“Mother, let’s get your wet cloak off of you, and then I’ll explain.” He helped remove her cloak, then escorted her to a pair of comfortable chairs near the fire. After she was settled, he joined her in the chair opposite. “A week ago, Miss Macgregor found me passed out in the snow, the day the blizzard struck.”
She frowned at him, her finely arched eyebrows wrinkled in disapproval. “Sebastian. You’ve never been given to drink.”
“Well, I hadn’t then, either. I’d been hit on the head. She brought me inside and nursed me back to health.” He went on to explain how sick he had been, and just how much Colleen had done to save him. “Unfortunately, the vicar found me with her in her bedroom, and so the marriage was forced.”
“She trapped you into marriage?” Outrage filled her voice.
He laughed, and his mother’s eyes narrowed. “No, I can assure you she did not. She’s none too happy about being married to me.”
Immediately her outrage turned another corner. “Why, what is wrong with the girl? I’ll have a talk with her and set her straight. She should be overjoyed to have you as her—”
He laughed again, stopping her defense of him. “Thank you, Mother, but that’s really not needed. No, really,” he said, grabbing his mother’s hand as she rose from her chair. She reseated herself and gave him a good frown. “No, listen, the idea was I would send her news of my death when I returned to London. She wouldn’t marry me without that one promise. I didn’t know what else to do, Mother. If I did not marry her, she would have lost her reputation and probably this house. It is the one thing she has left in the world. That is not the way to pay back a woman who saved my life.”
Her eyes softened, a slight smile curving her lips. “You were always such a good lad.” She raised her hand to his cheek as she had when he was young. “Always taking in those strays. Drove your father mad when you snuck in that mongrel… What did you name her?”
“Winifred.”
She stood and walked to the window. “Winnie. She was a good dog.”
“Yes, she was.” He remembered sneaking her in, and the staff helping him to hide her for a week. “Father was furious for a whole day.”
His mother chuckled. “Yes, yes, he was irritated with you on that one.”
“Mother.” He waited for her to turn. “What are the two of you doing here?”
“Well, we sent word to you about Albert, but we never heard back. It’s been so long since we’ve seen you.”
He had left over six months ago. Usually happy to pursue town interests, Sebastian had an overwhelming surge of restlessness fill his blood during the last year. After a brief stint through continental Europe, he’d traveled to Freddy Crammer’s house for a party. Just two days before his mishap, he had made arrangements to return to town. Although not very eager to resume his old life, he had missed his mother and sister.
“I know, Mother. I missed you and Anna. That was why I was coming home last week. Now, what is this about Albert?”
“Your uncle had the accident, then…” She sighed, her cool tone melting in a wave of sadness Sebastian could feel in his soul. “…then, Gilbert. We never expected it to happen to both of them so close together.”
“Both of them?” Dread settled in his stomach. “What happened, Mother?”
Tears gathered in her eyes. “They are dead, Sebastian. You are the new Earl of Penwyth.”
* * *
“I’m so very excited to have you as a sister.”
Colleen sighed as she lifted the tea tray. She knew Anna was excited about having her as a sister. She had told Colleen the same thing at least five times in fifteen minutes. Used to her solitary house with only Gerty with whom to visit, Colleen was not comfortable with someone so talkative.
Sebastian’s sister prattled nonstop about the most inane things. From the snow, to being happy she had a sister, to London, she talked, taking nary a breath. It was little wonder why Sebastian was so quiet. There was no way a person could get a word in edgewise with Lady Anna.
“Oh, and we will have so much fun shopping once we reach London. With your red hair and those eyes, you would look wonderful in green. It’s been five months since Albert’s death, three weeks since Gilbert’s, so you should be able to wear the darker shades and not cause a scandal. But,” she said, her brow furrowing as she studied Colleen, “I think you would look marvelous in black or something like amethyst.”
Anna followed Colleen and continued to blabber about everything they would do in London. Colleen didn’t have the heart to tell the young woman she would not be going with them. Although her incessant chatter was driving Colleen insane, there was a warmth about Anna, something totally accepting and loving that caused Colleen to hold her tongue.
After Anna opened the door, Colleen hurried forward, hoping to end this uncomfortable meeting. She knew his mother was not happy he married a no one from the wilds of York any more than Colleen was happy to have them in her drawing room.
Sebastian stood by the window, his mother in his arms as she wept.
“Ah, here’s Colleen and Anna with the tea. I’m sure she talked Colleen’s ear off.”
Colleen set the tea tray on the table.
“That is not nice to say, Sebastian. You haven’t seen me in months and now you complain.” Anna’s voice belied her comments, telling Colleen that the siblings enjoyed a warm relationship. She pushed away the pang of loss and jealousy she felt. Deidre and she had never shared a close relationship, at least not since their adolescence.
“Hush, brat. Even though you just proved my point.”
Anna smiled at her brother and wandered to a chair. After she was settled, he moved his attention back to his mother. “Now then, Mother, let’s take some tea.”
