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“The pleasure was ours. Truly.”

Sebastian offered Rosalind his arm, and they stepped outside. The door closed behind them, and she tilted her head to protect her face from the rain as he led her around the largest puddle.

On the other side of the garden gate, Perkins appeared. He stood waiting beside the carriage door as she and Sebastian navigated the muddy path.

“Do you think I might visit the Becketts again soon?” she asked.

“I am sure they would be happy to see you, especially if you come bearing such tasty gifts as you did today,” Sebastian said. “But is there a specific reason why you wish to return?”

She contemplated his question. Why did she feel such a strong desire to spend time with Mrs. Beckett and her girls again?

“Edith and Elsie are dears.”

“I agree.”

“And Mrs. Beckett is lovely.”

“As you said yourself, she is remarkably positive, given her current situation. And in contrast to London Society, she and her girls are refreshingly unaffected.”

“Yes.” Rosalind acknowledged. “But to be clear, you do not remotely resemble my bwother.”

He chuckled at her mispronunciation. “I am very glad to hear it.”

They had reached the carriage. Perkins opened the door, but when Sebastian went to assist Rosalind inside, she hesitated.

“Jonas is quite handsome, you know,” she said.

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

The rain was beginning to soak through her redingote, yet she stood facing him still. “Then why—”

“I would not wish to be your sibling, Rosalind,” he said.

His explanation took her off guard, and she was unprepared for the pain it inflicted. Lowering her head, she climbed into the carriage. The vehicle swayed as he followed her in, and then the door slammed closed behind him.

Chapter 18

Sebastian wanted to kick himself. His automatic response to Rosalind’s teasing had hurt her. No matter his limited experience conversing with young ladies, even he knew that their feelings were more tender than those of the gentlemen with whom he usually associated. His fellow engineers and peers in the House of Lords consistently took his comments at face value. Rosalind, it seemed, was disinclined to be so logical. She did not simply hear words; she felt them. And if her current air of dejection was any indication, his last comment had wounded her rather badly.

He glanced at her now, and his stomach tightened. He could not allow her to come to tears again. Not when it was quite obvious that this time, he was the cause of her unhappiness. And not when he was just coming to realize how much he cared for her.

The carriage’s momentum increased as it began its descent of the hill toward Finley Park. Sebastian clenched his fists. What could he say to her? Honesty was surely the best course, but if he were to expose his fledgling feelings with no sure indication of the direction of hers, he could make matters infinitely worse. And yet, when they walked together to the river he had all but professed his desire to resist succumbing to the kind of pride so often found in gentlemen of his rank. Was he prepared to prove it now?

“Rosalind?”

“Yes.” Her voice was small.

“I need to explain.” The light was gone from her eyes, and Sebastian discovered that he desperately wanted it back. Gathering his courage, he pressed forward. “When I said that I would not wish to be your sibling, it was for one reason only.”

“It’s all right, Sebastian,” she said. “I understand. Over the years, I’m sure Jonas considered me an irritating and far too officious sister a great deal of the time too.”

Shock made him momentarily speechless. Lud. Is that truly what she thought? If nothing else came of this conversation, he must cure her of that belief.

“I would hope that Jonas realizes how fortunate he is. I spent all of my growing-up years longing for a brother or sister. As an adult, I have observed the relationships others have with their siblings—such as yours with Jonas—with significant envy. I would gladly claim a brother or sister if I could.”

“But you would not wish that person to be me.”

“Someone like you would be absolutely marvelous. But I do not wish it to be precisely you because then you could not be my wife.”