by Fanny Finch
Truly, on the night of the Malcomby ball, Sebastian arrived at her home, looking sharp in his suit and cravat, flowers in his hands and sweet words of apology on his lips to atone for his sins.
Her heart had leaped when she had seen him after all the days spent missing his company. She had only wished to jump into his arms and be twirled around, like how lovers greet one another in the books after being apart for a while.
Nevertheless, she had restrained herself and welcomed the kiss he had gifted her forehead with tenderness.
“My lady, you always look lovely, but tonight, I can swear you are lovelier than the stars and the moon combined.”
Of course, she had flushed red. Sebastian had a way with words. His charm, his smile, they all pulled at her heart’s strings and made it impossible for her to stay angry at him for long.
Not that, she hadn’t forgiven him a long time ago. All her anger had faded away, the day she had received the first letter and bouquet. Her chamber was soon to be a garden and she had read every letter so many times, that she now knew each word by heart.
So, she had smiled at the man she loved, letting him know all was forgotten.
He mad excuses about having to see to an affair and not getting the chance to visit her before leaving. Liliana was half listening, engrossed in the wonderful feeling his mere presence brought her.
The chit-chat continued on the carriage ride to the ball, with her stepfather’s carriage following behind. They arrived at the ball in no time.
Gasps and awws were heard as Liliana and Sebastian stepped in, arm in arm. They easily became the subject of everyone’s attention. Ladies glared at her with envy and admiration. The men, at Sebastian, just the same.
All of it was ignored. Liliana was floating on clouds and if Sebastian’s large grin was anything to go by, he was just as thrilled.
They shared their first dance together, engaging in easy conversation and Liliana reckoned the night could not be more perfect. Nothing could go wrong.
She was wrong. Soon after the first dance ended, Sebastian was called away by some business associates. Nora was nowhere to be found, and stepfather seemed to have finally found a woman who held his interest.
Aware that was now alone and feeling very much so, the ballroom suddenly felt too crowded, almost to the point that she could no longer breathe.
Deciding it was time to get some fresh air, she found her way to the balcony. A sigh of relief broke free from her lips and she sighed. It was a heavenly sigh.
Out here, away from the noise and the crammed bodies, she could breathe freely. She looked up at the sky. This season had come with beautiful night skies.
The sky shone like it was twilight. The stars twinkled as though in harmony and the moon… oh, it was glorious! It was nights like this that her father lived for.
Her eyes began to fill, and she resisted the urge to let the threatening tears fall.
It was just as well that right then, she felt someone join her in the balcony. She did not need to turn but any hope that it was Sebastian was immediately dashed.
She had not felt him. She always did. Believing that it was just another guest on his way, she kept her back to the doors, her face to the sky.
Her quiet moment was soon interrupted as a familiar voice sounded behind her…
“All this time and you still haven’t gotten over your obsession with the sky.”
She rolled her eyes, not caring to retrain herself this time.
“Mr. Walsh,” she greeted, as warmly as she could, given the circumstances.
“My lady. Fancy meeting you out here, without your… man lord. I would think it only sensible that a man who has found himself a woman like you, knows better than to leave her alone in a place like this.”
And this was the reason why she had never favored Walsh. She had known him since Lord Rothwell had taken them into his home. Walsh would always visit with his mother.
Liliana had always suspected that were was a familial relationship between them, perhaps distant, but existing. No one knew anything of his father and his mother, on days when she had visited with her son, had remained very quiet and removed from everyone else.
Walsh though, often walked around the manor like he owned it. He had a way of talking down on everyone. As though, he considered himself better off.
Not that these things mattered to Liliana but one would think a man with no title and family name would find himself humbled by society.
In all honesty, though, Liliana found it an admirable thing that he did not let what he lacked by society standards, put him down. Nevertheless, the arrogance was needless.
It was why they had never gotten along. He was years older, yes. Nine summers, in fact, yet she had never cared to give him any more reference beyond that which was necessary.
The child she was had not care for Mr. Walsh. The woman she was growing into shared the same notion. None of them cared to hide this from the man.
“I am well capable of being by myself, Walsh. Sebastian has been called away on business and I do not wish to disturb him.”
Walsh chuckled, in that his condescending way that often grated her nerves.
“Business, is it? He seems to be doing a whole lot of that, lately. The kind of business that has him lurking in dark corners, and strange carriages. The kind of business that took him away from London?”
Walsh was no more than two feet away from Liliana now and the nearness of him made his voice, all the more grating.
“What do you mean?” She asked, finally turning to look at him.
