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Chapter Nineteen

Sebastian

S ebastian had not expected Selina, he had not expected his siblings, and he had not expected the way in which Selina now regarded him. It was an arrested expression, as though she was looking at him but not truly seeing him.

But now was not the time to concern himself with what she thought of him. She had left little doubt of that, after all. According to her, she had been storing up all her unfavorable opinions of him for weeks. He had no wish to hear them all.

The urgent matter was Margaret, Hugo, and Felix.

“He has become more volatile since your visit,” Margaret said, as though tracking his thought path.

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. As usual, Margaret put things diplomatically.

Hollis had never been stable to begin with. If she was describing him as volatile , there was no saying what he had been subjecting them to.

The thought made Sebastian sick. “I should not have gone to see you.”

“But then we would not have met Pip!” Felix said. “Is he here? ”

Sebastian considered before replying. He needed to speak frankly with Margaret without the boys present—or Selina. There was no need for her to be involved in this conversation. Indeed, he would far rather she not be.

“Yes,” Sebastian said. “He is in his room, no doubt tearing it apart, as I have been neglecting him this morning. He would be glad for some company if you and Hugo wish to join him.”

He may as well have asked them if they would like a piece of chocolate cake.

They were gone almost before he had finished speaking, evidently confident they could find Pip’s room without being told where it was. As it was just beside Sebastian’s, he made no move to go after them.

He turned his gaze to Selina.

She was sharp enough to know with a simple look that he wished her to leave. Given her opinion of him, she was undoubtedly eager for an excuse to leave.

He gazed at her steadily, but her eyes were on Margaret.

“Are you hungry, Miss Hollis?” Selina asked.

Margaret let out a smiling sigh, as though relieved to be asked. “Famished.”

Wishing he had thought to ask such a basic question himself, Sebastian tugged the bell chord, and a servant appeared with a rapidity that made him suspect he had not been at all far from the room. Ear to the keyhole, possibly.

He instructed that a platter of food and drink be prepared for Margaret and the boys, and the three of them were left to themselves again.

Still, Selina did not meet his speaking glance. Why? What mischief did she mean?

“You must be exhausted,” she said to Margaret. “Why not have a seat?”

Margaret shot her a grateful look and sat down on the edge of Sebastian’s bed. She looked at Sebastian, a hint of fear entering her eyes. “Do you think he will come after us? ”

Sebastian grimaced. “I suspect so. And this is the first place he will come.”

Margaret’s brows pinched together. “I had not thought of that.”

“If he discovers you here, he may tell the Court of Chancery that I took you from him.”

Margaret’s chin dropped to her chest, her eyes squeezing shut. “I should not have come. I simply did not know what to do.”

Sebastian hurried over and lowered to his knees, taking her hands and waiting for her to look at him. “You did exactly right, Margaret. I should have taken you with me the night of my visit, not left you to endure his wrath.”

Margaret met his gaze, her eyes brimming with tears.

He looked at her intently. “You do not belong with Hollis, no matter what the Chancery says. We will find a way forward.”

That way forward simply could not mean their remaining there in the home of three bachelors in St. James’s.

If only Yorke and Fairchild were not at Parliament, Sebastian might ask for their help. Yorke’s brother, the Duke of Rockwood, lived in London, and though Yorke hated asking favors of him, perhaps he would make an exception in this case, even if temporarily.

“I will send a note to Yorke,” Sebastian said. “He is attending Parliament today, but perhaps you could stay with his brother until…”

Until what? There was no saying when the Chancery would agree to see them in court or when they would make a decision.

“Let them stay with me.”

Sebastian’s and Margaret’s heads turned toward Selina.

She met their gazes evenly. “I confess I am not acquainted with the particulars of the situation, but it seems that a primary concern is that this man you speak of not know where to find Miss Hollis and her brothers. If that is correct”—she lifted her shoulders—“he would not suspect my house, would he?”

Sebastian did not respond immediately. He was searching her face, trying to understand why she would make such a generous offer.

But he knew why.

“No,” he said blankly, rising to his feet.

Margaret looked at him, confusion etched in her young brow.

“Why not?” asked Selina.

Sebastian fixed his gaze upon her grimly. “You know why.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw and began to pace the room.

Selina walked over to him and spoke in a low voice. “This is not a game, Sebastian.”