He escorted her to her chair while Colleen poured the tea. She turned to sit on the sofa and bumped into Sebastian. He took her arm, a smile twitching his lips. The heat of his hand warmed her through her sleeve. She shivered. He seated her and then sat beside her. For several moments, they drank tea in silence. It was almost unbearable. She knew his mother wanted to know how she’d trapped him into marriage. Why else would he marry her?
“Mother was telling me we had some unfortunate accidents in the family.”
She looked at Sebastian. He’d gained all of his strength back, and she had trouble concentrating when he stared at her. No longer weak, he was the epitome of male beauty. His color had returned, the golden hue reminding her of the moments she had seen him almost naked.
On more than one occasion, his cool blue eyes caused her tongue to tangle and heart to almost jump out of her chest. She tried to turn her attention away to gain her composure but found her gaze traveling to his lips. They were full and sensuous, and all she could remember was the way they tasted when he kissed her. She licked her lips at the memory. His then twitched slightly, and her gaze shot to his. The mocking glint in his eyes told her he knew what she’d been thinking.
Pulling herself from her thoughts, she asked, “Really, wh-what kind of accidents?”
Sebastian’s smile faded. She found herself regretting her question.
“Well, it seems that my uncle and cousin died recently.”
“Oh,” she said and looked at his mother and sister. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Sebastian stared down at her, irritated at the relief he heard in her voice. His continued presence worried her more than his dead relatives. Didn’t she even care that he was leaving? He was her husband for Christ’s sake.
Because of his irritation, his voice was a tad rougher when he spoke. “Yes, I have to take over the estate.”
“The estate?” Her voice rose as she asked the question. Both his mother and sister stared at her, then at him.
“Yes, dear, Sebastian must take up the reigns of the earldom.” His mother offered this.
Colleen’s eyes widened then narrowed when she looked at him.
“Earldom?” Her voice was hoarse.
“Yes, darl
ing, you are the new Countess of Penwyth.”
Color seeped from her face, leaving her pale, and he felt a twinge of guilt. He wasn’t all that happy about the situation, but he would be damned if he allowed her to push him out now.
The need to gain her acceptance of their marriage rode high in his priorities. He knew it had more to do with personal feelings than their uncomfortable position. Just that thought alone was enough to make him uncomfortable. It wasn’t a dream come true for him, but he would appreciate it if the woman didn’t act as if she were being condemned to death.
Sebastian sat back with his arms crossed and enjoyed the show. This was one of the few times he had seen her at a loss for words.
“Isn’t it exciting?” Anna said. Her bubbly voice made Colleen twitch.
He smothered a laugh. The woman was going to give him hell as soon as they were alone. He looked forward to the battle. Sparring with Colleen was more exciting than any seduction he’d encountered. If she raised her voice to him, he might just have to kiss her. That thought sent warmth speeding through him, heating his blood. He shifted his weight, trying to relieve some of the tension his musings brought.
“Exciting?” Colleen asked, her voice rising an octave.
“Oh, yes.” Anna was oblivious to her sister-in-law’s distress. “Here I thought we would have to put up with all those insipid girls trying to catch themselves an earl, but now we have you. And you are ever so pleasant. Isn’t she, Sebastian?”
He thought of that wedding kiss, the feel of her lips against his, the way she had tasted… “Why, yes, she is.” His voice had taken on a husky edge as his gaze slipped to her lips.
“Really, Sebastian,” his mother admonished.
Her voice brought him out of all thoughts of kissing, tasting. When he looked at her, he could tell from the expression on her face she knew what he was thinking. His face flushed in embarrassment.
“Now, we will have to leave as soon as possible. You are going to be presented to society, and I’m sure we’ll have a lot of shopping to do.”
Colleen said not a word as she listened to his mother. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought she was not a bit upset. Then he saw she was clenching her teacup so tightly, it was a wonder it didn’t shatter.
“Listen, Mother, Colleen and I need to talk about this. Why don’t you and Anna go back to the inn, rest and then we’ll have dinner?”
His mother looked from him to Colleen and then back again to him. A shrewd expression entered her eyes.
“Yes. That sounds like a marvelous idea.”
* * *
As the carriage pulled away, Victoria Ware settled against the seat.
Anna’s bubbly voice broke the silence. “I had no idea he would ever marry again.”
Victoria looked at her daughter, nineteen and so full of dreams and warmth. “He vowed not to. But…I think he got more than he bargained for with this one.”
“What do you mean, Mother?”
She grimaced, thinking of the way that tramp of a first wife had hurt her son. She’d not wanted him to marry so young, but he said he was in love so she had agreed. It had proved to be the wrong decision. Not six months later, she had started cheating on Sebastian and was dead a year after that from a jealous lover’s bullet.
“Yes, well, they married under unusual circumstances.” Victoria stopped Anna when she opened her mouth to ask questions. “You do not need to know anything about it. It is private and between them.”
Anna pouted for a minute and then smiled. “Well, the way he looks at her…” She sighed.
Oh, yes. She’d seen the way her son studied his wife. Sebastian was no choirboy. She knew he’d had many women. But when he looked at Colleen, it reminded her of her own dear Edward.
