Edward had the audacity to smile, a smug satisfaction playing about his lips. “On the contrary, my dear. I think this is just the beginning.”
Tears blurring her vision, Caroline pushed past him, desperate to find Sebastian and explain before the gossip could reach his ears. But as she hurried down the hallway, Beatrice appeared, blocking her path.
“Caroline, wait!” she called, her expression unreadable. “We need to talk.”
Caroline shook her head, trying to sidestep her sister. “Not now, Beatrice. I have to find Sebastian, I have to tell him what happened before–”
But Beatrice held fast, her fingers digging into Caroline's arm as she pulled her back. In her haste, Beatrice's foot caught on the hem of Caroline's gown, tearing the fabric with a sickening rip.
Caroline stared down at the ruined silk, despair washing over her. She couldn't go back to the ballroom like this, not with the scandal already brewing. She had to get out, to find some way to salvage the situation.
“Beatrice, please,” she begged, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Just go get Sebastian. Bring him to me, and explain about the dress. I can't face everyone, not like this.”
Beatrice hesitated, an unreadable emotion flickering in her eyes. But finally, she nodded, releasing Caroline's arm. “Wait here,” she instructed. “I'll be back as soon as I can.”
As Beatrice's footsteps faded away, Caroline slumped against the wall, burying her face in her hands. How had everything gone sowrong, so quickly? She had only wanted to mend fences with her sister, to put the past behind them. But now...
“Caroline?” Edward's voice, tinged with concern, made her head snap up. He stood before her, his brow furrowed as he took in her disheveled appearance. “What happened? Your dress…”
“You happened,” she snapped, anger overriding her despair. “You and your selfish, manipulative games. I want nothing to do with you, Edward. Not now, not ever.”
He held up his hands in a placating gesture, taking a step closer. “Let me help you, Caroline. I can fix this, I can make it right.”
But Caroline recoiled, pressing herself further against the wall. “No. I don't want your help, Edward. I want you to leave me alone. I want you out of my life, for good.”
Though Edward opened his mouth to retort, Caroline shot him a haughty look before gathering the tatters of her dress and rushing to the carriage—hoping that Sebastian would join her soon, and ignoring the man who followed her silently.
***
Meanwhile, in the ballroom, Sebastian was engaged in polite conversation with a group of gentlemen, his eyes constantly straying to the door as he waited for Caroline to return. As theminutes ticked by with no sign of her, a niggling sense of unease began to grow in the pit of his stomach.
His sense of unease deepened when Nathaniel appeared at his elbow, his expression grave. “Bas, a word?”
Excusing himself from the group, Sebastian followed his friend to a quiet corner of the room. “What is it, Nate? Have you seen Caroline?”
Nathaniel hesitated, his eyes darting around the room before leaning in closer. “There's something you should know, Bas. People are talking, and... it's not good.”
Sebastian frowned, a cold dread settling over him. “What do you mean? What are they saying?”
Nathaniel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Apparently, a few guests walked in on Caroline and Edward Pembroke in a rather... compromising position. It looked like they were embracing, and... well, you know how the ton loves to gossip.”
Sebastian's jaw clenched, a hot surge of jealousy and betrayal coursing through him. But even as his heart raced and his fists itched to connect with Edward's smug face, he forced himself to take a steadying breath. He trusted Caroline, knew in his bones that she would never betray him, especially not so publicly.
“There must be some mistake,” he ground out, his voice low and controlled. “Caroline was just going to talk to Beatrice. She ended her friendship with Pembroke, for good. She wouldn't…”
Nathaniel laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, his expression sympathetic. “If you believe her, so will I, Bas. But you ought to be careful. The vultures are already circling, looking for any sign of weakness.”
Sebastian nodded, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. He had to find Caroline, to hear the truth from her own lips.
Chapter 25
Sebastian was nearly at the door when Beatrice appeared in front of him, her expression one of pure innocence.
“There you are, Lord Sebastian,” she exclaimed, grabbing onto his hand and breathing a sigh of relief. “I have been looking everywhere for you,” she explained at the confused look in his eyes. “Caroline asked me to look for you.”
A frown appeared between Sebastian’s brows at this. In truth he found it quite odd that Caroline would send her sister to look for him—though he could not deny being relieved at the thought of the pair having made their peace.
“Where is she?” he asked quickly, and Beatrice let out a draw-out sigh. “She… had a little mishap with her dress,” she explained and glanced around furtively before lowering her voice. “It is… quite torn. I believe she rushed to the carriage—if she made it all the way there.”
