AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A marriage can be annulled on grounds of fraud,” she said. “If that’s what you allege, I won’t fight it.”
“Oh, I’ll be damned if I’ll annul this marriage. You’re not getting off that easy.” He inhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. “I’m far from a perfect man. But if there’s one thing I value above all else, it’s keeping my promises.”
“I know that.”
“Precisely, Mary. You know that. Youknowthat. And you used it against me.”
She nodded slowly. “You’re right, I did. I see that now. Perhaps it is unforgivable.”
She turned and quietly climbed the stairs.
Sebastian didn’t follow her.
Mary spent the rest of the night pacing, weeping, and hoping against hope that she might hear his footfalls on the steps. That he might come to her, allow her to apologize, consider giving her another chance.
Before Giles had arrived, they’d been on the verge of something truly wonderful. And because of her stupidity, she’d set them back years. She didn’t know how she’d convince him to trust her again. But no matter how long it took, she wouldn’t give up.
As dawn broke, she finally heard the sounds of stirring downstairs. She ran to the door and pressed her ear against it, holding her breath.
No footfalls.
Instead, she heard the sound of carriage wheels crunching on the gravel drive. Heading away.
No.
Mary looked about the room, panicked. Good Lord, she was still barefoot and dressed in nothing but his shirt. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to change out of it.
There was no time to find something else.
She flew from the room, hurrying down the stairs on bare feet and reeling around a corner in her mad dash for the front door. “Sebastian! Sebastian, wait! Don’t le—”
Oof.As she opened the door, she collided with something.
Something tall and strong and wonderful.
“Sebastian.” She threw her arms about his neck and hugged him tight. “Thank God you’re still here. I thought you’d left me.”
“I told you I wouldn’t leave you. What would make you think that?”
She pulled back and searched his eyes. “The coach. I heard it leaving.”
“Ah, yes. That would have been Dick and Fanny making their departure.”
“You don’t mean that you sacked them? I know they’re terrible, but they meant well.”
“I did not sack them,” he said. “I’ve sent them away on holiday. To Ramsgate.”
She blinked at him, stunned. “Sebastian, you didn’t.”
“I did. They’re to have a room at the finest establishment, with full board and all expenses paid, for a week. And we”—he put his hands on her waist—“are on our own.”
“Just the two of us?”
He nodded.
“For a whole week?”
“I’m afraid so.” He shook his head, as if in dismay. “We’ll have to prepare our own food. Split our own wood. Nothing to do but stroll on the beach in the afternoons and sit by the fire in the evenings with a glass of wine.” His eyes darkened. “Well, that and go to bed early.”
