Johanna Lindsey (29 page)

“I recognized the Wemyss coach a few in front of us,” he said baldly.

“Oh, dear.” Margaret frowned. “I can’t imagine why Cecil would come—unless he didn’t dare to ignore Alberta’s summons either.”

“Look on the bright side, Maggie. He’s probably here to shoot me. Save you the trouble of a divorce.”

She glared at him. “That isn’t funny.”

“It isn’t beyond the realm of possibility, either,” he replied.

“Nonsense. He took Giles’s death hard, even somehow blamed Douglas for not preventing it, or they wouldn’t be estranged. But he’s gone on with his life. I heard he’s currently courting some duchess he met in London.”

“How nice for him,” he said with disinterest.

She narrowed her eyes on him suspiciously. “You were just trying to distract me, weren’t you?”

“You looked like you were the one about to bolt, yes.”

She could wish he wasn’t so astute. “It’s your fault,” she said defensively. “You were coerced, as it were, to be here tonight. Given that, it’s a reasonable assumption that you’ll make no effort to see the evening go smoothly.”

“As I recall, these things can last all bloody night,” he said. “But as long as we don’t stay till the end, I’ll muddle through this.”

“Certainly,” she assured him. “We can leave as soon as it’s decent to do so.”

“Then relax, Maggie. I’m not going to kill anyone tonight.” That was a slap and uncalled for. She hadn’t thought he’d do any such thing. But before it occurred to her that he might merely have been teasing, he leaned forward, caught her hand, and pulled her across to his side of the coach and into his lap. There wasn’t even time to gasp before he was kissing her.

It was the kiss she would remember most clearly because it was beyond sensual, beyond thrilling.

If she wanted to be romantic, she would say he put his heart into it. The way he held her, firmly yet so gently. The way his hand cupped her cheek, so tenderly. He wasn’t trying to incite her desire, and yet she couldn’t get this close to him and not have it rise. But it was warm, it was sweet, and it drew her into participating rather than demanding that she do so.

All thoughts of the party in their honor were gone. She could have stayed there all night in his arms, tasting the delicious languor of that kiss.

She was brought back to earth rather hard when he set her back on the seat across from him and said, “There, now you look married instead of like a sacrificial virgin. We’ve arrived. Get out of the coach, Maggie.”

M
ARGARET HAD ANGRY COLOR still high on her cheeks after the dirty trick Sebastian had played on her in the coach, kissing her simply so she’d look like she’d just been kissed. For the role they were playing, not because he wanted to kiss her. But her cheeks got even hotter, with embarrassment, when the hush fell on the room as they entered the large parlor.

It had nothing to do with curiosity finally being appeased as Sebastian’s neighbors got their first look at him after eleven years. There was some surprise, surely, but there was a lot more alarm and wariness in the expressions she could see. The men even glanced away a bit too quickly, as if they feared catching his gaze.

“Good God, they’re terrified of you,” Margaret gasped quietly. “You couldn’t send The Raven away for just one night?”

Sebastian glanced down at her and scoffed, “You exaggerate, m’dear. And why do you continue to think The Raven is a role I play?”

“You forget I’ve seen you with your grandmother. The old Sebastian is still there.”

“I take pains to conceal from her who I’ve become. The Raven is a result, Maggie, not a contrivance. It’s what the last eleven years have made me.”

“Then take some more pains to conceal that man tonight, would you? Or is this how you planned to avoid any questions you don’t care to answer? A splendid idea, appear so menacing no one will dare to approach you.”

He actually grinned at her. “Maggie, you’re starting to think like me. But as it happens, I had no particular plan for the evening. If anyone is so rude as to ask personal questions, he’ll merely be met with the silence he deserves. Is this better?”

He smiled at her so widely she could count his teeth. “No,” she said huffily. “It bloody well looks like you intend to bite me.”

He burst out laughing. She was so disconcerted by his laughter, because it was genuine that she didn’t notice Alberta approaching them until the lady spoke.

“Welcome home, Sebastian. Is your father feeling well enough to join us tonight?” Maggie almost laughed now. That wasn’t a personal question by any means, but it would certainly answer the one on everyone’s mind—if father and son had reconciled.

