That moment was etched into his memory. Her dark eyes had held his and he’d seen the depth of her feelings for him. Thought he’d seen, he reminded himself. Now he knew it had been nothing but self-delusion. Another lie he’d told himself.
“Uncle Seb!” the high pitched voices of his nieces brought him back from the past. Determined not to go there again, he concentrated on their antics and waited until his brother came home. Once the girls were banished to the nursery for supper and bed, peace reigned once more.
“Megan says it was as she expected and Lady Richmond snubbed you,” were Mark’s first words.
He and Sebastian were twins, although you’d never know it. Mark always said he’d inherited the brains and Sebastian the brawn, but that wasn’t entirely true. Mark had a good head for business and Sebastian for strategy. Physically, Sebastian had a bigger frame, and looked good in his uniform, while Mark was more slender and some inches shorter. Sebastian’s hair was a dark brown and Mark’s almost black. The only thing they had in common were eyes of an intense ocean blue.
Mark was waiting for his answer, eyebrow cocked.
“She hid in the library,” Sebastian admitted.
“And?”
“I waited until she came out. I wanted to be sure . . .” He groaned. “She didn’t want to speak to me. I know, I know, I’m a fool, but I just needed to see it for myself. To make certain there was no chance of a misunderstanding.”
Mark frowned. “And your son?”
“I didn’t see him. I didn’t ask to.”
Mark hesitated before he spoke again. “Although I’m relieved you’re being so calm about it, that child is yours, and he’s heir to Patrick’s wealth. You may not want to walk away just yet.”
Surprised, Sebastian tried to read his brother’s expression. “Why? What is it?”
Mark wasn’t to be rushed. “First things first,” he said with a grin. “Will you join me in the business?”
Sebastian wasn’t entirely surprised by the offer. Mark, and Megan, had been hinting at it even before he left the army, and he had been privately considering his response. He had to find something to keep him occupied, make a new life, and Mark seemed eager to have him aboard.
“I gratefully accept,” he said.
“That’s settled then,” his brother clapped him on the back. “I am planning to expand by opening another office on the continent, and even as far away as America. You’d be surprised how fashionable our colonial cousins are.”
“You know I get sea sick?” Mark owned two ships which he used for importing luxuries for the English gentry. Their father had left the business in dire straits and Mark had spent years rebuilding it into a successful and profitable concern. Now he was working on expanding and taking Longhurst Enterprises to the world.
Mark snorted a laugh. “You won’t be sailing. You’d be of better use bringing us new customers and dealing with our enemies. Smooching and knocking heads together is your job, brother. You’re good at that.”
Sebastian laughed despite himself. “Smooching, I can try. Knocking heads together I can definitely do, although I’m more used to running a sword through my enemies. I take it you wouldn’t want that?”
Mark grimaced. “You may need to be more subtle than that, brother.” He looked away and suddenly he was sombre.
Sebastian frowned. “Tell me what’s wrong?”
Just then Megan entered the room, her face full of expectation. “Are we celebrating?” she asked, looking from one to the other.
“Open the champagne, wife!” Mark cried.
It was only after they had had their celebratory sip and Megan had left the room to see about dinner, that Mark returned to their previous topic. His smile faded and his eyes grew serious. Sebastian felt his heart quicken.
“For God’s sake tell me,” he gritted.
Mark learned forward. “I would understand if you walked away from Lavinia, but the boy is your son, Sebastian. For now you might have to swallow your ire and act in
his best interests, no matter how much you might wish to wash your hands of the mother.”
“Tell me,” Sebastian said again.
Four
Autumn 1816, the West End