The Courtship Caper (Scandalous Miss Brightwells 6)

“But he feels as you do?”

Miss Reeves bit her lip. “I...I’m almost certain he does. When we met four months ago, I was in no doubt but—”

“But what, Miss Reeves?” Lady Fenton’s question sounded a trifle sharp in the anticipatory silence, and Venetia waited with bated breath. “Tell us honestly, for that is the only way we can help you, since that is what we wish to do.”

“He seems...distracted. I was so certain he’d be delighted to see me when we met unexpectedly a few days ago. Since our first meeting, we’ve exchanged letters, and in all these months, his feelings about wanting to marry me were not in doubt! But he’s said nothing about marriage since we met again a few days ago.”

“Perhaps he was simply as surprised as you to find that you were both under the same roof and, knowing that your father was so set upon you marrying Lord Yarrowby, he was concerned that we, his hostesses, would take a dim view of a union between the two of you.” Lady Quamby seemed to think she’d hit upon this as the reason for she went on, “Nevertheless, when your papa arrives tomorrow, I have no doubt that you—and he—will make a compelling case for putting your desires above your papa’s. Mr Wells is a very persuasive young man.”

“He is? You really think Mr Wells might be the man to persuade my father out of insisting upon marriage between Lord Yarrowby and myself?" She twisted her hands in her lap as she added, “That this might be what makes Y

arrowby accept, once and for all, that there can be nothing between us?”

"If anyone can do that, Mr Wells can," Lady Fenton said comfortably, just as Sebastian himself arrived upon the threshold of the room.

"And what can Mr Wells do that no one else can?"

"We were commending you on your persuasiveness." Lady Quamby resettled herself on the sofa so she could smile up at him, and Venetia had the strongest desire to slap her face as she ran, screaming, from the room.

She felt like a rabbit, trapped between adversaries, whose only salvation lay in doing what she did best: being very quiet and unobtrusive.

Lady Indigo rapped her cane on the floor, making Venetia jump. "Yet not even Mr Wells can persuade me that it's not time for my bed, or upon an early start in the morning," she said, turning to look at Venetia. "Go and see that my warming pan has been put at the end of the bed, my girl, and then report back to me. None of this dilly-dallying like last time, eh?"

Venetia rose to her feet, barely able to look at Sebastian or Miss Reeves through the gathering tears as she quit the room following a quick curtsy for her employer.

She walked quickly, her throat thick with emotion. Sebastian and Miss Reeves had formed an attachment four months ago? They’d not known each other would be at Quamby House? Now Miss Reeves was concerned that his feelings for her had waned?

Which would accord with the time Sebastian unexpectedly was reunited with Venetia.

But why had Sebastian said nothing about his past relationship with Miss Reeves?

Head bent, she walked quickly down the corridor, reaching the Great Gallery before she heard Sebastian behind her.

"Venetia!" She turned at the sound of his voice and stepped back against the window embrasure as Sebastian strode toward her, his expression quizzical. "Darling, are you all right?" He stopped before her and put out his hand, dropping it when he registered the hostility in her expression. "How have I offended you?”

She drew in a quick breath, stiffening and biting her lip as she prepared to unleash the hurt she felt. “You said you’d ended all...entanglements.” The accusation in her tone made her feel ashamed. “Decisively.”

A shadow of discomfort crossed his face before he said, “Venetia! We spoke about this yesterday. I told you, she threw herself at me!”

Reluctantly, Venetia allowed him to take her in his arms.

He tucked her head beneath his chin and held her gently. “I’m so sorry…I was going to tell you everything but...the details seemed unimportant when we had so little time.”

“Did you ask her to marry you?” Venetia jerked her head up, her breath quickening.

“God, no!”

“Well, that’s what she wants.”

“I know.” He sounded miserable. “Some months ago, when she told me about…” He stopped, sighed, and started again. “It’s possible I gave her the impression that I would marry her. But that was only if...I was required to do the honorable thing.”

“The honorable thing?” Venetia burst out. “What else haven’t you told me, Sebastian?”

“But I thought you knew, my darling! I thought you’d forgiven me?”

Angrily, Venetia dashed away a tear. “She seems to think there is still a great deal between you.”

“There is nothing between us. Not since I met you again—though that goes without saying.” He spoke with energy before his tone changed and he said, wearily, “I just wish she’d accept that there will continue to be nothing between us and...leave me alone.”