And yet Sebastian managed to avoid a direct reply by saying, “I didn’t think to ask.” Unfortunately, the duchess turned her gaze on Maggie with the same question in her expression, forcing Maggie to add, “Neither did I. But with Douglas back on his feet, we returned to White Oaks this morning. He is still convalescing, though, so I doubt he’s feeling up to socializing just yet.” Alberta tsked. “Yes, I should have taken that into account at your suggestion and delayed this party for at least another week or two. But hindsight, while superior, is rarely useful in correcting an error. So let me be the first to congratulate you this evening. You’ve made quite the catch, Sebastian. We were beginning to wonder if our dear Maggie would ever find a chap to suit her. So many have tried, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know,” Sebastian said with a raised brow at Maggie.

“Now, now, Sebastian, there’s no reason for jealousy to rear its ugly head,” Alberta said.

“Beautiful gel like her, it was to be expected. Had them camping on the steps of Edgewood while she was staying there. It quite amused Douglas, I’m sure.”

Margaret was blushing by then and said defensively, “I was fresh out of the schoolroom and nowhere near thinking about marriage yet. It was a bloody nuisance, if you must know, having all those young bucks showing up, half of them I didn’t even know!”

Alberta chuckled. “M’dear, that’s when all you young gels get married.”

“Douglas was kind enough not to point that out and let me decide for myself.”

“Which was fortunate for me,” Sebastian put in, coming to Maggie’s rescue.

“Indeed!” Alberta was forced to agree. “Well, come along, then. I can’t monopolize you when everyone here is eager to wish you well.”

Margaret managed not to laugh, since she was sure everyone there would just as soon not speak to Sebastian, given their initial reaction to him. But she was surprised. His earlier laughter had eased most of the guests’ wariness, and in the next hour, the well-wishing did sound genuine. Only Cecil and his fiancée hadn’t spoken to them, and Alberta had the good sense not to force that particular confrontation.

She left them soon after to mingle. “Thank God that’s over with,” Sebastian remarked.

Margaret shared his sentiments, though she allowed, “That went much better than I expected.”

“I passed muster, did I?” he replied dryly.

She looked up at him and was struck again by how handsome he was.

“Indeed. One might actually think you were Sebastian Townshend, rather than The Raven.” He didn’t actually roll his eyes at her, but she had the feeling he would have if the old Sebastian really were in attendance. But then abruptly, any amusement he’d been experiencing vanished.

He couldn’t have looked more somber when he said, “I have one more duty I feel obliged to perform.”

She went very still. He was staring at Cecil. She didn’t have to ask what he meant. She ought to talk him out of it. It wouldn’t be pleasant for either man. But that word “duty” kept her from trying.

“I’ll fetch some punch,” she said, but added hesitantly, “or would you like reinforcements?”

“I doubt your presence would ease the situation. Cecil always was one to speak his mind.” She nodded. “Then let us hope he can do so quietly.”

S
EBASTIAN RECOGNIZED THE WOMAN with Cecil. The duchess of Felburg had aged very well and still bore a close resemblance to the picture he’d been shown, which had been taken more than twenty years ago.

He thought it rather foolish of her to let it be known she was a duchess in the country where she was seeking refuge from a vengeful duke. Even more foolish to plan to marry an Englishman when she already had a husband. Did Cecil know? No, of course not, or he wouldn’t have asked the lady to marry him.

“Cecil?”

Giles’s father turned and flushed angrily at the sight of Sebastian. “You dare speak to me? My presence here doesn’t mean I condone yours. Get out of my sight!” Sebastian had steeled himself for this. Cecil’s reaction didn’t surprise him.

But before he could reply, the woman standing with Giles’s father implored in a low voice, “Cecil, please, do not cause a scene. I am barely accepted here yet.” He patted his fiancée’s hand, which was resting on his arm and gave her a reassuring smile. It was apparent now that he’d come to the party only for her sake.