He laughed again. Liliana had never heard Hyenas laugh, but she did not think they would sound any different.
“It is for you to find out, my lady, and not from me. I see you two have formally begun to court. I hear he is on the look for a wife. Many believe he has set his mind on you. We shall expect a proposal any time soon now, shall we not?”
Liliana remained mute. She did not know how to answer that. It was what she hoped for, of course. Nevertheless, she knew that people changed their minds as quickly as the tides in the ocean change.
“Oh well, for your sake, little sister, I hope he does marry you. And also, for his sake.”
“I’m not your little sister.” He called her that, sometimes. She had never like it either.
“No… no, you are not. If you were, I would not be so jealous of Longcross. Ah Liliana, you know, at some point, I had fancied the idea of taking you for a wife. Your father would have given you to me, I’m certain. I only needed to ask. I would be too happy to tame your wildfire and spirit. Too happy. We both know you despise me.”
“I despise no one.”
“Tsk tsk, too strong a word? Alright then. It is common knowledge that you do not care for me. I wonder how miserable your life would have become if you had been made my wife.”
Liliana was quickly losing her temper. It would appear that Walsh had worsened over the years.
“You speak as though I have no say in the matter. Father would never give me to a man I do not want.”
He gave into laughter, then. Loud, hearty, cynical. It sent cold chills down Liliana’s spine.
It was more than just her colorless feelings for him. Something about Walsh was not right. He was not a good man. It was fear… it was fear that Liliana felt now, not the usual displeasure.
She no longer wanted to be in his presence. Yet, she would not give him that satisfaction of seeing her cower. So, she stood her ground, chins raised, defiant, hoping her eyes would not betray her.
He recovered from his laughter then, wiping the tears that had escaped from the sides of his eyes.
“My goodness! Liliana! You are as hilarious as ever. You can see right through the man I am, yet you believe your stepfather who had taken me in with open arms remains a…” he paused, the laughter that had etched on to his features, leaving to be replaced by a frown. He was like an entirely different person, so quickly.
“Never mind that, dear
. You should simply be aware that you are a lady and ladies, rarely ever have a say in who they marry. Be grateful that Longcross is just as taken with you as you are with him, and he is, of course, a relation of your father. It is, of course, the only reason why you have his blessings. Do not delude yourself into thinking your choice is being respected, dear Liliana. Sweet sweet Liliana…”
He reached out to stroke her cheeks but she withdrew, not wanting to be touched in the slightest by him.
He was smiling again. “Very well, then. I shall leave you be. Your knight in shining armor shall come soon. I do not wish to be challenged to a duel. Have a lovely night, my lady.”
With a mock bow, he turned to leave. However, as he backed her, he stopped in his tracks.
“One last thing, my lady, I really do think it’s only right you learn of the man you are marrying. What do you really know of him? And the years when he was away from home soil? What did he do with those years?”
He was gone then, leaving Liliana to ponder on those very disturbing words.
The questions rang again and again in her mind, the chill that Walsh’s presence had instilled in her, taking its time to leave her spine now that he was gone.
Walsh had said so many things tonight that she would think upon. Although, she wondered about the wisdom in taking him seriously. Yet, she could not help but ponder upon them.
What did he know? What was he trying to tell her? He was going to speak of Lord Rothwell but had refrained himself. What was he keeping?
Why did stepfather keep a man like this around? To what end? She was aware they were business associates, yes, however now, she was certain there was more.
Just what was it? And what was that, about Sebastian?
Disturbed, she wished she had never given Walsh the audience. Willing herself to calm, she wrapped her arms around herself and returned her gaze to the sky.
She would stay here a little while longer until she felt better. Then, she would rejoin the ballroom. She drowned the conversation with Walsh, with happy memories of her parents.
In no time, she found she was indeed, beginning to feel better. Deciding it was time to return to the ballroom, lest they began to search for her. She turned around.
That was when she saw him, charging towards her, in all his glory.
Her knight in shining armor.
Chapter 21
Sebastian had been worried when he had returned from the meeting with the men, only to discover that Liliana was nowhere to be found. Neither her sister nor her stepfather could tell where she was.
Nevertheless, knowing his Liliana for the adventuress she was, he had surmised that she had wandered off again. His first thought had been to look in the garden.
Just as he turned in the direction of the balcony, he had caught a glimpse of her, standing back to the ballroom, chin lifted up to the sky. She looked like a dream, and he had stopped in his track, his breath-holding, as he took in the sight.
Then, he had decided he could not be away from her any longer.
