Lord Sebastian's Secret (The Duke's Sons #3)(64)

He could stand at her side, however. A fellow officer had once told him that he’d tipped the scales of a confrontation simply by looming, large and menacing. Of course, it wouldn’t do to threaten his future father-in-law. Unless he tried to bully Georgina. In which case… As Sebastian hesitated, indecisive, they saw Hilda slip down the stairs and across the hall, crouch by the library door, and apply her ear to the keyhole.

“That girl is extraordinarily…enterprising,” remarked Randolph.

Sebastian nodded. He was more reluctant to move now that he had to pass a gatekeeper.

From their vantage point, the brothers could hear nothing but noise from the library. Sebastian tried to judge how it was going from the changes in Hilda’s expression. She seemed mainly amazed.

Not long after this, the door opened. Sebastian stepped forward as Hilda sprang back. Georgina came out, spoke to Hilda, and then saw him waiting. She rushed over and into the reception room, coming to an abrupt stop before the empty hearth. “Oh, you’re both here,” she said. She waited a moment, then added, “I spoke to Papa.”

“At high volume,” commented Randolph. His attempt at a joke fell flat.

Talking quickly, Georgina told them what had been said. “So everything is back as it was,” she finished. “It was all a tempest in a teapot.”

If only that was true, Sebastian thought. If only he could roll back the last few days and erase the gloomy thoughts they’d provoked. “Oh…good,” he said.

Georgina looked distinctly disappointed. Sebastian tried to muster a more satisfying reaction, but before he could find the words, she repeated, “Good,” in a strangled voice and rushed out. Sebastian silently cursed his inarticulate tongue. He took out his frustration on a nearby ottoman, giving it a kick.

“I should have left you alone,” Randolph said. “I’m sorry. I was so taken by the story, I didn’t think.”

Sebastian kicked the ottoman again. The thing scarcely budged. It might have been stuffed with rocks.

“I’ll go and call her back,” Randolph said. “You two will want…”

“It doesn’t matter,” interrupted Sebastian. He thought of how, so recently, he’d longed, desperately prayed, for a few minutes alone with his fiancée. Now, he couldn’t hold her, couldn’t kiss her, without wondering if he was obliged to spoil everything.

“So, all’s well again,” said Randolph.

“Unh.”

“It sounds like quite the epic scene. It seems you’re getting a strong-minded wife.”

“What?” Sebastian looked up. Randolph was examining him curiously. Had he given himself away somehow?

“Do you mind?”

“Mind what?” As he often did, he’d missed something. He had no idea what his brother was talking about.

“That Georgina is, um, such a spirited debater.”

“Of course not.” Sebastian was surprised at the question. “Why should I?”

“Well, I suppose because she’s likely to turn her skills on you at some point. And a woman who can outtalk a Stane is…well, rather formidable.”

The word skills made Sebastian think of something quite different. An intensely tactile memory flashed through him, of Georgina’s legs wrapped around his ribs as they kissed. He turned away from his brother to hide a flush. “If she does, I expect I’ll have deserved it. She’s far cleverer than I.”

Randolph blinked. “You…ah…you noticed?” He coughed. “That is, do you think so?”

Sebastian snorted. “I wager everyone thinks so.”

“Yes, but… I mean, no.”

“Did you think I was too stupid to realize it?” he asked bitterly.

“I do not think you stupid.”

But Sebastian had no patience, in this moment, for kindly meant lies. “Why shouldn’t Georgina speak her mind?” he asked, returning to his brother’s original question. “Imagine what Mama would have done if someone had forbidden her marriage.”

“That’s rather difficult to picture. Papa is a duke, after all.”

“Something else she wanted then.”

Randolph considered this for several moments. “Ah. I see what you mean. A different style, of course, but equally forceful.”

“Exactly.” In fact, Sebastian admired Georgina’s strength of mind immensely. He’d said so, hadn’t he?

Silence fell. Sebastian didn’t really notice. He was pondering the unfairness of life. He should be happy right now. As far as anyone else knew, all the unexpected obstacles had been cleared from his path. But, oh no, he’d had to create more of his own. He kicked the ottoman again.

“What’s the matter then?” Randolph said.

“Nothing. You should go along and…do something else.”

“I want to help you, to mend matters.”

“So your job’s done then.”

“But the thing is, Sebastian, you don’t seem to think so.”

Evading his brother’s steady gaze, Sebastian tried for a light tone, and thought he achieved a remarkable result under the circumstances. “Nobody’s eloped. Georgina’s father’s turned up sweet. The wedding’s back on. I’m tip-top, Randolph.”