‘Ready for dinner?’ Sebastian stood in the hallway, dressed in his regular clothes instead of the dinner suit she might have expected. Which was a relief. She’d been afraid that her best evening gown, a pink muslin with a lacy trim around the neckline, wasn’t formal enough.
‘I think so.’ She smoothed a hand nervously over her hair. ‘Do I look all right?’
‘Am I allowed to give compliments now?’ He leaned closer, his dark eyes twinkling. ‘Because if I am, then I’d say you look as beautiful as always.’
‘I meant, do I look smart enough? This is my best dress.’
‘And it looks gorgeous on you.’
‘Sebastian...’
‘I mean it. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.’
‘What should I talk about at dinner?’
‘Damned if I know. I’m just glad that you’re with me.’
She glanced at his profile as they made their way to the staircase, surprised by the apparent depth of feeling behind the words. He sounded as if he genuinely meant them, as if he were relying on her as much as she’d come to rely on him over the past couple of weeks.
‘Your family seem very pleasant.’
‘Yes. They’re not what I expected.’
‘They’ve been very welcoming. I don’t think the Dowager Duchess has stopped smiling since she set eyes on you.’
‘Does that mean you really don’t mind staying?’ He gave her a searching look, smiling when she nodded. ‘Well then, I’m grateful to them for that. I couldn’t tell from your expression earlier. I was afraid I might have to sleep outside your door to stop you running away in the night.’
‘I promise that if I run away then I’ll do it broad daylight.’
‘Good. Because I have a very comfortable-looking bed down the hall and I’d like to make the most of it. Not that I didn’t appreciate all the sofas and chairs I’ve been sleeping on recently, but a real bed makes a pleasant change.’
‘Mmm.’ She stared straight ahead, feeling her cheeks start to flush. It didn’t feel quite right to be discussing beds with him. Or to be thinking about him in one either...especially when her imagination seemed determined to place her in the scene, too. ‘Your mother seems very happy.’ She changed the subject hastily.
‘Yes. I’m pleased about that. As for the rest... I don’t know quite how to feel yet.’ He turned to face her as they reached the bottom of the staircase. ‘All I do know is that I’m hungry. Ravenous actually.’
‘Me, too. I was too nervous to eat earlier.’
‘Then will you do me the honour of accompanying me into the drawing room, my lady?’ He made a bow, sweeping his hand so low that it skimmed lightly across the floor. ‘Although I doubt that we’ll be able to find the dining room on our own without a map.’
‘I’d be most obliged, my lord.’ She laughed, sinking into an equally low curt
sy before tucking her arm into his elbow and then immediately trying to extract it again as they entered the drawing room to find Mrs Fortini, Lord Tobias and the Dowager Duchess all waiting. Sebastian was faster, however, raising his other hand and clamping it down on top of hers.
‘Good evening.’ Lord Tobias stood up to welcome them. ‘The boys are all settled, I trust?’
‘Yes.’ Henrietta dipped into a slightly less effusive curtsy. ‘Thank you, Lord Tobias. They like the nursery very much.’
‘Call me Tobias, please. Now, dinner’s ready if we are?’ His smile looked almost in danger of splitting his face. ‘I never would have thought when I got up this morning that by tonight I’d be welcoming my own long-lost nephew into my home. I honestly couldn’t be any happier.’
Henrietta nudged Sebastian lightly in the ribs when he didn’t respond. Instead, his expression looked oddly tense for a few seconds before he let her go and reached an arm out. ‘Here you are, Uncle. I didn’t shake your hand properly before. It’s a pleasure to meet you and, for the record, I’m happy, too.’
‘Thank you. And Miss Gardiner...’ his uncle continued. ‘I do hope your nephews will be happy here, as well.’ His laugh positively boomed around the room. ‘There appear to be nephews everywhere these days!’
Chapter Seventeen
‘What a beautiful day.’ Elizabeth Fortini sighed happily as she walked arm in arm with Sebastian through Feversham’s frost-covered garden. ‘It looks as though the world is covered in sugar.’
‘That sounds like something Father would have said.’