Later that night, Veronica sat on a cream-colored sofa in a drawing room of her brother’s town house staring into an empty wine glass. She’d had three glasses of the stuff and felt no better than she had when Sebastian had unceremoniously ordered the maids to pack her things and sent her and Mary off into the snowy afternoon to Justin’s house. Justin’s house being only two streets away, they’d hardly been in danger while traveling.
The door to the drawing room opened and Justin stepped inside. Veronica held up her empty glass and eyed her brother through the thing. “Why do so many people say it’s a good thing to drink your troubles away?”
“Pardon?” her brother asked, moving over to the sideboard and splashing brandy into a glass for himself.
“It’s mentioned in books, in poetry, in plays. Drinking is supposed to help one forget one’s cares, but all its done is give me a nagging headache.”
“You’re not doing it correctly then,” Justin drawled.
“Show me how to do it correctly, please,” she said hopefully.
He arched a brow at her. “Care for a brandy?”
She nodded. “Yes, absolutely I care for one. Thank you.”
Justin returned to the sideboard and splashed a much smaller amount of brandy into another glass before crossing the room to hand it to her. He sat in a large sage-colored chair at right-angles to the sofa and pushed his booted feet out in front of him, crossing his legs at the ankles. He took a large sip of brandy. “Dare I ask why you’re here and not at your husband’s house?”
“Am I unwelcome?” Veronica countered. “This was once father’s home, you know. I lived here.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Justin drawled.
Veronica sighed. “Sebastian and I are no longer going to the Hazeltons’ ball together,” Veronica admitted. “As soon as the storm passes, I’ll return to Edgefield Hall.”
Justin’s lips formed a tight, thin line. “So that’s it then? You still don’t forgive him? Even after I brought Miss Wilson to explain.” He shook his head and made a disgusted noise under his breath. Veronica was fairly certain he’d cursed.
“It’s not that simple, Justin,” she began.
“Isn’t it?” Justin said, eyeing the liquid in his glass, his jaw tight. “Look, Veronica, I’ve held my tongue. For two long years I’ve held my tongue because I knew you were angry, and I didn’t want to make things worse. But I refuse to hold my tongue any longer.”
He took a deep breath and downed the rest of his brandy before discarding his glass on the table next to him and standing to pace in front of the frosty windows. “The truth is that you don’t want happiness. In fact, I’d say you’ve been actively pushing it away.”
Veronica remained frozen in her seat. She didn’t move or say a word, just listened as her brother’s harsh words bounded through the room.
“Life is about choices, Veronica. You could have chosen to trust your husband. You could choose to believe Miss Wilson and trust Sebastian even now, instead you choose to hold on to your petty little insults and nurse your old, misbegotten assumptions. I happen to know your husband has been telling the truth this entire time. Ask yourself, why would Melissa lie now? What does she possibly have to gain from it?”
“Sebastian’s mother once told me he would cheat. She told me he was exactly like his father, who was never faithful,” Veronica said in a small voice. Her brother was right, of course, but still she felt the need to defend herself, if only a little.
Justin continued his angry pacing, occasionally punctuating his words with a hand in the air. “That woman never had a kind word to say about Sebastian or his father, yet clearly you choose to listen to her too. You want to know why I never took your ‘side,’ Veronica. Because you were wrong. You’ve always been wrong. Sebastian isn’t a cheater. The fact is that you’ve been so worried you married the wrong man that you didn’t even notice you married the right one.”
Veronica gasped, but Justin kept going. “And I want it to be quite clear to you as you live the rest of your life alone and unhappy and childless in that vast estate in the countryside, it’s because you chose that, Veronica. That is your choice.”
Justin scooped up his glass from the side table, stomped to the sideboard, and splashed more brandy into the glass.
“Are you quite through?” Veronica said in a calm, even tone.
“I don’t care if you’re angry with me. You can go back to the countryside when the storm lets up and never speak to me again,” he finished, waving a hand in the air again.
“May I speak now?” she insisted.
“Fine.” Justin nodded and took another large sip, but his chest was still heaving, and his dark eyes continued to flash.
“If you’re quite through, I was going to say that you’re perfectly right. I’ve been despicable and I need your help, Justin. I need you to tell me how to get him back because I’m terribly afraid it’s too late.”
Chapter Eighteen
Sebastian tossed in his bed. Punching the blasted pillow no longer worked. He was tortured. Tortured by what had happened between himself and Veronica two years ago and tortured by what had taken place in his drawing room this afternoon. He’d been a rubbish husband, allowing his wife to molder in the countryside for two years without trying to make things right. He’d made mistake after mistake with Veronica. There was no doubt about it. But in the painful silence, just after Melissa had left, he’d realized none of that mattered. Veronica knew everything now, and there was some relief in that, but it hadn’t been enough. She hadn’t said a word. Not a single bloody word. Which told him everything he needed to know. The explanation didn’t matter whether it came from him or Melissa. It would never be enough for Veronica. He understood that now. And he’d sent her away because it hurt too damn much. Only now that it was lost to him forever, did he truly realize how much he’d yearned for her love.
Obviously, Veronica had never loved him. If she had, would something as small as one lie stand in the way of their life together, their entire future? No. It was time to admit defeat. The fact was, he never should have lied to her. And now it was too late. Not only had he released her from her obligation to attend tomorrow’s ball, he would also free her from this doomed marriage. It would bring scandal on both of their families and her mother might prefer to wait until Jessica and Elizabeth made good matches before announcing the news, but Sebastian would grant Veronica a divorce if that’s what she wanted. He’d even falsely admit to adultery if that would make the thing go more easily.
