The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(28)

Rawlings lifted his empty glass in the air and nodded. “She isn’t yours.”

“Nor yours,” he barked back.

Rawlings eyes turned black. “We shall see, won’t we? I don’t believe you are married yet.”

Sebastian made a lunge at Rawlings’ throat, but Nicholas’s hands were already in place, pulling him toward the door. “Let it go,” he urged.

****

Rawlings stumbled into the poorly lit establishment, desperate to find the one man who could help him out of this predicament. Table after table was filled with loud obnoxious drunks. Knowing he shouldn’t be quick to judge, he tried to push past them and nearly fell over a chair.

“So you’ve decided to help me after all?”

The truth. Rawlings wanted to help him. He was family, but at what cost to him? Before he hadn’t wanted anything to do with this man’s desperate plans, but now he also had a favor. The debt collectors wouldn’t stop calling. He had unsuccessfully tried to ask for a loan from his mother the day before. The door had been slammed in his face. It didn’t help matters that he had refused to own up to his end of the bargain given to him by his deceased father.

It was up to him. And he was at loss for what to do. He would lose everything if he didn’t marry soon. The country estate, the townhome in London—everything. And all because the angel duke had to ruin his plans for redemption. Tempest had always been too pure for his own good. Why was it he was constantly surrounded by angels singing when Rawlings had to suffer? Sure, it was unfortunate Tempest had lost his parents. But Rawlings couldn’t figure out how it was his fault, nor why Tempest was more deserving than he.

One more plan. He had one more idea. And he was nearly out of time to follow through with it. Luckily he had an ally—someone who would do the dirty work for him in return for one tiny favor.

All he needed was information on the sudden announcement between Tempest and Lady Gates. Something didn’t feel right about their betrothal, and he needed help to find out, though the last of his money had been spent on his extravagant house party in hopes to lure the wealthier of the ladies to his estate.

Plans had changed when he discovered Emma was seeking a husband.

The look on her face when she had seen him nearly broke his heart. Yes, he was after her money. What desperate man wouldn’t be? But what if, by some miracle, he could rekindle what they’d had? What if he could pull her away from Tempest, the arrogant cad, and finally prove his loyalty?

It was decided. She would be his. It was the perfect and only solution to the massive mountain that was Lord Rawlings’ debt. Now all he needed was this one favor from his half brother. Besides, John was the type who knew how to convince people to talk. If anyone could find out the secret to the duke’s sudden interest, it would be John, and his brother owed him this. After all those years of silence, his brother could give him this one boon. Their secret had nearly destroyed the family and done unmistakable damage to his father.

The more Rawlings thought about it the more secure he felt about being able to gain his brothers favor. And what did John have to live for? Not only would John be able to find out why Tempest was interested but surely he could satisfy his own twisted need to see Emma within the Rawlings family rather than another peer.

****

“Why does he have to bring it up every blasted time?” Sebastian said. He was still fuming over the meeting with Rawlings the previous day. He and Nicholas were patiently waiting for the women to descend the stairs in their pretty dresses. Everything had been taken care of. They would make the announcement tonight and later on in the week travel to Rawlings’ country estate for a house party.

Cards, giggling women, garden parties, and tea.

Lovely.

Then again house parties also included dark corridors, private rooms, and unchaperoned alone time.

Even better.

Then again every blasted time Sebastian thought of alone time, it was Emma’s face that invaded his thoughts. He pinched his nose and sat.

Nicholas cleared his throat. “I wasn’t aware you and Rawlings still had such a feud between the two of you.”

“He’s incapable of leaving the past in the past,” Sebastian grumbled.

Nicholas sighed. “I know I take my own life into my hands when I argue this point again, Seb, but it wasn’t your fault.”

“It was!” he roared, jumping out of the chair. “If I hadn’t been so busy gambling and drinking that entire week I would have realized it was my parents’ anniversary. I wouldn’t have been anywhere near the river when—”

“Seb, don’t.” Nicholas’s eyes pleaded.

“I saved her at the cost of their lives.” Sebastian finished his whiskey and closed his eyes. “And every time I see that little girl’s face, I wish she would have died, because maybe…maybe if she had, they wouldn’t have.”

Nicholas went to the liquor cabinet and poured another whiskey. “You have no way of knowing that.”

Sebastian refused to answer, because in his heart he knew he was right. Nobody knew the real story behind his cursed nickname. Nobody had any idea the dark thoughts that haunted his dreams—the faces of his parents, both lovely, wanting to surprise him that week at school. Knowing he was busy, they had sent ahead word they would arrive that night for dinner.

When he didn’t show, they had became worried.