Page 16 of Scandal’s Daughter

She shook her head and then reached up and kissed his cheek. “I think there is much you would give me, my lord,” she said, her voice quiet. “But I am not fool enough to believe your heart is among them.” She cast him one last smile before turning her back and walking away.

“I will see you tomorrow,” he called out to her, though she offered him no reply, just walked back the way she had come with her own heart full of apprehension and turmoil.

***

Sebastian watched her walk away from him and wondered what in the name of God he was playing at. He had never taken his own position lightly or used it to abuse others. Seducing a well-bred young lady who was clearly intent on landing herself a duke was not beyond him but taking the innocence of a sweet girl who knew well he had no intentions of ever offering her marriage, that was quite another.

He should have never begun this dangerous game. Yes, she had more to lose than he did, of course, but he couldn’t pretend that he was in no danger. He had never been so captivated by a woman before and he couldn’t precisely say what it was about her that appealed so strongly to him. Perhaps the way she laughed and teased him and refused to be flattered. Maybe it was her forthright way of putting him in his place and showing she was unimpressed with his romantic declarations, believing them to be nothing more than part of the scenery set for her own seduction. He wondered what she would say if she knew he had meant those words?

***

The next three days followed much the same pattern, though Sebastian tried his hardest to be a gentleman and take things no further than he had before. But damn it was a hard thing to do. They talked of course, they spoke about so many things. In fact, he couldn’t ever remember finding anyone so easy to converse with. And yet in the end words couldn’t be enough and he found himself lost in her kiss. It was after one such afternoon he returned to find Jeffries waiting for him in the stables as usual.

He had already grown used to the ragging from his friends who gathered he had found some lusty wench nearby who had attracted his interest. Sebastian just grinned at them and let them believe it, better that than tell the truth - whatever the truth might be. Instinctively he shied away from it, not wanting to look too closely. But Jeffries had known him since he was a baby and there was something in those shrewd eyes that told him he was found out.

He tossed his jacket over the side of the stall in a manner that would make his valet weep, before rolling up his sleeves and getting to work rubbing down his horse, Azor. Although he could easily have left the work as being far beneath him, and indeed he didn’t always volunteer, Jeffries had instilled a work ethic in him from his earliest days. If he wanted to know about horses, to really know, then he needed to know everything, not just toss his reins to a waiting groom the moment he was done.

If he had hoped to distract his old mentor from his purpose, however, by pleasing him in such a way, it was soon clear he’d fallen short of the mark. The man’s stony silence was a sure indicator that there was something on his mind, but Sebastian knew him well enough to know he’d say nothing unless he was invited to. Jeffries would never speak out of turn to his master, oh no. He’d just bludgeon him into submission with his silent scowl until Sebastian was begging him to tell him what the problem was.

“Alright, out with it,” he said, dropping the curry comb and reaching for a soft brush. He glanced up to see real concern in the older man’s eyes and hesitated. “Really, Jeffries, what is it?”

Jeffries ran one large, calloused hand through his hair and scratched at the stubble on his chin. “I don’t know, your grace. It’s ... well, it’s not my place to say is it?”

Sebastian snorted and began to brush Azor with long, firm strokes. The horse whickered and twitched appreciatively, turning his head to nudge Sebastian with his silky muzzle. “Well, it’s never stopped you before to my knowledge.”

To his surprise Jeffries stepped closer to him and Sebastian watched as he reached out and plucked something from his linen shirt. It was a long, fine hair.

“Red,” Jeffries said, looking at it and shaking his head with a troubled expression.

Sebastian laughed, wondering what on earth had got into the man. “You have something against red heads?”

“Aye,” he said, his tone bitter. “As it was a red-headed bitch who ruined your father, that I do.”

Sebastian stilled. He knew well enough the story of his father’s demise. Knew the name of the woman who had seduced him away from his wife and only son, and ultimately led him to his death. He hadn’t known what she looked like though, other than that she was a beauty of course.

“I see the look in your eyes,” Jeffries said, as foreboding prickled over Sebastian’s skin. “He looked like that when it began. Like he needed her to breathe, like he couldn’t sit easy in his own skin unless he was with her.”

“Don’t be foolish, man,” Sebastian replied, returning to his job and trying hard to consign Jeffries' words to some distant place where he needn’t consider them. “Just because the girl has red hair it doesn’t mean I’m about to fight a duel over her. Neither of us is married, for one.” Damn. He hadn’t meant that information to escape him. He sighed and looked up, meeting Jeffries’ eyes. “I appreciate your concern, truly. But I will be gone from here soon enough. It is simply ... a pleasant dalliance, nothing more.”

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, but he hadn’t quite realised how untrue it was until the words had been forced from him. How in God’s name was he going to leave her? The idea made his gut clench.

“I was there that night, your grace. I was there the night he killed Baron Dalton and had to flee with that woman. He made me swear to protect you, to always look out for you and dammit I’ve tried my best and I’m trying now. Let us leave this place today. Go back to London,” he urged. “Or home to Marlburgh, wherever you like, only get away from her because I have a bad feeling about this.”

Sebastian turned and looked at him, laughing and forcing a smile, both of which felt utterly fake. “Superstitious nonsense, man,” he said, clapping Jeffries on the back. “I have no intention of following in my father’s scandalous footsteps, I assure you. Now do stop fretting like an old woman and help me rub this fellow down as I’m half-starved and I need a drink.”

“Aye, your grace, whatever you say,” Jeffries said, frowning. “But you mark my words, lad, nothing good will come of it.”