And so did he––
In the doorway stood a figure he could recognize no matter how the light case her face in shadow. But he felt the emotions washing over him, all that she felt, as she brought a hand up to her mouth.
“Wait,” Sebastian said immediately when he realized that Isabel had just witnessed this strange moment. He felt the hurt and the anger. “That wasn’t––”
“I never should have trusted you,” Isabel choked out.
Her words and her tone nearly broke him. It left his feet frozen to the ground as he watched his wife turn around to flee, leaving him behind.
“What the devil––” When he moved at last, forcing his body to do something, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Annabelle was right there. He brushed her off sharply. “Don’t you dare touch me again.”
And then Sebastian started after his wife.
Already he was trying to put the words together in his mind. He hadn’t meant to kiss the woman. He didn’t even know her. He didn’t want to kiss anyone but Isabel.
How would she know that, a quiet voice asked in the back of his mind. Hadn’t he spent enough time telling her that they could not be close?
I didn’t mean it. Not like that. Not like this. I do want Isabel. But I never wanted to hurt her.
Somehow, Sebastian realized, he still managed to do just that.
But he was determined not to let that happen for long. All he had to do was tell her. Correct her. There was no one else but her. He would do anything to prove it, too. He would never talk to another woman again, never dance, never even look at them. The only one for him was ever going to be Isabel. He would find some way to tell her this, to show her how much he cared, and then everything would be all right.
Turning the corner, Sebastian stopped. Isabel disappeared into another room. And in between them stood her brother, Thomas, with crossed arms.
“You’re just like every other cad calling himself a gentleman,” Thomas said with a bitter smile. “I knew it all along. Eventually, my sister was bound to find out the truth.”
Sebastian stared. “What are you talking about?” His gaze darted over the man’s shoulder and wondered if it was worth flaying Thomas out to get to his wife. “It was a mistake. Whatever she said, it was… it was all mixed up. I’ll tell her and she’ll know the truth.”
“I don’t think so,” Thomas said just when he tried to take a step. “Because you’re not telling her anything.”
His hands balled into fists. Seeing the man’s face shift to reveal a cold smile, Sebastian sensed something was wrong. Terribly, awfully wrong. “You don’t know anything.”
“Except I do.” Thomas moved again when Sebastian tried to get around him. “Because she believes what I told her. That there was another woman. There was always another woman. Tsk. You should have hidden your deception better.”
“There was no deception!” He couldn’t help but snap. “Move, Thomas, or I’ll move you.”
“And what? Hurt her brother? I can’t imagine Isabel would take well to that. No, you are done here, Your Grace,” Thomas said snidely. “She won’t believe you now, no matter what you say. She saw it. And should she ask my sweet Annabelle, well, she’ll have more people to believe.”
There were too many feelings pent up in Sebastian then. He felt Isabel’s horror and something worse. Something heavier former in the pit of his stomach.
Breathing hard, he tried to fight the instinct to fight. To run. He swallowed hard. “What are you talking about, Thomas?”
“I mean that you are nothing but a tool here. Isabel dearest is never going to believe another word you say to her. She has no reason to. Especially not because she has her beloved brother at her side.”
“No. She won’t trust you.”
“But she has to now.”
Sebastian stewed for a long minute. He gulped in air and shoved a fist into the wall. Not hard enough to rip a hole, but enough to make the nearest painting quiver. Even Thomas jumped but pretended otherwise.
I could hurt him. Badly. No one would recognize him. I could make him disappear, ship him off somewhere… but what if he’s right? Have I lost Isabel? For good?
“Fine.” He faced Thomas again. At the edge of a far hall, no one was close enough to hear them. “What is it you want?”
The sum that the man gave him was staggering. It was everything the Crown wanted back and then more. Thomas gave a sly smile before crossing his arms. “I know you have it,” he added after a second when Sebastian was still struggling with words. “You might have done your research on me, but I also did mine on you.”
“How?”
