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Sebastian tipped his head and was about to pass him by, but he had a realization that he needed a second, too.
Sebastian did not have friends in England. William had been the closest thing he had to one, but he would be standing opposite him in a duel, so he needed to find someone else.
Since this was the middle of the night, he wasn’t going to find anyone else. And he didn’t want to delay the duel.
Sebastian turned toward McAllistair. “How drunk are you?”
The man shrugged. “I can find my room if that’s what you’re asking,” he said in a drunken slur.
Sebastian nodded. “Very well. You’ll do. I need a favor.”
* * *
Lavinia followed Victoria to her chamber but didn’t catch up to her. The girl was too fast, and Lavinia was too tired. Instead, she bumped into Caroline, and now both of them sat outside Victoria’s room as the latter wouldn’t let them inside. They could hear her crying, which turned into quiet sobbing.
Lavinia’s heart squeezed, just imagining what it would be like to be deceived by a man she loved…
“It’s all my fault,” Caroline said quietly.
Lavinia furrowed her brows. “How is it your fault?”
Caroline smiled softly. “You and Roth were gone, and I was so preoccupied with looking for you and running the house party as if nothing was wrong that I didn’t pay attention to Victoria at all. Lady Elinor is sickly, and she can’t keep up with a young and boisterous charge. As a result, Victoria was left without a chaperone.”
“I think you are setting unrealistic expectations for yourself. Nobody would be able to do everything you did and still be standing at the end of the night.”
“Well, Iamsitting,” Caroline said with a chuckle.
Lavinia covered Caroline’s hand with hers. “It’s not your fault.”
“I still can’t understand how Victoria managed to sneak out and get married.”
They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts for a moment. Lavinia contemplated Caroline’s words. With so many things thrust upon her, she’d set such high expectations for herself that she thought a girl, who was not even under her care, getting married in a clandestine ceremony was her fault. And the ironic thing was if she had managed to catch Victoria before, if she had handled everything perfectly, nobody would be surprised.
“You know, Caroline, as much as I hate that this all happened, it is comforting to know that you are not perfect. That sometimes you can’t do everything,” Lavinia said.
Caroline looked at her, surprised. “I was never perfect.”
“Oh, please, Caroline. You are beautiful, clever, and kind. You always know what to do in every situation. You know how to act and what to say. I’ve never once seen you make a single mistake. You are the embodiment of perfection.”
“Except for today,” Caroline said with a self-deprecating smile.
“If anybody else was left in charge after Roth’s and my disappearance, the house would probably be on fire.”
A chuckle left Caroline’s lips, and she squeezed Lavinia’s fingers. “Thank you. But I think you give me too much credit. I am far from perfect. But I truly appreciate your words.”
Lavinia turned to Caroline fully, studying her suddenly sunken face. She seemed troubled, and Lavinia hoped she could say something to lighten her mood, but no words came to mind.
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Caroline scrambled off the floor and helped Lavinia up.
Sebastian approached them and glanced from one lady to the other, his gaze narrowing with concern. “How is Victoria?”
“She is devastated, as expected,” Caroline said. “But I think she needs to spend some time alone with her thoughts. Let’s let her sleep and… go have some rest, too.”
Sebastian nodded. “Thank you. For everything.”
Caroline nodded. “Oh, I’ve ordered a bath for you, Lavinia,” she said, before turning away. “My lord, you can request one after her.”
There was a long, charged silence after Caroline left, which was only broken once the footmen started bringing the bath and hot water into Lavinia’s chamber.
