Even to his own ears, the excuse sounded rather pathetic, and Sebastian sighed. Fitzgerald turned purple, then red, then stark white.
“You… were caught… in a compromising position,” he said, speaking very slowly, “with your betrothed’s sister?”
“If you could listen to me…” Sebastian tried, but his father shook his head. “I will not hear it,” he spat furiously.
Despite his desire to defend himself, Sebastian was quiet—waiting for his father to say something, anything.
Fitzgerald was uncharacteristically quiet for a while.
“Now, Sebastian,” he said at last, his voice measured. “I cannot say that I am wholly surprised by your behavior. You have… garnered a reputation as a bit of a rake in the ton. I let it gobecause I knew that the family’s name was strong enough to withstand a lot. But this…”
Fitzgerald shook his head and Sebastian sighed.
“If I could speak to Lady Caroline… and Lady Beatrice,” he offered, but Fitzgerald merely let out a bark of a laugh.
“If you think I am letting you speak to either of those women alone, you are gravely mistaken, boy!”
Though Sebastian opened his mouth to respond again, his father was quick to interrupt him.
“We shall both see Lord Lincoln tomorrow and find a way out of this mess.”
“There doesn’t need to be a mess,” Sebastian insisted. “It was a misunderstanding and if we could just…”
“NO!” Fitzgerald spat, his face turning a dangerous shade of red again and a vein throbbing in his forehead.
“I do not want to hear a word, not a single word from you,” he insisted scathingly. “Go to bed. We will talk in the morning.”
Sebastian hesitated for a few seconds, every part of him rebelling against being sent to his chamber like a child. Still, by the look on his father’s face it would be a dangerous endeavor for either of the men if he stayed, and with a scowl he turned on his heel and made his way upstairs.
A faint smell of elderberry clung to his shirt when he yanked it over his head and he held onto it, a shadow of a smile flickering across his face.
It smelled like her, like Caroline, and again, he was struck by how well the girl had fit into his arms when she’d stumbled. His heart skipped a beat when he remembered the press of her soft breasts against his chest or how his hand had slipped over the dip of her hips.
His throat was suddenly dry and with a shake of his head, Sebastian got rid of his day clothes and into his night shirt.
Still, sleep evaded him even as he lay in bed.
It was early when he was called to his father’s study by a footman with lifted brows and Sebastian scowled at the man before complying and making his way downstairs. Fitzgerald was practically frothing at the mouth where he stood in the door of his study, an envelope trembling in his hand.
“As I had expected,” he started without giving Sebastian as much as a chance to greet him, “Lord Lincoln has called us both to his estate.”
“I…” Sebastian hesitated, wanting to offer to go alone or request to speak to one of the women again. Fitzgerald, however, did not grant him this opportunity.
“You will remain silent and abide by our decisions,” he said simply.
Though Sebastian scowled at this, there was little he could do—he knew full well that only a demure ‘yes father’ would suffice.
And so, the two men made their way to the carriage climbing in silently as they made their way to the Wentworth estate.
Sebastian made a point of avoiding his father’s eyes. Despite the precariousness of his position, his thoughts drifted to Caroline—not necessarily her as a person, for he had to admit that he barely knew the girl.
But he would not lie—he had quite enjoyed holding her in his arms like he had.
Before he could allow himself to fully explore it—or think about it—the carriage came to an abrupt stop and the Wentworth manor loomed in front of him. Strange, Sebastian thought. It had not looked so intimidating the last time he was there, but today the manor seemed dark and hostile.
He was quick to shake these thoughts off, following his father inside. Knowing looks from the servants followed them all the way to the study and Sebastian sighed when they finally arrived at the door.
He was not overly concerned with his reputation, but he had to admit that the undeserved suspicion was quite grating on his nerves. At least, he mused, in the past when he had been judged, he had actually been guilty of whatever he was accused of.
