child. Or any child for that matter. Likely done so on purpose, because if I had known…
No, it wouldn’t have made any difference. What happened was the fault of neither of them, but they were left to deal with the consequences that happened in this world. And what did Ronan care about a child anyway? It was not as if he was expected to care for and love the woman. This would be a marriage of convenience and nothing more.
“I appreciate your concern, friend, but it is unnecessary,” Ronan grumbled. “Miss Carstone’s past is exactly where it belongs and bothers me little.”
“But—”
