The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(60)

“To prove myself to her.”

“And how exactly is not introducing her proving yourself, my boy?”

“You’ll see.”

With that he took his leave and approached Emma. Her face was strained. “Sebastian, I can’t do this. I can’t be married to you, not with everyone watching and judging. I can’t hurt your reputation. It’s not fair.”

“Emma, look at me.”

She raised her eyes.

“I love you, just a few minutes more, and you will see what I have in store for you.”

Nodding, she pasted another smile on her face. Suddenly her eyes bugged as if she was surely seeing a ghost. The crowd parted, revealing an older man and woman staring intently at Emma.

“My parents,” she said under her breath. He tightened his hold on her arm and led her straight to them. “Are you sure?”

“Quite,” he said, feeling more agitated than he thought he would. Her father seemed dignified enough with graying hair and a young-looking face, though Sebastian could tell he had an appetite for spirits and fine food, considering his overall girth.

Her mother, on the other hand, looked exactly like Emma. Reaching out, he grabbed her outstretched glove and kissed the air above it. “I’ve been waiting for quite a while to meet the parents of Lady Gates.”

“Yes, well,” her father said, still avoiding eye contact with Emma, making Sebastian want to throw a punch.

Her mother grasped at Emma’s hands. “Have you been well, dear? We heard about the little game you played, faking an engagement.”

Genuine sadness behind her mother’s eyes forced Sebastian’s anger to soften, but only slightly. Emma nodded and pulled her mom in for a hug.

“Well then,” Sebastian said. “I was just going to ask Emma to dance. You wouldn’t mind would you, Lord Gates?”

The man looked between the two, anger behind his eyes. “Are you trying to cause more scandal, Emma? Have you not shamed our family enough?”

Perfect, Sebastian thought. “Lord Gates, if you would be so kind in the future to keep your insults about my wife to yourself, it would be greatly appreciated.”

The man’s face fell and he began to stutter, “Your grace, I—“

“Allow me to introduce to you the new Duchess of Tempest.” At that, Emma must have found herself, for she gave a low curtsy.

“Shall we be off, my love? You did promise me a dance, did you not?” he announced loud enough for both parents to hear. “What do you say? Dance with your husband? I know the dowager duchess would be pleased.”

Although Emma’s eyes held some concern and pain, he knew it was just the beginning, for he hoped with this one dance he would change it all.

All things considering, hadn’t it started with one dance?

Slowly, her head nodded. It was all he needed, and he led her on the floor. As the music began to play, the people around him faded into the background. His eyes only on Emma, his beautiful wife. He realized again, just what his parents had. It wasn’t about reputations. Love. Love was the reason men made complete fools of themselves, the reason women became ruined.

Although he couldn’t bring his parents back, he could honor their memory by honoring what they’d shared.

Emma twirled around him, setting his blood on fire. The way her hips swayed led his thoughts astray. Just how would she look doing the dance of the gypsies? Ever since she had spoken of her downfall, he’d been curious. Just what did gypsies do with their hips that held men in such a trance?

So, in a moment of brashness, he whispered the question in her ear, nearly sending her to stumble.

Laughing, she leaned in ever so scandalously and whispered, “Shall we go find out?”

He threw his head back and laughed, knowing full well that laughing out loud in the middle of a dance was considered quite vulgar and not at all proper, especially considering he was doing so with his wife. Then, as he felt the curious stares of those around him, he leaned in and kissed his bride, causing the most scandal anyone had seen from the angel duke in his entire lifetime.

The music stopped.

The kissing continued.

Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He hadn’t a care for the world, or that he was successfully ruining his own reputation in the process. Even though they were married, it simply wasn’t to be done.

Emma jerked away, cheeks blushing. “You’ve just ruined your reputation, you know.”

“Shall we continue to ruin it and shock everyone?”

It was her turn to laugh.

And then a loud voice that sounded strangely like his grandmother’s announced, “Please welcome into our family the Duchess of Tempest, formerly known as Miss Emma Gates.”

Amidst gasps, Sebastian lifted his head to see his grandmother, the now dowager duchess smiling brightly. And then she clapped. One by one, people followed until the entire room erupted into applause.

Including Emma’s shocked parents.

Yes, this would be a night to remember. The night the Duke of Tempest was successfully seduced by Lady Emma Gates.





Epilogue


“Ruined. I can’t believe it.” Emma continued to stare at the Morning Post, willing it to change what was so painfully obvious in black and white print. “Rawlings is ruined.”