Chapter 17

17

Sebastian sat on the settee in his study considering his options. He couldn’t look anywhere in this room or his bedchamber and not think of her. She was imprinted on every surface. She was imprinted on his very soul.

He sighed heavily. He needed to tell Agatha the truth. She needed to know his connection with her would-be suitor. The thought of her ending up in that arsehole’s bed made Sebastian want to burn all of London to the ground.

“You’re so glum, my darling, his mother said. Whatever is the matter with my beautiful boy?”

He stared up at his mother. She was a force, this woman. She’d found herself penniless and pregnant with twins, the father unwilling to marry her because she came from a merchant father and an actress mother. So she had done what she could to provide a life for her boys. She’d created a safe haven for women where they had access to food and shelter, but also medical care. Yes, she’d been a whore, probably still considered herself one, but all Sebastian saw when he looked at her was love. She had done everything for him and Spencer. That was the true measure of her character.

“Oh dear,” his mother said, then she took a seat next to him on the settee. “You love her.”

He met his mother’s gaze, so similar to his own. “I believe I do. I don’t know how it happened.”

“You don’t need to know how. The reality is that you love her. Now what you going to do about it?”

“I need to talk to her. Tell her the truth about who my father is. Tell her how I feel. And let her decide. I know I’m not good enough for her, though.”

“Bollucks!” She smacked him on the back of his head. “You are just as deserving of love as she is.”

“Mr. St. Claire, I’m afraid you have a visitor,” the butler said.

“Send her in,” he said, then came to his feet and waited for Agatha to breach the doorway. Instead Violet entered the room.

“My apologies to visit you at your home, Sebastian, but something has happened and I thought you should know about it straight away.”

He led her to a chair. All the while his heart thundered in his chest. “Is she harmed in anyway? I can go to her.”

Violet shook her head. “The duke came to my house earlier today to visit her. He was angry about her…association with you. Claimed you were using her as some form of revenge.”

“Son of a bitch!” he swore.

“Indeed,” his mother said. “What I saw in that man, I will never know. Well, that’s not true, it was his damned pretty face and his rather large?—”

“Mother!” Sebastian snapped. “Where is she now?”

“Her parents sent for her, they wanted to speak to her immediately. The duke mentioned something about a special license. I think they’re going to force her to marry him.”

Anger heated his blood, spreading fire through his veins. He wanted to wrap his hands around that arrogant prig’s neck and squeeze.

“He would have to see an archbishop for that kind of license,” his mother said. “I’ll send a messenger with some inquiries.” She hurried out of the room.

“She loves you, Sebastian,” Violet said.

“My mother? Yes, she is a good woman.”

Violet chuckled. “No, you daft, beautiful man, I meant Agatha. She is in love with you.”

“Are you certain?”

“She told me herself. I am assuming you love her as well?”

“More than air itself. She is my only need.” He rubbed a hand across his chest, trying to alleviate the aching. “I will crave her until my last breath.”

“Then we must find her before she ends up being your new step-mother,” Violet said.

“That is not amusing.”

Violet grinned at him. “It was humorous in a small measure.”

He rolled his eyes. “Shall we?”

“Yes, my carriage is waiting outside.”

It took them nearly an hour to finally track Agatha and the duke down. Her parents had, indeed, planned to marry her off to the duke today. Sebastian just hoped, as he stormed up the steps to the church, that he wasn’t too late. Even if he was, he’d steal her away. They could go anywhere and be together.

“Sebastian!” Agatha said when he slammed open the church doors. “You found me?”

Immediately he went to her, pulling her into his arms.

“You cannot be here!” a woman screeched. He assumed she was Agatha’s mother, but he paid her no mind.

“Anything to get back at me, is that what this is, Sebastian? You knew I wanted her for my wife and you seduced her right out from under my nose,” the duke hissed his words.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Sebastian said. He moved Agatha so she was behind him, putting himself in between her and his father. “I don’t ever give you a second thought, let alone devise some plan to get revenge. Get revenge for what? Not having your name? You not claiming me and Spencer in public? I have news for your, Father,” he spat the last word. “You mean nothing to me. I don’t need, nor want anything you have.”

“Then you won’t mind if I marry the chit,” the duke said.

“I very much mind. But what I’d really like to know is why her? I see her worth, but I know you’ve not even looked close enough to notice. So what did her parents promise you in return if you married her?” He stared at the duke, then eyed Agatha’s parents. “I’m assuming the two of you were looking for better invitations to balls and soirees and sought him out for that. But what did you offer him to take your widowed daughter off your hands?”

Her father cleared his throat. “There is a small patch of land we own in Devonshire. It backs up to his lordship’s property and he wants the entire plot. Something about underground resources.”

“He wants to expand his silver mines,” Sebastian explained. “Agatha is mine. Find another woman if you’re so desperate for a wife.”

“You are doing everything you can to live up the name of being a bastard, aren’t you?” the duke asked.

“I would rather be a bastard than have you publicly known as my father.” He glared at her parents. “I’ll send you her new address in a week. You can call on her then, if and only if, she wishes to speak with you.” Then he grabbed Agatha’s hand and pulled her straight out of the church.

Once the stepped outside in the crisp London air, he cradled her face. “I love you, little dove. I don’t want you to be a mistress. I want you to be my wife.”

She smiled through her tears and nodded. “Yes, I want that very much. I love you too.”

Violet gave them a ride back to Sebastian’s townhome, the women giggling and laughing the entire drive.

“You know you’re always welcome at my house if this one starts to grate on your nerves,” Violet said.

Agatha’s bubble of laughter was like a balm to his soul. He’d nearly lost her.

He carried her straight to bed where they stayed for nearly two days. And every time he released inside of her, knowing—and perhaps wishing—there was a chance of a baby.