She thought about her plain daughter-in-law. There was something so familiar about those eyes. That shade of grey danced at the edge of a memory. She shook her head, knowing her mind was still not working properly. The last few weeks had been trying, worrisome and downright horrible. With the stress the family had already endured, tension had ridden high when Sebastian did not return on time.
One thing was for certain. She would do everything in her power to make sure there was no annulment. As she closed her eyes, she remembered the look on her son’s face while he watched Colleen, and the daggers her daughter-in-law had shot at him with her gaze.
She smiled. Oh, yes indeed. Those two would give her wonderful grandchildren.
* * *
Colleen sat on her bed, anger boiling her blood. She could not believe what a mess they had made of things. What were they going to do now? She had to find some way to break out of this ridiculous muddle. She didn’t want a husband. Now she was stuck with one and a bloody title.
Sebastian entered the bedroom and shut the door behind him. He leaned against it, crossing his arms. He didn’t say anything for a few moments, but he studied her, his gaze moving from her head down to her toes and back up again.
“Well, let’s hear it.”
“Let’s hear it?” She couldn’t believe he was being so casual. “Let’s hear it?”
“I know you are dying to yell at me, so let it go.” He gestured with his hands casually, as if he were asking for the price of a cravat.
“Yell at you?” Her voice was a hoarse whisper as she tried to contain her anger.
“Really, Colleen, you are beginning to sound like a simpleton. You keep repeating everything I’m saying. You did the same thing with my mother and sister. It’s a wonder they don’t think you have some kind of mental deficiency.”
The gall of the man! He was accusing her of acting like an idiot. And there he stood, behaving as though there was nothing wrong. For the first time in her adult life, rage took over.
Glancing around, trying to calm her heart—which was beating so fast she was amazed she didn’t expire on the spot—she noticed her favorite brush lying on her bed. She grabbed it and flung it at him with all her might. He ducked, and the brush banged against the door before falling to the floor.
“What the bloody hell are you doing?”
“I’m acting like a simpleton!”
He smiled. It warmed his eyes and softened his features. A whisper of misgiving brushed over her skin. The man was deadly when he turned on the charm. “I was only joking with you. Trying to ease the tension.”
“Sebastian! You said we would not get caught. Now we are trapped and not only that, your mother and sister think I am going to London with you.”
He looked away from her and walked to the window. “Would it be that bad, Colleen? You’ve never been there. You could see all the sights.”
“And then what? Wait until the annulment is fulfilled?”
He didn’t say anything. The clock ticked, the only sound in the room. The silence lingered and the tension tightened. Her suspicions rose and almost choked her.
“We are getting an annulment.”
“Colleen, that might be a problem.”
She didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. Her mind now whirled with the implications of what that simple statement meant.
He turned, an apologetic smile on his face. “I’m an earl, Colleen. It makes for a sticky situation.”
Sebastian tried to keep his thoughts on their conversation but it was proving difficult. Colleen’s face flushed with anger again. God, she was a sight to be seen when she was annoyed. A few strands had escaped her pulled-back hair and curled under her chin. His fingers itched to tuck them behind her ear. Or, thread his fingers through the heavy mass, causing it to fall.
With each angry breath, her chest rose and fell, drawing his attention to her breasts. The bodice of her dress left little to be desired, but in her anger, the soft, worn fabric hugged against her breasts, clinging to the curves with each inhalation.
Momentarily, he thought of stripping away the fabric, revealing just what she looked like naked. Ideas of gliding his hands over her skin tumbled through his mind. He could just imagin
e teasing, arousing, drawing her passion from her as he delighted in taking his own pleasure. Suddenly, painfully, he needed to know what her breasts looked like.
Were they pale with rose-tipped nipples that would tighten the moment he brushed his fingers over them?
“A sticky situation?”
Her voice brought him back to the present, although he had to shift again, to try to ease the heaviness of his groin.
“Yes. An annulment will be hard to obtain.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that we may have to stay married.”
Slowly she rose and walked to him, her hands on her hips. “You said there would be no problem. No one would know we were married.”
She was close enough for her sweet scent to reach him, surround him. Jesus, it made him want to nibble her neck and work his way down to more interesting parts.
“Well, there is a slight problem with that. My mother knows.”
“You said you told her the truth.”
She had the most magnificent pair of lips. They were plump, the bottom one a little fuller than the top. Her untutored kisses almost made him lose control. With a little practice and some help from him, she would be exquisite. Thoughts of teaching her, kiss by kiss, sent another rush of heated blood through his veins.
“Sebastian! Are you paying attention to me?”
“Yes. I am.” He cleared his throat and pulled his mind from teaching his wife to kiss. “Mother would never lie about me being married.”
There had come a point in his discussion with his mother that he had realized they would have to stay married. He was obligated to produce an heir. She had risked her reputation to save his life. While physically she wasn’t his usual type of woman, she had a quick wit and sinful lips.
And she smelled of hot rolls.
“What are you saying?” Her voice was just above a whisper. He smiled, trying to reassure her.
The Accidental Countess Page 6