Venetia swallowed. “I do believe that. That’s what’s so painful.” She heard her voice break.
“But darling, you and I...we took risks, too.” He speared her with a look that needed no interpretation, but she shook her head.
“Not the same risks—clearly—that you took. Not risks that actually had consequences…”
She closed her eyes, feeling the old weakness come upon her whenever Sebastian was near. Four years ago, she’d nearly succumbed to that feeling.
Until Sebastian’s father had highlighted the long-lasting consequences: his ruin.
Well, this time, if Venetia succumbed to that feeling, it would be Miss Reeves’s ruin that would be placed at Venetia’s door.
“Please, Venetia; I know you love me. Don’t be so stubborn; I beg of you. If I can tell you, hand on heart, that she has released me from all obligation, will you relent?”
Venetia took a shaky breath. “Of course, Sebastian. But why would she?” She dropped her voice and raised herself on her toes to hiss in his ear, “You slept with her.” They were well out of earshot and there was some catharsis in making her disgust so palpable. “And she claims you’re the father, Sebastian!” She broke off. “What are you doing? Where are you taking me?”
She was shocked and embarrassed that he took her hand and led her quickly through the crowd and into the corridor.
“Sebastian, you can’t!”
But he didn’t release her hand as he marched her down a second corridor and into the library that was unoccupied, before closing the door behind them and then taking both her hands in his.
“Venetia! Stop this nonsense!” he begged as he brought her fingers to his lips.
“You know you couldn’t live with yourself if your honor was compromised by your actions, Sebastian!”
“I could...if it meant I had you.” He framed her face with his hands and his voice grew hoarse as he whispered brokenly, “Please, Venetia. Kiss me, and tell me you feel nothing.”
Before she could object, his lips were on hers, his arms cradling about her in a warm embrace from which she had no wish to break free.
A flicker of recognition fired in her brain, warning her that this was against her very principles, but her body was awash with the desire to wring from him every last drop of what he could give her in these final precious moments before she did what was right.
Before she made him do what was right.
Before she gave him up—forever.
She felt lit up from within as she clung to him, matching his ardor in a kiss that radiated from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.
“God, I love you, Venetia,” he murmured as he trailed kisses the length of her throat. “I love you so much!”
“Oh Sebastian,” she heard herself whisper brokenly. There had never been anyone else for her. “Oh Sebastian, I wish—”
“See!” he said triumphantly, drawing back just enough to look into her eyes. “You do love me!”
“I never claimed I didn’t but—”
“One can’t deny what’s in one’s heart. Venetia, say you’ll give up this nonsensical idea of yours, and that you’ll marry me.”
For one desperate moment, Venetia nearly said yes. In that moment of simple feeling, her doubts and fears seemed overstated and ridiculous.
But the
n the door was thrown open and Miss Reeves burst into the room, her face alight as she saw Sebastian, saying, as if she were surprised, “Goodness! I hadn’t expected to see you here!” She glanced at Venetia, before turning back to Sebastian to add, “I have some news! My father will be announcing our betrothal before midnight! Yes, you have every reason to be surprised! I’m surprised!”
She seemed almost giddy with joy as she went toward Sebastian, who, ignoring her, called after Venetia, “Please come back, Venetia! Where are you going?”
Venetia shrugged off his hand, only stopping at the doorway to turn and say in as quelling a tone as she could manage, “I’m going to bed, Sebastian. Clearly, events have overtaken both of us.”
Chapter 16