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Sebastian felt incredibly uneasy. As he watched his muse fiddle with her skirts and avoid looking anyone in the eye, guilt crept into the dark corners of his soul.
He’d acted ungentlemanly in the gallery hall.
She was a debutante, and apart from Victoria, whom he still treated like a little girl—because for him she was still a little girl—Sebastian did not have many interactions with debutantes.
He’d had mistresses, he had dallied with widows and models who were anything but modest. Therefore his jests might have come off too strong for the young lady.
As he watched her sunken face, he wondered if their earlier interaction was the reason for her current dejected state. His heart squeezed, and he wanted to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness. Except, that would cause even more of a scene, so he stayed away, observing her silently.
“Lady Lavinia Birch,” Frau Elinor said by his side. “An earl’s daughter. I believe no dowry was announced for her, but we truly do not need that nonsense.”
Sebastian turned his head toward his aunt. Was he that obvious? “I am not interested in marrying her. She just seems… sad.”
Lavinia… What a beautiful name. It quite suited her.
Her last name did sound familiar though. Where had he heard it before?
Frau Elinor harrumphed. “In that case, perhaps, you should act a gracious host and sit her next to you at dinner. Today is an informal dinner, but even if it wasn’t, she is high enough in rank to warrant it.”
Sebastian didn’t protest as Frau Elinor led him toward his muse.
Lavinia.
His aunt was hoping to marry him off, he knew. He wasn’t about to fall into her trap, but he also wanted to be properly introduced to his muse. And there also was this deep-seated need to make her smile. Although there was a bigger possibility that he’d make her frown or storm off by saying something inappropriate again.
Frau Elinor paused and breathed in deeply before they reached their destination.
Sebastian frowned down at her. “Is something amiss?”
“No, no.” She resumed her step. “I am just getting tired a lot quicker these days. And I keep falling asleep in all sorts of inconvenient situations. One day I might just fall asleep standing up.” She laughed, but Sebastian didn’t find her lack of energy charming.
She was in her seventies, and not many people lived this long. But she’d seemed strong and healthy until this blasted trip to England. The voyage had tired her out. But the country air was bound to do her good.
“Lady Lavinia,” Frau Elinor said. “Allow me to introduce you to my nephew, the Marquess of Roth.”
Lady Lavinia turned, and a smile froze on her lips.
Sebastian sketched a bow. “A pleasure.”
She sank into a curtsy, although her eyes were shooting daggers at him. “Pleasure’s all mine.”
“Look at that, Victoria needs me!” Frau Elinor exclaimed and slowly went in the opposite direction from her grand niece.
Sebastian swallowed a chuckle. She was not subtle at all. “My aunt, ever the matchmaker, decided that I should escort you to dinner.”
“Why did you not protest?” she asked with a sigh, looking fatigued and rather defeated.
To cheer you up?“I never say no to my aunt.”
“You probably do not say inappropriate things in her presence, either.”
A surprised chuckle left his lips. So she was still upset about earlier? “Believe it or not, I do. But she loves me just the way I am.”
“Lord Roth—”
“Sebastian.”
She threw him a sharp, reprimanding gaze. “I do not know why you decided to make me the center of your amusement, but I shall be quite dull company.”
