The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(50)

“The first time he visited us, he had missed Father so much. He was only thirteen. He ran to Father's arms, but Father merely turned his back on him and told him he wasn’t his son. Naturally I felt terrible for him. I tried to keep him happy, but it wasn’t enough. I believe my father’s rejection drove him to do many things a man should not do.

“He visited one more time, awhile before Emma’s come out. He hadn’t seen her in years. She came for a visit with my mother. Like any young adolescent, he watched her, became even more obsessed than before. The only difference was he felt the need to prove himself to our father. He wanted to marry well and get even. Emma was the perfect target. He wanted her, so he began following her again. I thought it harmless, since he was only staying for a month or two. And then I heard screaming.”

Sebastian wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear anymore of the story.

“The horses are ready, my lord,” a servant announced from the door.

Rawlings grabbed his coat. “We’ll finish the story in the carriage. There is much left to tell.”

Sebastian had lost his ability to speak. In all of his arrogance, he hadn’t for one second believed that Emma’s story was anything as bad as this. He could see the direction it was taking and couldn’t help but feel that she wouldn’t be in the position she was in, if he would have been able to swallow his pride and offer for her rather than testing her feelings for the sake of his own fear of rejection. Facing rejection was nothing compared to facing what she was now dealing with.

****

“You won’t get away with this,” Emma said once the gag was removed from her mouth. The fight hadn’t left her, although every time she looked into John’s eyes she wanted to bathe off the dirt and shame she felt.

John sneered, “I already have. Your reputation is obviously in ruins, and now it’s stained for good. Do you think your holier-than-thou duke will desire you now? I’m surprised he wanted you in the first place, knowing your past.”

Emma looked away.

“Oh, dear girl, he has no idea, does he? Imagine his heartbreak at your deceit? At your utter inability to trust him with all your troubles?” He reached out and caressed her face. Jerking away, Emma fought the urge to spit on the man. “It’s of no consequence, we shall be married soon. I’ll have that delicious blunt which is your dowry as well as the satisfaction of looking in Rawlings’ face, knowing that everything he needs and desires is now lost. Imagine my satisfaction when he asks me for a loan?”

“A loan?” Emma choked.

John laughed. “Ah yes, didn’t you know? Rawlings is so deep in debt he won’t be able to afford servants at the month’s end.”

“And your plan was to—”

“Bring you to the house party, of course. It was all too easy. I told him your engagement was a farce. Imagine my surprise when I watched you and the duke fall madly in love. It didn’t matter. I gave Rawlings hope he could catch you once again as well as helped to keep his creditors at bay so he could have that delicious house party as a time to woo you. Unfortunately for him, he works slower than expected. I happened to use the opportunity to take things into my own hands.”

“By kidnapping me.”

“Precisely.” Looking pleased, he put his arms behind his head and sighed. “Now, we have another days ride until we reach Gretna Green. Might as well make yourself comfortable, Emma. You aren’t going anywhere. Aw, don’t frown. We’ll get along quite smashingly. Maybe you’ll even do one of your scandalous dances for me, Emma? Oh please tell me you will,” he said, focusing on her bosom.

“I’d rather die,” she said through her teeth.

Snatching her hair with his hand, he pulled her off the seat and held a knife to her throat. “That too can be arranged, once I’ve had my fun with you.”

****

“Can we go any faster?” Sebastian demanded through clenched teeth. Even he knew the question was ridiculous. If the carriage went any faster the wheels would surely come right off.

“We’ll get there,” Rawlings said.

“The rest of the story.”

Shifting in his seat, Rawlings looked as uncomfortable as Sebastian felt. The situation would be laughable if he wasn’t so worried sick. Sitting across from Rawlings in a carriage out to save the woman he loved.

Not how he imagined the Season would be.

“Promise me you won’t kill him,” Rawlings said.

“Whom?”

“My brother. If I tell you the rest of the story, promise me you won’t kill him.”

“If? If?” Sebastian roared. “Phillip, if you don’t spill out the rest of the story, it isn’t your brother’s life that will need protecting.”

Taking a deep breath, Rawlings continued, “He watched her, followed her, though he never let her know. The night we heard her scream, my father and I were discussing our betrothal. I told him I didn’t want to marry her, that I wanted to experience life and women, to put it bluntly. He knew of my reputation at Eton and again at University. Thinking he could tame me, he wanted to hold firm to the contract he and the Gates family had drawn up. The argument was one of the worst ones we’d had, both of us saying things we didn’t mean. At first we thought the screaming was merely a trick on the ears, then it became louder. We decided to search it out. Both of us grabbed rifles and lanterns.”