Chapter 4

4

“Look at my beautiful boys,” Sebastian’s mother cooed.

“You don’t have to say that to us every week, Mother,” Spencer said.

Their mother smirked and shrugged. “I’m getting older and I need to be nice to you so you’ll make sure to take care of me when I’m too old to do it for myself.”

Sebastian chuckled. “So you’re resorting to bribery.”

“My love, I built an empire on my back and raised the two of you heathens, I am not above bribery.”

Spencer groaned. “Mother, please do not remind us of your former occupation.”

“Don’t be sure a prude, Spencer,” their mother quipped. “And I never said it was a former occupation.”

Sebastian chuckled again and looked down at the napkin in his lap.

“Can we change the subject?” Spencer asked.

Their mother clapped her hands. “Yes because we haven’t yet discussed your brother’s new endeavor.” She leveled her green eyes on Sebastian, their gaze so familiar as they mirrored his own.

Spencer turned to face Sebastian. Though they were twins, they could not look any more different from one another. Spencer was dark, where Sebastian was light. In looks only, their personalities were the exact opposite. Sebastian swallowed a laugh as he considered the number of times over the last few years when he’d expected his brother to declare he was going into the church to do God’s work instead of living like sinners the way Sebastian and their mother did.

Instead, he became an artist. It suited his more sentimental and sensitive nature. Spencer has the heart of a poet. Whereas Sebastian has the heart of a, well, he wasn’t even certain if he had a heart.

“What is your new project, dear brother?” Spencer asked. He meticulously cut his egg into tiny pieces.

“I was meeting with mother yesterday in her office and a woman arrived to inquire about hiring mother to teach her how to seduce a man. As it turns out the little bird wants to be a mistress and thought the best place to learn how was at the hands of Lady LeBlanc.” Sebastian shrugged. “I simply explained to her that learning to please a man would work much better if she had a man for an instructor.”

His words came out casual as if his entire world hadn’t shifted on its axis in the last twenty-four hours. He’d had barely a moment without a though of Agnes Pennybrook.

“Darling, you’re leaving out some key elements,” their mother said. “The part where she admitted to be not just a widow, but an untouched widow.”

Spencer maked some sort of strangled laugh noise. “How does a widow remain a virgin?”

“Not the point, Spence,” Sebastian snapped.

“No, the real point is the fact that her parents want to marry her off to the Duke of Lancaster.”

Spencer swore.

Their mother sat back. Her eyebrows raised as she stared at Sebastian.

“So you’re, what, planning to use this poor girl in an effort to get some kind of ill-conceived revenge on the man who fathered us?” Spencer asked.

Sebastian felt his lips curl in response. “That is not at all my plan. This has nothing to do with that arsehole, except to perhaps save this naive woman from marrying him.” He shoved his plate away from him. “Furthermore, they’re not officially betrothed and she does not wish to marry him. I’m simply giving the girl what she wants.”

And taking that which he could not deny himself.

“Out of the benevolence of your heart, I suppose?” Spencer asked.

“No one at this table is under the delusion I’m doing this out of anything resembling kindness. But it’s not about Lancaster either.” At least not entirely, that’s merely a happy side benefit. “I’m intrigued by the woman. I will not deny being attracted to her. I believe this will be a worthwhile activity.”

“How can anyone live the way you live and still complain of boredom?” his brother asked.

“I never said I was bored. I simply require more activity than standing at a bloody canvas all day with only my thoughts to entertain me.” He stood and tossed his napkin on the table. “I have a meeting with some investors at the club.”

“Sebastian, love,” his mother says.

He turned to face her.

“Do be careful. She’s not merely an innocent in her body. You are a beautiful man and certainly if I’ve taught you boys anything it’s that when you are physical with a woman without payment of any kind, you risk her falling in love with you. So take care with that girl’s heart.”

“I’m not planning to touch her heart, Mother.” With that, he strode from the room.