She held up a hand, forestalling his protest. “Please, let me finish. These past weeks with Sebastian, settling into my new life and my role as his wife... it's changed things for me. Changed how I see myself, and what I want for my future.”
Edward's face clouded, a flicker of anger sparking in his eyes. “Did he put you up to this? Is he forcing you to cut ties with me?”
“No!” Caroline exclaimed, shaking her head vehemently. “Sebastian doesn't even know I'm doing this. This is my decision, Edward. Mine alone.”
She took a breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze steadily. “The truth is, I care for you, Edward. You've been a dear friend to me for so long. But some of the things you've said, the wayyou've acted recently... it's not appropriate. And it's not fair to Sebastian, or to our marriage.”
“Caroline,” Edward started, a note of desperation creeping into his voice. “Surely you must know how I feel about you, how much I lo—”
“Stop,” she cut him off, her tone sharp. “Do not say it, Edward. I cannot help but feel as though this is some sort of game to you. Like you're trying to win me away from my husband.”
She shook her head, a sad smile touching her lips. “But that's not going to happen. I'm committed to Sebastian, to our life together. And I need to focus on that, on building a strong and healthy marriage.”
Edward stared at her, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he struggled to control his emotions. “So that's it then? Years of friendship, just cast aside?”
Caroline reached out, laying a gentle hand on his arm. “I'm not casting anything aside, Edward. I'm just asking for some space, some time for things to settle. I truly hope that one day, when all of this is behind us, we can find a way to be friends again. But for now... I think it's best if we keep our distance.”
He was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he stood, giving her a stiff nod. “If that's what you want, Caroline. I won't push you further.”
Relief washed through her, and she stood as well, walking him to the door. “Thank you, Edward. For understanding.”
He made no motion to indicate that he had heard her at all—merely walking out of the drawing room, his shoulders slightly bent. Caroline closed her eyes and sighed. She had known he would not take it well, but despite his clear dejection she could not regret her decision. She had done the right thing. She was certain of it.
The lightness followed her to dinner, where she found her husband at the table with a dark frown between his brows. He was quiet through most of the meal, and when he suddenly spoke his voice was measured.
“Caroline, I had hoped that I would be able to move on beyond this,” he started, putting his utensils down and turning his attention only to her. “But I cannot deny that I am… bothered… by your friendship with Pembroke.”
Caroline opened her mouth to retort, but Sebastian shook his head with a sigh. “I am ashamed to admit it, but I feel… this hot rage in my chest whenever I think of you with him, and I don’t… I am not sure what…”
“Sebastian,” Caroline interjected softly and she lay a hand atop his wrist. “Stop. I ended my friendship with Edward today.”
He cast his eyes up to her quickly and she nodded, a soft smile appearing on her lips. Though he tried, Sebastian was unable to hide his own growing smile.
“I apologize,” he said at last. “I did not mean for you to have to end a friendship, but…”
Caroline shook her head quickly, her own smile reflecting his. “Edward has not acted like a true friend in quite some time,” she admitted. “And if I had to choose, the choice is simple. You are my husband.”
“You…” Sebastian swallowed and shook his head as though in disbelief. “You’d choose me over a friend?”
“In a heartbeat,” Caroline admitted quickly, then sighed almost sadly. “Sebastian, when this… scandal… happened, everyone turned their backs on me, except you. Not only did you agree to marry me and give me a home, but all my life it’s felt like I had to walk on eggshells… that I had to hide who I really was, for the sake of propriety. Not in any big, profound manner, but… in small day-to-day ways, I'd pretended and kept my true self locked up. With you…” Caroline shook her head and blinked the tears away. “You make me feel as though I can be who I truly am.”
Sebastian looked at her earnestly. “I will always allow you to be who you are, Caroline,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.“Because you make me feel the same. As though I do not have to hide any part of myself with you.”
Their eyes met and Caroline nodded slowly. “It is as though my soul feels safe with you,” she whispered and her heart skipped a beat when her husband shifted his plate off to the side and took her hand in his. Though the word love was not on his lips, it was most certainly in his eyes as he led her to the bedchamber and pressed his lips against hers in a tender kiss.
“Let us put everything that has marred this marriage behind us,” she whispered as he slid her gown off her body to reveal her porcelain skin. “Let us move forward–just the two of us.”
Sebastian wasted no time–picking his wife up in his arms and toppling down on the bed with her, his hands exploring her skin as if for the very first time.
Chapter 24
Caroline flashed her husband a dazzling smile as she made her way downstairs and Sebastian pressed a hand to his heart.
“Must we go?” he teased, his eyes devouring her. “Could I not keep you all to myself tonight?”
Caroline laughed softly as she met him at the bottom of the stairs, lifting her face to meet his lips in a chaste kiss. “You are the one who accepted the invitation,” she teased and Sebastian let out a deep sigh.
“I could not say no to Nate,” he admitted. “Though looking at you now, it may have been a mistake.”