“I will keep that in mind, m’dear,” he told her. “Now, if you will give me a moment—”

“She should stay,” Sebastian said. “I have news she will want to hear. But first—I’m sorry, Cecil.

No one regrets Giles’s death more than I do.”

“Don’t,” the older man choked out. “I come home to find my son dead and already buried. And you—”

“It was an accident,” Sebastian cut in. “You can’t really think I meant to kill him? I went there to fire into the air. If he was angry enough to kill me, so be it. But his bullet nicked my arm, lowering it just as I fired. Good God, did no one ever tell you what happened there?”

“Does that bring him back?” Cecil demanded. “He was my only son!” For such an emotional statement, Sebastian would have expected to see more than just anger in Cecil’s eyes. But nothing else could have brought the pain back so strongly for him than those particular words. His own heart ripped open, “He was my best friend! How many times do I have to die because of that slut he married?”

“Please!” the duchess begged again.

She was right, they were drawing notice. And it had been a long time since Sebastian had lost control like that, to let his pain be so obvious. By sheer force of will, he put it back where it belonged, behind the iron shield that encased his emotions.

He wanted to walk away, but there was one thing left to say on the matter, to appease his own curiosity. “Why have you blamed my father?”

He didn’t think Cecil would answer. His face was growing red with anger again.

But in a low, baleful tone Cecil said, “I went away to mourn. I couldn’t bear being in the house where Giles was raised. I come home months later and find that French whore who caused your duel married to your brother. Douglas should have prevented that. He should have prevented the duel.”

“What more could he have done than forbid it, which he did?” Sebastian replied. “I defied him. I went there to die myself, Cecil. I didn’t expect to have to come home and tell him that a quirk of fate reversed the outcome.”

“Douglas could have told me that, instead of telling me to get out and never come back! You have been misinformed. I didn’t end our friendship, he did.”

Sebastian was so surprised by that, he almost forgot he wanted to tell them something else. They had both turned to walk away, eager to end the confrontation. He almost stopped them but decided not to upset Cecil anymore. What he had to say to the duchess could be said in private.

It took him a few minutes to catch her eye and indicate that he wanted to talk with her. It took her a good ten minutes more to come up with an excuse to get away from Cecil. Margaret had rejoined him by then, but the duchess didn’t approach him. She left the room instead. He made his own excuses, leaving the parlor as well, and noticed her entering the empty ballroom at the back of the house.

The large room was quite dark, as the candles in it weren’t lit. The woman grasped his arm as soon as he entered.

“This will be brief, yes?” she asked. “Cecil has been upset enough this evening. I do not wish him to know we are speaking.”

He could barely make out her silhouette, though his eyes were adjusting quickly. “Does he know you already have a husband?”

“He knows I had a husband, yes. But that was many years ago.”

“Well, the husband you had is currently looking for you. He wants a divorce—or your demise.

Your guess is as good as mine which he would prefer.”

“No!” she gasped. “This is impossible. Too many years have passed. He would have had to set our marriage aside. He would have needed an heir.”

“Do I understand you correctly? You were going to marry Cecil on the mere assumption that your previous husband would have made you free to do so?”

“Why are you telling me this nonsense?” she demanded. “I assure you, his position would have demanded he marry again in order to sire an heir.”

Sebastian shrugged, though it was doubtful she could see it in the dark. “Apparently he was in no hurry to do so. Now that he is, his bride-to-be wants absolute proof that his first marriage is ended. My guess is that she won’t settle for any divorce that he could arrange. She wants to see for herself that you agree to it. She doesn’t want you showing up later, thereby making any heirs she gives him illegitimate.”

“I am truly still married?” she said in a small, incredulous voice.

“Not just that, madame. He is hiring people to find you and bring you back to Austria. He knows your path led to this country. It wasn’t very wise of you to remain here, or to keep your name.”

“I changed my name.”

“You should have dropped the title, too.”

She was silent for a moment, then said tiredly, “Vanity, yes, that was unwise. But I didn’t stay here. I have been living most of these years abroad, always traveling. I am sick to death of traveling. I was enchanted with this country when I passed through it. I yearned often to come back here to settle. I finally gave in to that yearning.”