Page 38 of The Duchess and the Beast
“I beg to differ,” Sebastian chortled as he took another sip. “I might even go so far as to say it is hilarious.”
“Hilarious, you say? Another emotion my husband possesses that I have yet to see.”
“And you might have seen it sooner had I been present,” he grinned.
Virtue fixed Sebastian with a stern look—though it was all in good fun. “You know, as my husband, you are supposed to be on my side here.”
“I am on your side,” he protested, trying to appear sincere, though giving it away with a poorly suppressed grin. “And I am utterly sympathetic to your plight. But Virtue...” He rubbed at his chin. “Can you truly fault her? I am sure the poor girl must have been mortified.”
“What about me?!” Virtue feigned indignation, hands on her hips.
“What about you?” he replied with a nonchalant shrug as he finished his glass of brandy. “From what I can see, you have recovered rather splendidly. Better than most would, in fact.”
She maintained her faux stern expression as she reached for the brandy bottle, refilling his glass. “That is beside the point.”
“Would it ease your displeasure to know that, had I been present, I would have gallantly swept you up and away from the ball? Perhaps even menaced anyone daring enough to chuckle—a glance from me, and they’d have been silenced, I assure you. I can be quite formidable when the occasion calls for it.”
“Oh, can you now?” she retorted dryly. “And no, it does not help. Because you weren’t there.”
“Well, the next time you find yourself stumbling into a waiter and inadvertently causing a cascade of wine over yourself and a friend before taking a spectacular tumble, I promise I will be.”
“You better be.” She widened her eyes at him but then snorted, quickly covering her mouth, which had Sebastian howling.
Virtue knew that if she wanted Sebastian to truly open up to her, she needed to be equally transparent with him. It was all well and good to be polite and kind and force conversation when they were together, but she knew that would only take them so far. Tonight, this moment, was about bridging that final gap.
It was fortunate then, that Virtue had the perfect story with which to use to show her vulnerability and lead Sebastian closer. After all, she had recently had her heart broken and where it was not a story she relished sharing, she knew that Sebastian above all would appreciate learning the truth. So, she told him what had happened between herself and Lord Prescott. Therealstory. Free of gossip and rumor. Devoid of exaggeration, for there was no need. As they ate and shared in glasses of brandy, she revealed what was possibly the lowest point of her life.
But she did not want him pitying her either. And she needed the mood to remain light. So, once she finished explaining that he had ended their betrothal for no good reason, literally none, she finished the story by telling of her first night back in public, one where she ended up drenched in wine and sprawled on the floor, becoming an unwitting spectacle before the ton.
Needless to say, Sebastian enjoyed himself immensely.
“All right, all right,” she waved him down, flashing her eyes at him in warning as she shuffled closer. “Enough laughter at my expense, I think.”
“It was you who brought it up.”
“And I am ending it.” She arched a brow at him, daring him to carry it further. But he held out his free hand in surrender.
“Thank you for sharing,” he said with some solemnity. “That cannot have been easy.”
“Oh, I am used to humiliation by now,” she jibed.
“Well, you married me.”
She rolled her eyes. “You are notthatbad.”
“Now who’s making fun?” He looked down his nose at her but couldn’t hide his smile. It was subtle, but she could sense thathe was flirting with her. But in a way that didn’t feel forced or preordained. A natural charm that was beginning to show the closer they became.
“I am not!” she exclaimed. “Truthfully, barring one or two... unfortunate incidents, I must say, you have proven a most pleasant companion indeed.”
He scoffed. “One or two?”
She grinned, her fingers fluttering in the air. “Or three... or four... or five.”
Sebastian couldn’t help but laugh at that. “It is fortunate, then, that you are not so easily frightened. I should be grateful.”
“I am still awaiting my prize. TheMost Patient Wifeaward. Has quite the ring to it, don’t you think?” Virtue teased.
He chuckled, sipping from his glass, and she mirrored him, her gaze lingering on him fondly. It wasn’t enough that she should be open with him. What Virtuetrulyneeded was for Sebastian to open up to her. That was what tonight had been about. With the doors locked, with the spirits flowing, with them growing closer by the second, she knew that now was the time to push.