“Just making sure,” he laughed. “But yes, I think dessert. I have nowhere I need to be.”
“Neither do I.”
Nowhere she needed to be, and nowhere she wanted to be. With her husband was where Helena wished to spend her evening. And as he made sure to let her know, he would not try to stop her or change her mind.
Finally, she felt free. And that was worth smiling about.
CHAPTER 27
It was the day after Sebastian and Helena’s kiss, and Sebastian was in remarkably high spirits. Not that this was or should have been surprising.
Sebastian knew well why his mood was so bright, and for once, he was happy to live in that mood and embrace it because life was simply too good to worry about things that no longer felt consequential or important.
“Is Her Grace coming back?” Daniel asked him.
He was lying in his bed, having been ordered to stay there for several days until his illness passed. But the color had returned to his cheeks, and his spirits were remarkably high for one who had come so close to death.
“Would you like it if she did?” Sebastian asked.
“Yes,” Daniel said with a joyful smile. “I miss her stories.”
“As she misses reading them to you,” Sebastian told the young boy. A hand rested on his arm, and Daniel beamed. “I am sure she will visit in the next day or two.”
“She will?”
“I promise.”
It was a promise that Sebastian felt safe to make; no doubt whatsoever that Helena would visit again.
She had wanted to come with him today, but her friend sent word ahead at the last minute that she wished to visit, forcing her to stay home. How she fussed about that, very nearly turning her friend away because she was desperate to check on Daniel.
As Sebastian had been sure to tell her, Daniel would be there later. And spending time with friends was always important, because one never knew what might happen.
The fact that she was so eager to see Daniel meant the world to Sebastian. He found it funny now, how worried he had been that she might not understand what he was doing with the orphanage. That he had considered for even a second that she would not understand how important it was.
How could I have ever doubted her? Although I suppose it was more myself whom I doubted. Something I will not do again.
Sebastian was through lying to himself. He was done with running from the truth. Finally, he told Helena how he felt, she told him the same, and if supper the previous evening was anything to go by—not to mention that kiss—the days ahead looked bright and worth living.
“I will see you tomorrow,” he told Daniel as he rose from the bed. “Be good.”
Daniel continued to smile. “Tell Her Grace… Tell her that I miss her.”
“As she misses you.”
Sebastian was beaming as he strolled away from the young boy’s bed. A smile that was warm and radiant and seemed to infuse the children around him with cheer. They waved and came to him, some hugging his legs as he passed them by.
They might not have been his own children, but he felt as if they were. And should things continue as they were, very soon they would have nothing to worry about.
Evening had come when Sebastian stepped outside. The carriage sat ready and waiting, and already he was looking forward to returning home so he could sup with Helena. He had assured her that he would be back in time, and he did not wish to be late.
Another truth. All that time spent trying to avoid her now feels like lost time. Annoying, to be sure, but that just means there is more time to make up for.
So lost was he in his reverie that he failed to notice the shadow lurking beside his carriage. That was until its owner stepped into the light, wearing on his pinched face a slimy smile that would make any child scream with fear.
“Your Grace, this is a pleasant surprise.” It was Mr. Ramsay of all people, the same publisher who had tried to take advantage of Helena. “What are the chances?”
Sebastian felt an immediate surge of revulsion. And he did not bother trying to hide the sneer that twisted his lips as he came to a sudden halt.
