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Perhaps. But his mother had. Still, he could not argue with Mei when she was the injured party. Literally. He kissed her fingertips, but the guilt still weighed heavily in his breast.

They did not have time to speak more on it, though.

Drake had gathered the other dukes and their wives, and they were all waiting in the drawing room when Sebastian and Mei entered. Not just the wives either—Lady Johanna had brought Rose with her, and Lady Astrid was there as well. Sebastian did note that Lady Annabelle was missing. Of course, he did not expect to see Delilah, but at the same time her absence felt stranger than Lady Annabelle’s.

“Sebastian! Mei!” Tiffany jumped to her feet from where she was sitting between Gregory and Lady Astrid, running to them with her arms outstretched. Her expression was caught between horror and worry. Behind her, Gregory got to his feet, worry etched in every line in his face. Mei and Sebastian both hugged her to them. “Drake told us… Mother tried to have Mei kidnapped and sold?”

Hearing his sister say the words out loud sent a chill through Sebastian’s heart. He still did not understand how his mother could have stooped so low… and possibly lower. It made his whole chest hurt.

“Yes,” he said quietly. Drake had explained to Sebastian why he’d been on his way to Mei’s home. Though he had only known the address, not the resident.

He’d been in a particularly disreputable brothel when Aaron Heywood arrived, recognized him immediately, and overheard the message being delivered. Heywood was going to be there to ensure everything went well. Drake had only taken the time to gather two of his men to ensure he would not be outnumbered before running to the rescue. Which was when he’d run into Sebastian in the streets.

“How… Why… No, I know why,” Tiffany said angrily, shaking her head as she stepped back. “But how could she have arranged such a thing?”

“That is something only Aaron Heywood can answer, I believe,” Sebastian said tiredly. He glanced at Drake, who nodded, and stalked out of the sitting room. It was time to finally question Mr. Heywood. They would start with him and then see if the other man knew anything.

“I meant how could she even think of doing such a thing, but yes, I suppose it is important to find out how she thought the deed could be done as well,” Tiffany said mournfully.

Mei reached over and pulled Tiffany into another embrace.

“Whatever your mother does, it does not reflect on you… or Sebastian,” Mei said quietly enough that Sebastian knew only his sister and he could hear her. “You are not responsible for her choices or her lack of character.”

Sighing, some of the tension slipped from Tiffany’s frame, and she hugged Mei back tightly.

“I am so glad you are to be my sister,” Tiffany replied, her voice slightly muffled by the embrace. “I do not care what my mother thinks.”

“Good, because I am very glad to be your sister, and I also do not care what your mother thinks.” Mei’s jest, which was loud enough to be heard by everyone, lessened some of the tension that was gripping the room. Gregory chuckled, and Lady Astrid grinned at both of them.

“Personally, I care very much what Tiffany’s mother thinks, and I hope it sticks in her craw for eternity that Sebastian is marrying against her wishes,” Lady Astrid said acerbically. “I bet it chafes her even more than Tiffany being a duchess and a beauty in her own right.”

Sebastian did his best not to bristle automatically in defense of his mother. It was one thing for him and Tiffany to say such things, or even Gregory or Mei, but it was harder hearing it from someone who was not part of the family. Still, he could not fault Lady Astrid’s defensiveness of his sister and soon-to-be wife.

He was going to have to get used to no longer defending his mother.

It was not as if she deserved it, anyway. But the habit was proving harder to kick than he’d realized it would be.

The sound of multiple heavy footsteps approaching the door had everyone looking up. Tension threaded through the room again. Sebastian took Mei’s arm and pulled her to his side, moving them to the back of the room, the farthest point from the door and the largest distance he could put between her and her attacker. He felt her stiffen as Drake came into the room, followed by two of Sebastian’s burliest footmen who flanked Heywood.

“Thank you,” Drake said, giving them a wave of his hand. “You may go. We can handle it from here.”

The footmen bowed and left the room, closing the door behind them.

For the first time, Sebastian was really able to take in Heywood. The man had his head down, as if in shame, which hid the scar on his face for the moment. His clothing was not Sebastian’s livery, but it was decently made. He looked middle class and would not have stood out anywhere but in the midst of the ton.

The dukes had arranged themselves so they were between him and the ladies. It was likely an unnecessary precaution, as Heywood’s hands were bound and his ankles hobbled by more rope between them, but Sebastian knew no one would want to take any chances. Which was why he’d put himself and Mei at the back of the room, though that was as much for her peace of mind as anything else.

Perhaps his as well. Even though he knew Heywood was no longer a threat, Sebastian did not want the man any closer to Mei than he had to let him be.

Thankfully, Mei did not appear fearful. If anything, she leaned forward, as though she was curious.

Mei

Aaron Heywood appeared to be a man who was defeated by life. Even though she knew he had been part of the plot to kidnap her, that he was the one who had set it up, there was still a part of her that felt strangely sorry for him. Perhaps if only because he had tried to defend her, though not very effectively, against the other man, who had been far more brutal.

She knew that he’d been fine with allowing her to suffer a terrible fate, and yet… perhaps she should not chide herself too much for still being able to feel sympathy for him. That said more about her character than it did about his.

“Mr. Heywood,” Drake said in a deep, severe voice. “We have some questions for you.”