The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(27)

Emma’s heart warmed.

“He tries to be happy. And I do believe he is, but I wish he wasn’t so stuffy. I wasn’t jesting when I said I’ve tried to knock him off his high horse. Life is about mistakes. It’s about learning from your past and moving on toward your future.”

Emma swallowed the sudden knot in her throat.

“And,” the duchess continued. “I am so happy you will be a part of his future, my dear. You have my full support.”

God would surely strike her down for lying. By the time they said their goodbyes to everyone, Emma was ready to marry Sebastian solely to save face with his grandmother, the Duchess of Tempest.





Chapter Eleven


Sebastian felt ill.

After retiring to his quarters the previous night, he had found it nearly impossible to pry the image of Emma’s face from his mind. Then the dreams of her lush body pressed up against his only worsened his mood. It hadn’t helped that Samuel had made Sebastian more curious about Emma’s past and the reasons for her being here in the first place. Appearances were not always what they seemed.

Sebastian had decided to go to Whites to meet with Nicholas and Lord Rawlings. It was not a meeting he wanted to be a part of, nevertheless, when his ducal carriage pulled up to the establishment, he put a tight grin on his face and walked into Hades.

“Ah, your grace.” Rawlings’ cocky grin leered over his cup of ale.

“Rawlings,” he ground out.

Nicholas rolled his eyes, which was rather hypocritical considering Nicholas had nearly killed Rawlings a few years ago after he had kissed Sara’s hand. Sebastian sorely needed Nicholas on his side.

“The house party,” Sebastian stated, getting straight to business. “My fiancée and I will be attending.”

Rawlings lifted a brow. “Didn’t know you had it in you, old man.”

Sebastian’s fist tightened.

Nicholas gave him a warning look.

“Who’s to be the lucky lady?” Rawlings took another long sip and waited, glancing between the two men.

Nicholas answered. “Miss Emma Gates.”

Rawlings choked on his ale. “Miss Gates?” The color in his face seemed to diminish. He didn’t say anything for a great while, then, adjusting his cravat, he managed a tight smile. “Well then, congratulations are in order.”

“Yes,” Sebastian said slowly as he motioned for more ale. Carefully, he watched as Rawlings' face seemed to grow grimmer.

“I say, are you feeling well?” Nicholas directed toward Rawlings.

“Fine.” He shrugged and guzzled the entire contents of his cup. “Do you need any special arrangements for your quarters when you arrive?”

“Separate rooms, if you please.”

Rawlings smirked. “Of course.”

Sebastian fought the urge to hit him. Nicholas looked at Sebastian’s clenched fist and shook his head slowly, almost as if he knew what getting into a fight would do to Sebastian. What he didn’t know was why he hated Rawlings so much. Naturally Rawlings’ rakish attitude rubbed a majority of the ton the wrong way. But a rake Sebastian could handle. Hadn’t he been accused of the same thing several times past? No, it wasn’t that. It was the simple fact Rawlings didn’t care whom he hurt when he made bad choices. He laughed and walked on as if the consequences were no matter to him. Word had it Rawlings was heavily in debt, which explained his already foxed state when they arrived. Overindulging was always the first sign of debt, at least in Sebastian’s eyes.

“So you wish to be in separate rooms like a good little duke,” Rawlings mocked.

Nicholas grabbed Sebastian just in time, though Sebastian noted the fire in Nicholas’s eyes as well.

“You two need to drink more. I was merely taunting you. You’ve always been too easy, Tempest. Don’t you remember the time at Eton when you got that blasted nickname? ‘The Angel Duke.’ I never thought you’d actually live up to all the hype.”

Sebastian swallowed, trying to forget that day, trying to stamp it out of his memory. The only three men who knew the truth of the incident were Rawlings, Nicholas, and himself. Sworn to secrecy. The nickname was just a ruse for what had actually happened.

“Don’t…” Sebastian said.

“What do you think people would say if they knew the reason you ended up saving that little girl was because you were out after hours? Drinking and gambling with yours truly?”

Nicholas cleared his throat. “They would most likely laugh it off as some sort of adolescent behavior and tell the story of how Sebastian saved the girl from drowning all over again; this time with much more enthusiasm, considering Sebastian’s spotless reputation.”

Rawlings looked away. “Spotless…that’s an interesting word to use.”

“His reputation is spotless; it always has been. Seb could get away with murder.” Nicholas laughed.

Sebastian appreciated his effort to bring merriment to the far too tense room. But even he knew it wouldn’t work, not when Rawlings was so deep in his cups.

“I wonder how important your reputation is to you, Tempest.”

“It’s everything,” Sebastian snapped. And it truly was. It was his duty to have a spotless reputation. To make his deceased parents proud through his ability to lead his family and marry well. “I think we’re done here.” He launched out his chair and leaned over the table, savoring the moment Rawlings realized he had pushed him too far. “Stay away from me and stay away from Miss Gates.”