The carriage came to a halt in front of his office and Sebastian wasted no time, throwing himself into his work almostmindlessly. He’d always rather liked having something to do—but today his work became a lifeline, saving him from thoughts and fantasies of his wife. As such, he managed to get to a lot: meeting with his steward, reviewing the latest crop yields and discussing plans for improving irrigation in the fields. He consulted with his solicitor on a land dispute with a neighboring estate, poring over maps and deeds and contracts until his eyes blurred. He even endured a tedious luncheon with a group of fellow lords, nodding along to their self-important chatter while his mind wandered back to Casterbridge Manor... and the woman who now resided there as its mistress.
Despite his best efforts, Sebastian found it impossible to keep Caroline from his thoughts entirely. Simmering beneath the surface was that undeniable pull of attraction, the memory of her soft skin beneath his fingers, the enticing curves of her body. He knew it was wrong to dwell on such things—knew that he should focus on building a foundation of respect and friendship with his new wife before even considering anything more.
But as the day wore on and the sun began to sink towards the horizon, Sebastian found his resolve weakening. He was only a man, after all, and Caroline was a beautiful, intriguing woman. Was it so wrong to want her, to desire her as a husband desires his wife?
Perhaps, he thought as the working day drew to a close, a walk would do him well—he needed to clear his mind, for thoughts of Caroline haunted him, clung to him like the sweet orange blossom smell that hovered around her.
As Sebastian made his way through the bustling streets of London, his mind remained firmly fixed on Caroline. He couldn't shake the thoughts of their wedding night, of the way she had looked at him with those wide, innocent eyes. He wondered what it would be like to truly make her his, to introduce her to the pleasures of the marriage bed.
Would she be shy and timid, trembling beneath his touch? Or would the passion he sometimes glimpsed in her come to the surface, making her eager and responsive in his arms? He thought of the books she had mentioned, the scandalous novels she and her sister had giggled over. Had they stirred desires in her, given her a taste of what to expect?
Sebastian shook his head, trying to clear the treacherous thoughts. It was too soon, he reminded himself. He needed to give Caroline time to adjust, to become comfortable in her new role as his wife. He would not pressure her or make demands, no matter how much his body might clamor for her.
Lost in his musings, Sebastian hardly noticed the familiar figure approaching until she was nearly upon him. “Why Lord Casterbridge,” a sultry voice purred. “What a pleasant surprise.”
He looked up at the sound and lifted a brow. Lady Amelia Blackwood, one of his past paramours, stood in front of him, smiling coyly. She was beautiful as ever, with her dark hair perfectly coiffed and her dress clinging to her ample bosom.As she stepped closer and ran a gloved hand across his arm, Sebastian was surprised when he felt none of the usual spark of attraction.
“Lady Amelia,” he greeted politely, stepping back to put some distance between them. “I trust you are well?”
“Oh, I'm quite well,” she said, her red lips curving into a knowing smile. “But I must say, I was rather disappointed not to have seen you of late. I had thought perhaps we might... renew our acquaintance. You always have been by far my most skilled paramour.”
Sebastian lifted a brow. Subtlety was never Lady Amelia’s forte. But to his surprise, he felt only discomfort at the idea. In the past, he would have been more than happy to take her up on her offer, to lose himself in the pleasures of her experienced body. She too, for all her talk about him being a skilled lover, was quite skilled in affairs of the bedchamber. But now... for some reason, when he compared Amelia to Caroline, the former seemed lacking in a way he could not explain.
“I'm afraid that won't be possible, Lady Amelia,” he said firmly. “As you may have heard, I am recently married.”
Something flickered in Amelia's eyes, a brief flash of surprise he supposed. It was not unheard of in the ton to have men deny their marriages, or ignore them completely. “Of course,” she said smoothly, withdrawing her hand. “How foolish of me. I wish youand your bride every happiness, My Lord. If you change your mind…” she leaned a little closer to him and lowered her voice. “Your wife does not have to know that you have other places where you can fulfill all the desires that makes a good wife blush.”
With a swish of her skirts, she was gone, leaving Sebastian alone with his thoughts once more. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Of course the idea was tempting and there was a part of him that considered engaging in the odd temptation now and then… After all, Amelia was skilled, enthusiastic and quite adventurous… but a greater part of him was determined that he would not follow in his father's footsteps, taking mistresses and breaking faith with his wife.
Still, the restless energy hummed through his veins, the need to do something, to escape the confines of his own mind for a while. On impulse, he turned his steps towards the home of his old friend, Lord Nathaniel Wellington. If he was not mistaken, Nathaniel had recently returned from France. The other man had always been a good listener, quick with a joke or a bit of sage advice.
As he approached the familiar townhouse, Sebastian felt a sense of comfort wash over him. Yes, a chat with Nathaniel was just what he needed. A chance to unburden himself, to seek the counsel of a trusted friend. With a renewed sense of purpose, he climbed the steps and reached for the knocker, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Chapter 13
Sebastian let out a breath of relief as the knocker hit the wood of the door. It had been far too long since he had seen his old friend, and he was eager for the comfort and familiarity of his company. There was not a part of him that expected his best friend to ever miss his wedding and if he had in fact married Beatrice as had been planned, Nathaniel would have been there.
As it was, however, with the wedding being more urgent than expected, his friend missed it and it was something he did not appreciate. The door swung open quickly, revealing Nathaniel himself—a broad grin on his face.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the elusive Lord Casterbridge,” the shorter man exclaimed with a laugh. He pulled Sebastian into a hearty embrace and clapped him on the shoulder.
“I was starting to think you had forgotten about your old friend.”
Sebastian laughed at that and he shook his head easily. “Never, Nate. You know I could never forget you, no matter how hard I tried.”
With a carefree laugh, Nathaniel ushered him inside. “Let’s go to my study.”
The two men moved easily to Nathaniel’s study, where a fire was already crackling in the grate. Nathaniel was quick to pour two glasses of brandy and he handed one to Sebastian before settling into a plush armchair. His eyes was twinkling with mischief. “So I suppose congratulations are in order,” he said and raised his glass in a toast. “To the newly married Lord Casterbridge. May the marriage be fruitful and pleasurable”
Sebastian grimaced at this. “So you’ve heard.”
“Of course I’ve heard,” Nathaniel said eagerly, leaning forward. “The whole ton is buzzing with the news. Sebastian Fairchild, London’s most notorious bachelor, finally leg-shackled—and to the sister of the girl everyone expected him to marry. You must tell me everything because I have no doubt that there is a story. So? What was it? Was the sister you chose just far more seductive than the first?”
Sebastian sighed at this. “Would you believe me if I told you that it was an enormous misunderstanding?”
Nathaniel took a gulp of his brandy, his eyes fixed on Sebastian. “I might if you told me what the misunderstanding was,” he said simply and Sebastian smiled. It was good to have Nathaniel back, even if only because he appreciated someone believing him.
“We were at a ball and Lady Caroline and I happened to be outside. When we made our return to the ballroom, she tripped and fell. I caught her and as you’d expect in this city, the entirety of the ton chose that moment to see us.”
