Page 45 of Scandal’s Daughter

Chapter 21

“Wherein old lies tangle up the future.”

Sebastian woke with a start and clutched at his head. It was throbbing in the most violent manner and as he forced himself to sit forward, the empty decanter at his feet told its own tale. He groaned, shivering as his stomach turned, acid burning in his chest and throat.

The fire had long since died in his office and the room was freezing, dark, and more unwelcoming than he’d ever known it. This had been his father’s space. His sanctuary. The room where Sebastian had always felt closest to him.

He looked up at the portrait of the man whose image still hung on the chimney breast. A severe-looking man with dark hair and darker eyes, but there was humour lurking behind the fierce expression and kindness too.

Mother had told him that Lady Dalton had taken his father away from them. That she’d bewitched him and driven him mad. Mad enough to kill the woman’s husband and run away from his lawful wife and son. The betrayal of that had been more than he could bear. He’d hated Lady Dalton with a cold, burning fury that would have consumed him whole, if Beau hadn’t turned up and shown him life could still be worth the trouble of living it.

Almost as if he’d conjured him the door opened, and he was confronted with Beau’s furious blue gaze.

He’d known, of course, that he’d have to face this. He got to his feet, a trifle unsteady, but he stood, walking a few steps into the room and waiting as Beau advanced on him.

The blow hit him square in the jaw and he fell backwards, sprawled across the study floor with lights exploding behind his eyes.

“You bastard!” Beau, yelled at him, the furious sound ringing through his tender brain. “I ought to damn well kill you,” he raged. “Damn you for being drunk!”

Beau turned his back on him in disgust while he staggered to his feet, rubbing his jaw and testing his teeth one by one to see if they were all still intact.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, collapsing back in the chair with a groan. He looked up, watching as Beau glowered at him. “I am sorry, Beau.”

“What exactly is it you’re sorry for?” Beau demanded, leaning against his desk and folding his arms across his chest. “Forgive me if I’d like a little clarity, but there appear to be a number of crimes to be laid at your door.”

“All of it,” he croaked, as his throat closed up. “For God’s sake give me a glass of water.”

Beau scowled at him and tutted but did as he was asked, pouring out a glass from a jug on his desk and putting it into his hand.

“Thank you.”

“I should throw it in your face,” Beau muttered. “You know you nearly ruined her last night. How could you?”

Sebastian downed the glass and tried to ignore the way his stomach clenched in protest. “I didn’t mean to,” he said, putting the empty glass aside and clutching at his head. “It was just ... such a shock, seeing her there.”

“Not as much of a shock as she got when I introduced myself the other day, I assure you,” Beau replied with a pointed expression.

“Oh, God,” Sebastian groaned. “I am sorry, Beau.”

“So you keep saying.”

He looked up and frowned, staring at his friend. “She ... She was truly shocked? She didn’t know?”

“Of course she didn’t know!” Beau exploded, making him wince as the sound tore through his head and slashed at his brain. “How the devil should she when you are apparently the Marquess of Beaumont. Came as a bit of a shock to me, I can tell you!”

“I know, I know ... I can’t ...”

“Why?” Beau demanded. “Why in God’s name would you do such a thing? Isn’t it enough you’re a duke, that you’ve money enough to buy me a hundred times over without even noticing?”

Sebastian dared to look up at his lifelong friend and wished to God he hadn’t as he’d never seen such hurt in his eyes.

“Damn it, Sebastian, all I have is this,” he shouted, gesturing to that perfect face. “And the dubious honour of being the Marquess of Beaumont. Why would you want that too?”

“I just ...” He closed his eyes and sighed, wondering how on earth he could make him understand. “It was only meant to be for a day or two. It was just ... I was so tired of being hunted, of knowing these bloody women only want me for my title and my money. I just ...” He paused and shook his head, running a shaky hand through his hair. “I just wanted a bit of fun and I thought ... if she believed I was you, she’d know I was never offering anything serious. She’d know I was just playing with her and that there was no money to be had from me. If she wanted to be with me, it could only be because ... she wanted to be with me.”

He looked up again and met Beau’s eyes, overcome with shame and humiliation. “I didn’t mean it to go so far. I ... I never meant to fall in love with her.”

Beau gave a snort of disgust. “That, at least, I do believe.”