The one week apart had been torture but it was necessary. He had embarked on a journey, trying to locate the gold mine and see for himself, without Rothwell’s knowledge of course.
It had been a fool’s chase. There had been no gold mine at the place Rothwell had spoken of. He had remained a few days to scour the entire land, just to be certain. He had found nothing.
He was certain now that whatever this was, it was bigger than all of them and Rothwell was just as involved as Walsh. He simply hoped that Rothwell was simply a scheming businessman, and not a murderer.
Dear Lord, no. He could not bear to think of a man whom he had always held in high esteem, in such light. Never.
So, he had returned with news for Ramsey. Ramsey had not been surprised. These men were involved in heavy conning. They inflated prices, sold counterfeit goods, wrecked ships so they could steal merchandise.
They were all terrible men, and Sebastian could not believe that Hanson had been in business with them. It would appear that whatever it was that was going on, Hanson had been kept in the dark, like his father had been.
They were good men and anyone would know that those men would not allow such wickedness to continue if they came to know of it.
Now that Sebastian knew that this was so much bigger than he thought, he knew he had to watch his steps carefully. Gain powerful acquaintance. It was why he had asked his father to call a favor of an old friend, and invite a royal to the ball tonight.
The meeting had been with the royal. There was no acquaintance more powerful, than one with the crown. He was not only going to find who killed Hanson, but he was also going to uncover the ugly deeds of these men, and whatever other crimes they have committed.
His eyes remained on his angel as he thought, making purposeful strides towards her. The sooner he got this over with, the earlier he can ask her to be his wife.
She would not refuse, he was certain- or rather, he very much hoped so, for he could not imagine living a life without his Liliana. The past week, not even catching a glimpse of her, had been pure torture.
She would marry him. He would make certain she would never be able to say no, to refuse him. Never.
As though he had called to her merely by thinking of her, she turned just as he reached the open doors. In that moment, their gazes locked, time stopped and everything else fell away.
He was completely hers, in ways that he had never belonged to anyone before.
She smiled then, telling his heart it could beat again. Helpless, his lips curved, drawing so far apart his cheek almost hurt. He cared naught.
Charged, he increased in strides and in no time, he was standing in front of her.
“I knew I would find you here.”
“You would presume to already know me so well, my Lord?” she asked, her voice echoing the smile on her lips.
“Not entirely, I admit, but enough to know of your dislike for crowded places. You have come out for some fresh air, have you not?”
She nodded, and together, they turned to look out into the night, moving closer to the railing.
“Yes, also, I felt lonely and so blase. Father did not have my time, Nora was nowhere to be found. I was in no mood to strike a conversation with a total stranger, so I came out here to breathe properly.”
“You need to make some friends, Liliana. There are many ladies of the ton who would be happy to take you into their peerage.”
She was shaking her head before he finished. “I think not. Beyond that, I have no interest. All they do is gossip, boast about their new jewelry and fawn over fine gentlemen. I would be bored out of my mind.”
He chuckled, knowing that she was telling the truth. Liliana was not one of those women. She was special. That was why his heart had fallen hopelessly in love with her.
“How was the meeting?” she stole a glance at him as she asked, as though she was afraid to hold his gaze fully as before. He could not blame her. The intensity that struck whenever that happened was strong enough to shake a man.
They affected one another so much… in an entirely wholesome way.
“Great. It was fruitful, Liliana. More than I had hoped for.”
He had not wanted to have high hopes lest they are dashed. Instead, he had been impressed. Lord Dashwood had been utterly warm and amiable and he had promised his cooperation… even though the man did not yet know what was happening.
He simply believed Sebastian had wished for his friendship. It was just as well, and Sebastian hoped to keep it so.
“I’m glad, Sebastian. You have been very busy these days, is this how it always is, or will it get better?”
She sounded worried and he wondered what she was thinking. Had she missed him as greatly as he had missed her? Was that it?
“It will, my lady. Very soon, I hope. I shall have more time to spend with you once all of this is taken care of, I promise.”
The answer seemed to satisfy her, for she looked up at him then
, and smiled. It was one that made his belly squirm, and his breath, catch.
He knew that in a hundred years to come, she would never cease to have such an effect on him. He was under her will, forever.
He smiled in return and they fell into a comfortable silence. As the spell held, they turned to gaze at the skies. He was aware of her by his side, every fiber of his being was aware.
The scent of her clung to his nostrils and he itched to put an arm around her. Yet, it was not placed. Not until they were at least, promised to one another in the confines of a proper engagement.