Lord Sebastian's Secret (The Duke's Sons #3)(43)

Silently acknowledging the wealth of implication in his tone, the other man went out.





Nine


The atmosphere at Stane Castle remained stiff over the next two days. The only matter that everyone agreed on was the placement of a warning sign at the ravine. The marquess had ridden out to examine the site for himself. Or perhaps to verify their story—Sebastian wasn’t sure. Afterward, with some grumbling that no one had ever fallen in before, he ordered a wooden alert to be prepared and erected. In his presence, Sebastian kept feeling he should apologize and then realizing that he had nothing to apologize for.

Georgina’s mother kept her busy with household tasks or wedding plans or something. Her excuses differed. Sebastian found no more opportunities for private conversation. Had he not been inured to the often-inexplicable mandates of the army, he might have railed at the unfairness of it all.

Thus, it was actually a relief when Randolph arrived, prompt and eager, as always. Despite Sebastian’s reservations, a brother joining him at Stane felt like reinforcements. When introductions had been made and a few pleasantries exchanged, Sebastian was happy to agree with Randolph’s suggestion that he accompany Sebastian to his assigned bedchamber. There were a few points he wanted to make before Randolph went blundering among Georgina’s family.

“Well, now, what can I do for you?” Randolph asked as soon as they were alone. He sat in an armchair beside the hearth, leaning forward, smiling, hands laced on his knees. “I am ready for anything, you know.”

That was the trouble. Randolph’s enthusiasm for helping out could take him far beyond what was wanted. At this moment, he looked ready to leap up and wrestle dragons. Sebastian sat down opposite him and struggled to summon a coherent, convincing narrative. Though Sebastian was two years older, he hadn’t won an argument with Randolph since…well, ever. But this wasn’t an argument. He only had to explain.

“You’ve contracted a very good match, I must say,” Randolph went on before Sebastian managed to begin. “Lady Georgina seems a lovely girl… I expect we shall soon put things right.” He offered Sebastian a reassuring nod.

“There’s no need for you to—”

“What I don’t understand is why you eloped,” said his brother with one raised brow.

“We did not elope!” Sebastian felt like tearing his hair at the repetition of this word. “I wrote Mama the whole story. None of this was my fault.”

“I’ve been on the road. I haven’t received any letters. Tell me all.” Randolph spread his arms as if to embrace the thought of a good tale.

And so Sebastian had to repeat the rigmarole, interrupted by questions and reservations until he thought he would explode. It was all he could do to prevent the details from becoming incomprehensible.

“Hmmm,” said Randolph when Sebastian had finished. He wasn’t smiling, but he rather sounded as though he was. “This Hilda seems to be quite an…inventive young lady… Still, couldn’t you simply have waited for her return the next morning?”

Sebastian liked the simply. Nothing about the mishap had felt simple. And he’d already explained this. Or thought he had. He gritted his teeth at the difficulty of translating what was in his mind into words. It was worse than beating his way through the thicket in the ravine.

“I couldn’t keep Georgina standing all night in cold mud, with an injured leg. There was no place to wait, where she fell.” He did not add that had he tried, he would have missed two of the most glorious days of his life. That secret was his and Georgina’s, a memory to be kept close, and relished, for the rest of their lives.

“Ah.” Randolph nodded. “Yes, I see. Well, it is certainly quite an upheaval.”

“Only because Hilda was back here spouting a pack of nonsense!” replied Sebastian. “Or…mostly.”

“What’s become of her?” his brother asked.

Randolph certainly was far from a conventional parson, Sebastian thought. There was a smile somehow hovering behind his expression. “She’s been confined to quarters except under escort of her governess. And she considers living at Stane a punishment in itself.” Sebastian frowned at the hearthrug. “Some days, can’t say I blame her,” he muttered.

Randolph examined him. “But you do wish to salvage the situation?”

“There’s nothing to salvage. I’ll get married as planned, and all this will be forgotten.”

“That was not the impression I got from the marquess.”

It was true that Georgina’s father seemed to be brooding on the subject of their unwitting adventure. As if he was sure Sebastian could have handled it far better. If only he could fly, Sebastian thought morosely, all would have been well.

“But I shall talk him ’round,” added his brother. “Have no fear.”

Sebastian could easily imagine Randolph talking their host’s ear off. But the discussion would more than likely meander into the far reaches of philosophy and end up having nothing to do with him or Georgina. “Robert would have been much better at charming people,” he complained. He was sorry as soon as the sentence escaped him because Randolph looked hurt.

“Robert has gone to a house party, as he always does at this season.” Randolph sounded a bit wistful. “And what with James haring off on some quest…”