Waiting for the elevator, I grab the bull by at least one horn and ask, “Why are you so dead set against me and Sebastian?”
He looks startled. “Shouldn’t you be asking that of your husband?”
“I know why he is against it. I’m asking you.”
“I don’t like sharing,” he says shortly.
“Well, that much is obvious and yet you do. Why not with him?”
“The others are not by choice. You have special connections with them. If you fucked Sebastian it would be… for no other reason than because you wanted him. I have an issue with that.”
“I see. But earlier you would have let me if I hadn’t turned you down,” I say quietly.
“On the grounds that we would all be together, as I know that is something you want. If you went off and fucked him, just the two of you, that is something else entirely.”
“Oh,” I mumble, and he looks at me suddenly, very serious.
“Aefre, Sebastian can be very persuasive. Especially when it comes to something that he really wants. Please do be careful if you are ever alone with him. I don’t want to stop you from forming a friendship with him, I know it’s important to you, but don’t let him talk you into anything more.”
His words are quite sobering, and I’m now almost completely sure that what happened earlier was the result of some sort of mojo on Sebastian’s part.
“Okay,” I say. “What do you mean by persuasive?” I ask, dying to know what this gift is.
“He just has a way. It’s not important. Just don’t be swayed by it.”
Of course, he won’t tell me. I wonder if Sebastian will? Probably not, as it will give his trump card away. I am not altogether pleased that he used this trick on me and even less so that it worked. We shall be having words and soon.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE
“So, do you have it?” I ask as we walk back into the suite.
“Of course,” he says. “This is, after all, my reward for allowing you to mix your business with my pleasure.”
“Show me,” I say eagerly. I must say that I am very excited about this. After he mentioned it the other day, I have thought of nothing else. I know he wants this more than anything and I am happy to oblige.
He leads me to the second bedroom and there it is. I recognize it instantly. “It’s one of mine?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yes. I had them stored as safely as I could over the years. It is delicate but functional.”
Functional? Oh, he is so funny sometimes. I giggle in delight and move over to the intricate silk gown that is hung up in front of me.
“Put it on,” he murmurs huskily to me.
“Help me?” I ask over my shoulder.
“Of course,” he says and moves to my back.
I undress and slowly pull the gown off the hanger and hand it to him. He holds it out as I step into it, so careful of the centuries-old fabric.
“I remember this dress. You had it made for me for the Burgundian visitation.”
“And you looked so beautiful. The envy of the court.”
I drop my eyes in modesty. We were so happy then. Little did I know it would all come crashing down soon after over an eavesdropped conversation that was taken completely out of context.
The red silk with gold embroidery, fits me like a glove and I smooth it down as he does up the back with skilled fingers.
“I miss this,” I say quietly.