So why did Sebastian’s words keep swirling around in her head, making her think they were important? And when had it all got so complicated? The man had lied to her. Lied and broken his word. That was a serious problem in a marriage. And one that he’d never apologized for…not that night or any night since, not even the night he’d made her cry out his name using only his mouth.
And since then…since that night. Well, he hadn’t touched her. She’d laid curled in a ball next to him, wondering when he would turn to her and kiss her neck, make her feel all the passion she’d felt before, make her melt into his arms and forget they had ever fought at least for a time, make her forget everything for those blissful minutes while they touched each other. But he had never turned to kiss her. He hadn’t tried to touch her. She knew it was because of that awful note she’d left him. The note she’d wished she could take back. But it was too late. And perhaps it was for the better. If she spent more nights in his arms, would she ever be able to return to her cold, lonely bed at Edgefield Hall? Wouldn’t she just miss him even more? That would only complicate things. She was in the right, after all. She always had been. Even if his mother was a lying snake as he’d said, she was still in the right. So why must she keep reminding herself of that fact?
The door behind her opened, shaking her from her reverie. She turned to see Justin striding toward her. The new pipe given to him by Sebastian was firmly clamped between his teeth and he was smiling at her.
He tugged the pipe from his lips. “You’ve always liked the cold,” Justin said, shaking his head. A black coat covered his wide shoulders, and he pulled on a set of black gloves.
Veronica turned back to look over the landscape again. “Everything looks so pristine and perfect in the snow. It makes me feel as if everything could just start again.”
Justin eyed her warily. “Is that what you would like? To start again?”
She kept her gaze trained on the snowy trees. “What are you asking, Justin?”
He sighed. “Oh, nothing. Thank you again for the handkerchiefs.”
She chuckled. “You’re lucky I didn’t rip them to shreds after the way you behaved at dinner the other night.”
Another smile lit Justin’s face. “Come now. You cannot blame me for having some fun at your expense.”
“Can’t I?” she asked, pushing her shoulder against her brother’s.
Justin pulled a flint from his pocket and lit the pipe. He blew a trail of smoke into the air. “Tell me something. Did you follow Sebastian?”
Veronica frowned. What in the world was her brother getting at? “Follow him where?”
“The night he went to Melissa’s town house. Did you follow him? See him come out?”
Veronica’s frown intensified. “I can’t say the thought didn’t cross my mind, but no. I didn’t. I decided instead to ask him for the truth. Adults should have conversations. I knew his answer would determine whether I could trust him.”
Justin arched a dark brow. “Ah, and he failed your test. Even though he admitted he went to her house.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes. She didn’t care for Justin’s tone…or his words. “What does it matter whether I saw him leave? Besides, he only told me the truth after I caught him in a lie.”
“But you chose to believe he was lying about nothing happening between them while he was there?” He blew another puff of smoke into the air. “And it matters because if you had seen him leave, you would know he wasn’t there long. Certainly not long enough to—”
“Spare me. I’m not a fool.” She turned and gave her brother a long-suffering stare. “Why else would he go to her town house? Besides, I shouldn’t have to tell you that some men lie.”
Justin nodded sagely. Of course she didn’t have to tell her brother. He’d been there, heard all of their father’s many lies through the years. “I know,” Justin said more quietly. “But…” He frowned and pulled the pipe from his lips again. “Wait. Are you saying Edgefield didn’t tell you why he went to Melissa’s house?”
Veronica sighed and rolled her eyes. “It seems rather obvious.”
Justin cursed under his breath. “The only thing obvious is that you two are the most stubborn fools I’ve ever met.”
She straightened her shoulders and turned back toward the landscape. “I’m a stubborn fool? Why? Because I’ve been angry with you for choosing your friend over your sister?”
Justin groaned. “I’ve told you a dozen times. I didn’t choose sides. And I’m not choosing them now. Even though my sister has hated me for two years and my closest friend has been in the devil’s own mood for the same amount of time.”
“First, I don’t hate you. And second, what has he got to be in the devil’s own mood for?” Veronica scoffed.
Justin shrugged and waved the pipe in the air. “Oh, just guessing, but perhaps because he hasn’t taken a woman to bed in over two years.”
“What?” Veronica’s jaw dropped.
“You heard me.” Justin took a puff from the pipe.
Veronica narrowed her eyes. She didn’t believe her brother for a second. It was an outrageous thing to say. She’d always assumed that after she’d left, Sebastian had simply carried on with Melissa. If they’d had a falling out, he’d have replaced her with someone else by now. The less Veronica knew about it, the better. But now she couldn’t stop herself from asking. “How do you know that?”
This time Justin rolled his eyes. “I just know. Look, the man’s not a cheater. I’ve known him since he was a boy.”
