“Yes,” Sebastian said stiffly, his eyes darting about. “Perhaps we should.”
Chapter 17
For Caroline, the evening had all but lost its sparkle. Gone was the comfort between her and her husband and she found it quite difficult not to blame Edward for it. Caroline was quiet as she allowed her husband to lead her to the carriage.
The carriage jostled as it carried the newlyweds through the darkened streets of London, the clattering of the horses' hooves against the cobblestones muffled by the thick velvet curtains drawn across the windows. Inside, Caroline and Sebastian sat close together, their thighs brushing against each other. Despite the awkwardness that had settled between them, Caroline felt her heart skip a beat every time she felt the warmth of her husband’s thigh against her own.
It was after a long while that Sebastian cleared his throat, his fingers fiddling restlessly with the signet ring on his left hand. “Your friend, Mr. Pembroke,” he said, his tone careful. “He seems… quite fond of you.”
Caroline tensed at this and her heart gave a guilty lurch. Though she knew that she had not done—or said—anything untoward, she had still hoped to avoid this particular conversation. If not for any other reason, then simply because she found it needless.
“Edward and I have known each other since we were children,” she said softly, careful to choose the right words. “We werealways close—the best of friends, in fact. But… I must admit that he had hoped for something more to happen between us.”
She glanced up at Sebastian, trying to gauge his reaction. His face was impassive, his eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the carriage window. “He is in love with you,” he said flatly, stating it as a simple fact.
Caroline shook her head quickly, her brow furrowed earnestly. “It is most certainly not love,” she insisted. “It is nothing but an infatuation, a passing fancy. Edward always did have a romantic streak and I do believe he is far more enamored by the idea of a childhood love story than he is with me as a person.”
Sebastian’s gaze cut back to her, sharp and penetrating. “I would not be so quick to write off his feelings,” he said simply. “The way he looked at you was far more than an infatuated man. And he did offer to help you with whatever you needed.”
Caroline’s face flushed at this and she sighed, suddenly feeling quite exposed beneath the weight of his stare. “Even if that were true,” she said stubbornly and lifted her chin, “It changes nothing. I am married to you and I have never viewed Edward as anything more than a dear friend. I never wanted to marry him.”
Something flickered in his expression at this and Caroline looked at him curiously, a sudden boldness taking hold of her.
“What about you?” she asked suddenly and he looked at her with raised brows. “Were… were there other ladies you courted before Beatrice? Before you married me?”
Sebastian stilled at the sudden question, his expression guarded. For a long moment, he simply looked at her, searching her face as if gauging her reaction. Then he sighed, and shrugged before he looked right at her, his eyes meeting hers.
“Yes,” he admitted, his voice low and rough. “I will not deny that there were other ladies. Dalliances, flirtations… But I must also say that none of them ever touched my heart. I have never felt for anyone what Lord Pembroke seems to feel for you.”
Caroline frowned at this. “I still do not believe for a second that he loves me,” she said simply and looked out of the window. Sebastian merely huffed at this, though he did offer her his arm again when the carriage came to a halt in front of their estate. Caroline shivered as she stepped from the carriage and Sebastian frowned, putting an arm around her shoulders and drawing her closer.
“You are freezing,” he murmured, chafing her arm briskly with his hand. “Here, let me warm you.”
Caroline hesitated for only a moment before melting into him, savoring the solid strength of his body, the heat of him seepingthrough the layers of her gown. She rested her head on his shoulder, breathing in the clean, spicy scent of his cologne.
Sebastian's hand drifted lower, skimming down her back to settle at her waist. His fingers flexed, digging into the soft curve of her hip, and she felt a corresponding spark of desire flare low in her belly.
Slowly, tentatively, she lifted her face to his, her lips parting on a silent invitation. Sebastian's gaze dropped to her mouth, his eyes darkening with a hunger that sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.
“Caroline,” he rasped at last, his voice strained. “I… I want…”
But before he could finish, the door opened and a footman rushed towards them, wide-eyed. “My Lord, My Lady,” he said through shivers. “I apologize for not meeting you sooner, I did not realize you were home…”
Sebastian flashed the younger man a smile and ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to compose himself.
“Do not fret,” he said simply and glanced at Caroline. “It is freezing,” he repeated and jerked his head towards the manor. “I am sure the fire is already burning inside.”
Caroline nodded quietly as she followed him inside. Despite the coldness of the evening, a fire was burning low in her belly.
They entered the house in silence, the only sound the soft tread of their feet on the polished floors. Sebastian escorted her up the grand staircase, his hand warm and steady on the small of her back. They came to a halt in front of her bedchamber.
“Goodnight, Caroline,” Sebastian murmured, bowing over her hand and brushing a chaste kiss across her knuckles. “Sleep well.”
He turned at this, but a sudden boldness took hold of Caroline and she put a hand on his arm, her eyes searching his.
“Wait,” she blurted, her heart pounding in her chest with the force of a drum. “Don’t go. Please.”
Sebastian froze at this and he looked down to face her, his eyes searching over her countenance while a myriad of emotions flickered across his face.
