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Chapter Sixteen
Dinner that evening proved abysmal, though why Sebastian thought things would be otherwise he had no idea. Him arriving a full half an hour late hadn’t helped things. Kitty had left him snoozing in her sitting room, and he’d been roused awake by a rather perturbed Swanton who’d had trouble locating him. Sebastian had done his best to be quick with dressing, but it appeared he hadn’t been quick enough, for a full-scale spat was already about to break out by the time he entered the dining room.
“There will be no changes to the wall hangings,” his mother said coolly. “I am sure a vulgar creature such as yourself has appalling taste.”
“It is no longer your decision to make,” Sebastian cut in as he walked through the threshold, his patience with the woman already wearing thin.
Kitty, bless her heart, didn’t seem bothered in the slightest and gave him a cheerful smile as he sat beside her at the head of the table. “There you are, my love,” she said with a gentle tap on his elbow. “I thought you’d never make it. We were just discussing my plans for the drawing room.”
Looking close, Sebastian could see the strain in her eyes. He brought her gloved hand to his lips and kissed the back of her palm. “Forgive me, I did not awaken in time.”
He heard his mother scowl, but his wife did not acknowledge the sound. “It is alright, you are here now,” she said and rang the dinner bell.
That small, domestic action, a reminder of her place in his household, thawed the cold irritation brewing within him towards the dowager. His mother’s lips all but curling at the sight of him also proved bolstering. He let go of Kitty’s hand as the soup course was laid before them. “So, what is this about the wall hangings.”
“I thought I might change them to something a bit more modern. Eventually, I’d like to update the entire room.”
“No need to do things piecemeal. Might as well get everything updated at once. Do what you wish.” The thought of Kitty changing the house, which did sorely need updating, and leaving her mark on the property cheered him immensely. He rather liked this wife business.
“Am I to have no input on the matter?” his mother remarked with a glare.
“Considering that even broaching the topic resulted in you referring to my wife as a vulgar creature, I think not.”
Kitty shot him a mild warning look, before giving the dowager a tight smile. “Of course, I will take your preferences into consideration,” she began gently. “But I am mistress of this home, now, and plan to do much entertaining as is my duty as duchess.”
It would have been the perfect reply in any other circumstance, and for a moment Sebastian thought that his mother might respond more positively to Kitty taking her duties seriously, but the woman only narrowed her eyes in disgust before speaking. “Oh, I am sure you will do much ‘entertaining’.”
“Madam,” he said, his voice low with warning.
“Oh, please. We’ve all heard the rumors. I cannot imagine what a regular patron at The White Heather would consider proper.”
Kitty rolled her eyes. “I’ve only been there once, for goodness’ sake, and Sebastian was at my side the entire time.”
The dowager daintily sipped her soup, feigning an air of nonchalance. “I also heard that you had Arthur Barrow squiring you about that night and that you’ve become a regular fixture since.”
“I didn’t peg you as one to take stock in the scandal sheets,” Kitty replied coolly.
His mother looked at him, a strange sort of pity in her eyes, before giving Kitty a smirk. “I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see how grey-eyed the babe turns out to be.”
Sebastian hurled his spoon into the dining room table, so loud that both women flinched and a servant nearly lost his tray. “How dare you,” he hissed, feeling himself lose his temper for the first time in a long while.
His mother paled slightly, though the self-assured expression never left her face. “I am only saying this out of care for the bloodline.”
Kitty rose before he could launch out of his chair, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. He could feel her fingers trembling. “I believe Her Grace is overwrought,” she murmured softly. “Perhaps we should leave her to dine in the comfort of her solitude.”
“I would love nothing more,” the dowager replied, taking another casual sip of her soup.
Sebastian was too tense with rage to say anything, his hands balled into white-knuckled fists atop the table as he attempted to gain control of himself. “Let us go, then,” he was finally able to bite out, before rising to follow Kitty out of the room, not sparing his mother a glance.
“You’ll see,” she muttered as he passed.
He emerged with Kitty into the foyer. His wife rubbed her arms with a distressed sigh, and Sebastian laid a hand on her shoulder. “I think she was speaking utter nonsense. I hope you know that I don’t believe a word of it.” The thought of Barrow and Kitty having an affair was so preposterous that he would have laughed out loud were he not simmering with anger.
“Of course, you don’t,” she replied, looking up at him with shining eyes. “It was just a shock to hear such an accusation. I…” She inhaled thickly. “I worry that others may hold the same opinion once I announce my pregnancy.”
He reached up to wipe a developing tear from the corner of her eye. “Then they will look all the more foolish when the babe emerges with the classic Haverston features. I’ll even parade it around Hyde Park if you wish.”
“You are utterly ridiculous.” She leaned against him with a watery chuckle. “I’m happy you were the one I became fixated on having an affair with.”