He stopped and looked at her. “A game is all it has ever been to you.”

A glint of hurt flashed in her eyes. “I would never use children in such an abominable way.”

“Would you not? What of your own nieces and nephews? Did you not use them in your attempts to teach me a lesson?”

Her jaw tightened, but he could see that she had taken his point. “That was different. They were never in any danger.” Her gaze became more intent upon him. “My offer is genuine. I swear it.”

Sebastian searched her eyes, finding no evidence of duplicity but still not wanting to believe her. Would he not be the world’s greatest fool to do so? To put his vulnerable siblings into the care of the woman who had made it her mission to mortify him?

And yet, what other options did he have?

Even if Yorke agreed to ask his brother and the duke agreed to take the children in, the duchess was with child—and frequently unwell as a result, from what Yorke had said. The last thing they needed was three unfamiliar children to manage. Sebastian knew firsthand how wild Felix and Hugo could be.

He had seen Selina with her nieces and nephews; with them, at least, she was capable, kind, and equal to their mischief. She would have Miss Grant to assist her—and a number of servants besides.

“Why do you offer such a thing?” Sebastian asked.

There was a moment of hesitation, and a flicker of something in her eyes—nervousness, he almost thought.

Then her mouth pulled up at one edge in a wry half-smile. “We are engaged, are we not?”

Sebastian’s mouth pulled into a thin line.

“You are…engaged?” Margaret asked.

Selina sucked in a breath, her expression stricken. She must have forgotten Margaret’s presence.

Sebastian certainly had.

He cleared his throat, but what was he to say? He had just told Selina that she could spread news of the end of the engagement.

“Yes,” Selina said, bringing Sebastian’s head around swiftly. “We are.”

Margaret’s mouth stretched wide. “But that is wonderful! The most happy news imaginable. I would welcome the opportunity to come to know you better, Mrs. Lawrence. We are to be family, after all.”

Sebastian’s every muscle was tight.

“And I you,” Selina said. “But please call me Selina. Tell me, Margaret. Do you think you and your brothers could be happy for a time under my roof? You would have your own bedchamber, and the two of them as well.”

Margaret let out a laugh. “They will be beside themselves at the prospect.”

Selina smiled. “We could even bring Pip with us. Perhaps you could ask them their thoughts?”

Margaret nodded, but Sebastian knew Felix and Hugo well enough to see the pointless nature of such a question. They would be beside themselves. And yet, a bit of privacy to speak with Selina was warranted.

Once it was an option, however, he found himself at a loss for words, caught in an awkward space between gratitude, frustration, worry, and wariness.

The two of them stared at one another in full silence, their eyes locked as they tried to understand one another and the fast-evolving—or perhaps devolving—situation.

The door burst open.

“You are getting married?” Hugo asked with the energy of someone who had forgotten the trials and adversities of an arduous journey to London.

Felix came on his heels, holding Pip like a baby.

“Yes,” Sebastian said, unable to keep the stiffness from his voice. “And Selina has graciously offered to take you in until I can find a more permanent solution.”

“With Pip too?” Felix asked.

Selina smiled. “With Pip too. I trust you will help me to watch over him.”

Both boys nodded fervently.

“Shall we go once you have all had a bit to eat, then?” Selina asked. “You can wash up and have a proper meal. My cook makes the most delicious kidney pie.”

Sebastian was borne inexorably on the tide of his siblings’ eagerness, but their departure was delayed by the appearance of the food Sebastian had requested. It was far from ideal, but the children consumed it with ravenous energy.

Once they had finished, Selina’s carriage conveyed them all—snugly indeed—to her lodgings in Berkeley Square.

The eyes of all three grew wide at the sight of the fine house and remained so as she showed them inside.

The level of energy that came with being shown to the bedchambers they would each call home brought a sad smile to Sebastian’s face.

“We could fit seven of me in this bed!” Felix declared.

“Just so long as there are none of you in mine,” Hugo said from the doorway as he compared Felix’s room to his.

Sebastian chuckled, and his gaze met Selina’s dancing one for a moment before they both looked away, smiles dampened.

So infatuated were the children that Hugo and Felix made no complaint when Selina ordered Pip to be taken by the servants for a time.

Felix discovered the set of wooden soldiers in the trunk of his room with alarming rapidity, but when Sebastian went over to gently remind him that the toys did not belong to him, Selina intervened.