Page 53 of The Betrothal

“What?” Seb’s face was the picture of innocence. “With a body like that you’d have the manor up and running in weeks.” His wink had me pursing my lips to keep the laughter at bay. “Well, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you don’t make things so much harder than they need to be. Fuck off to the manor for a few days then, Ben and I will take good care of Killer.”

My good humour immediately died. “She needs to go.”

His eyes rolled and my headache throbbed. “She wants to, and you aren’t helping.”

“So, you’ve told me.” I recalled our last conversation, actually the last several conversations.

“What’s your problem, Alex? All those kids in care you can’t wait to help, but a woman shows up on your doorstep, clearly in some kind of trouble. And you’re rushing to get rid?”

I hated the way he painted my behaviour. “She’s going to bring attention, and we don’t need that. And she’s affecting Ben. I can see it,” I defended myself.

“Excellent observation skills. Would you say for the better or worse?” Seb had brought his doctor voice out.

I knew what he was getting at.

“Fuck off, Sebastian.”

“Answer the question, Alexander.”

My hands fisted and I fumed. “You think it’s cute now, if he comes to accept her then she leaves, how will that work out?”

Something flashed across Seb’s face before he schooled it. “Then I trust he will cope.”

“Yeah, for sure, the bill, the current glitch in his health, then she comes in and tips it all over and fucks off. Perfect environmental stability.” I glared at him.

“You always see the worst in people, Alex. She cares about Ben, I’ve never seen anyone pick up on his cues so fast and work to accommodate them.”

Jesus, he had a point.

“She’s in his house, it’s the least she could do.” I snatched the drink and took a long sip.

“Be that as it may.” Seb conceded nothing.

“They are looking for her. Far too many people.” I pushed on.

“You know this how?” He snagged the glass back and sipped it slowly.

“Police called. They’ve got vehicles out looking for her, and in this weather. They’re even talking about house calls.”

“Police from Saint Margaret’s? That’s where she’s headed, right?” Seb asked.

I snorted, maybe this would get him. “Led by Metropolitan. Local forces supporting.”

He grimaced.

“Fucking exactly!” I crowed internally that he actually understood the gravity of it all.

Then Seb shrugged.

“You’re kidding me.” I couldn’t believe it.

“Alex, she was definitely running away, so cease your pretence of ignorance.”

My jaw dropped, slowly I recovered.

“If you’re so worried about her, why aren’t you upstairs with her, why are you in here, pissing me off?” I snapped at him.

Seb sighed and shoved his fingers into his hair, ruffling the dark locks into disarray and then dragging his palm over his face, sighing. “The death-throes of self-control?”