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Chapter 27
Then stay with me.
Those were the sweetest words Sebastian had ever heard. After the grueling horse ride, the tension-filled argument with William, and the soul-crushing moment of seeing all Victoria’s dreams die, he didn’t want to be alone.
He didn’t want to be with anyone else, either. He just wanted her.
Lavinia.
The moment she took his hand, it was as if the fatigue had left his body. She filled him with strength and tenderness, and everything that was pure in this world.
In a few hours, the dawn would come, and he would fight a man he had once called his friend for the honor of his niece. He didn’t know what to expect from that duel. He wasn’t certain he was doing the right thing by calling William out.
Sebastian was not certain of anything, except for the woman who was holding his hand at that moment. And that was all he needed.
They made their way to her bedroom just as the last servants were leaving the room.
The bath was filled with steaming water; the towels lay on the chair nearby; the soap prepared. Everything was ready for Lavinia’s bath.
Lavinia looked around the room. “Miss Gale is not here,” she said.
Sebastian chuckled. “Do not worry. The servants probably took her when they realized you left.” He locked the door and beckoned Lavinia closer. “Come here.”
Lavinia obeyed, and he enveloped her in his embrace.
Sebastian burrowed his face in her hair and breathed in deeply. This, holding her in his arms, even just being in proximity with her, was his definition of heaven.
She slowly disengaged from him and looked up. She had to crane her head all the way back in order to look him in the eye. She was so tiny, his little muse.
“I need to take a bath,” she said with a timid smile.
“Do you want me to leave?” He ran his hands up and down her arms in soothing motions. She shook her head. “To turn away?”
Her gaze was uncertain as she looked at him for a long moment before finally shaking her head again.
Sebastian gulped. She was trusting him again, and he couldn’t quite describe what it meant to him. “Then let me help you undress,ma petite.”
Lavinia nodded.
Sebastian carefully undid her bodice and let it fall to her feet. The stomacher and overskirts followed. Next went her petticoats.
That poor gown had truly suffered too much.
As Lavinia stood before him in a crumpled chemise, Sebastian wondered if she’d ever allow him all the way into her heart. He wished she would tell him about all her woes. He wished she’d stop hiding from him and open up to him completely.
Lavinia looked him in his eyes, her expression troubled.
“Is something wrong?” he asked and ran a finger down her cheek.
Lavinia gulped, her throat working on a swallow, and shook her head.
Then she bunched the fabric of her chemise in her hands and slowly took it off. Sebastian only had time to blink, and there she was, standing completely naked in front of him.
* * *
Lavinia didn’t know what came over her. For some unknown reason, she just wished there were no barriers between her and Sebastian. For one brazen moment, she decided to bare herself in front of him and took off her chemise.
But as the moment passed and now, he was looking at her naked form, all doubts returned and started plaguing her anew.
