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“Speak.” He watched her as she tried to pull herself together.
“I… um… I…”
“Yes?”
“I asked Lady Carlyle to come to the gardens with some of her lady friends during the time when I arranged a meeting with you there.”
Of all the things he thought this conversation would be about, this was the last thing he’d expected. Sebastian almost laughed at his own naivete.
“What for?” he asked drily. Of course, he understood what she meant right away, but he wanted to hear it from her.
She looked at him pleadingly but must have seen something in his eyes because she looked down and said, “I was trying to trick you into marrying me.”
Sebastian pursed his lips. He thought he would feel anger, disappointment, or even disgust upon hearing the admission, but curiously, he didn’t.
“You wanted me to marry you,” he repeated slowly.
“Well…” Lavinia wrung her hands. “Yes, I did. I orchestrated all of this so I’d be caught in a compromising position… with you.”
“So I would marry you.”
Lavinia nodded. “It is not difficult to fathom, is it? You are handsome, rich, titled, and… tall. Any woman would be lucky to become your wife, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it to you, but also, I couldn’t do it to myself. Conning someone into marriage, to live with such guilt upon my shoulders.No. I have enough guilt to carry into my afterlife.” She paused and looked at him pleadingly. “But we get on quite well, don’t we? Perhaps you would still… I know it is asking too much but—”
Sebastian would have laughed if the situation wasn’t so dire.What a cunning little vixen.“Lady Lavinia, even your manipulation aside, I would not marry you. I wouldnevermarry you.” He saw lights dim in her eyes, and he almost felt sorry for her.
And there he was a few minutes ago, intent on raising her self-esteem, dreaming of making her feel desired. And in just a few words, he’d crushed it all. She deserved it, didn’t she?
“But you were kissing me.” Her voice was barely audible.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Yes. And I was quite enjoying myself. But I am not here to find a wife. My main priority—my only priority—is marrying off my niece. And once it is done, I shall return to the Continent.”
Lavinia’s eyes lit excitedly, and Sebastian couldn’t help but step back from the glint in her eyes. “But we could go together. I do not want to stay in England any more than you do.”
Sebastian frowned. “You want to leave England? But what of your friends, your family?”
“Trust me, nothing is holding me here,” she said bitterly.
Sebastian suddenly remembered her heartfelt admission to the Duke of Kensington.
Of course. She wanted to escape her broken heart, and she saw Sebastian as a way to achieve it. Was last night a lie, too? Did she ask him to kiss her, to spend the night, in hopes that they would get caught? His heart gave a curious pang. “I know of your woes, Lady Lavinia, and as much as I sympathize, I cannot marry you.”
“You know nothing about my woes,” she said emphatically. “And anything you think you know, just multiply that by a hundred, and then perhaps you’d understand. Or perhaps not even then. The only recourse for me is to marry. But to leave this Godforsaken place would be even better.”
Sebastian fell silent for a long moment, two people warring inside him. The sad truth was, he liked her. He felt comfortable around her. And perhaps of all the women who plotted to marry him, he would not have regretted marrying her.
But knowing what she’d done, knowing the love she had for the duke, and the attempt she’d made to ensnare him under false pretenses, using him to get what she wanted, just made him harden his heart to her.
“My apologies, but it’ll have to be someone else.”
If only Frau Elinor could hear him now. She’d slap those words right off his mouth and force him to marry this poor woman.
“If I do not find a groom, my guardian will marry me off to an old, widowed hermit. And that’s not the worst of my fate,” Lavinia said quietly, crushing the fabric of her gown beneath her fingers.
“I wish I could help you,” Sebastian said just as quietly. Then he turned and left the room.
* * *
Lavinia’s entire body shook, and her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t even know what she felt. Was it frustration? Anger? Or disappointment?
