Sebastian cast a dark glower at his friend. It had been a selfish mistake to allow Dawson to play. The man had too much integrity and common sense. Sebastian had wanted the security of having an ally at his back, but he had miscalculated badly. He had not told Dawson he intended to draw the earl into a duel, because he knew his friend would object to such a blatant act.
But he had reasoned that Dawson would take his side if something did occur. Integrity was so damn inconvenient! Sebastian tensed, the blood pumping furiously through his veins. Friend or no, he would not allow anyone to deny him his revenge.
“Either stand with me or stand aside,” Sebastian said forcefully.
Dawson’s head jerked back in surprise, his eyes filling with a curious mixture of confusion and hurt. “I swear, Benton, if I didn’t know you better I’d think you were trying to provoke Hetfield into a duel.”
Sebastian shrugged off that all too true comment and faced Lord Faber and Sir Charles. The two glanced uneasily around the card room. “Perhaps it would be best to let the matter go,” Sir Charles suggested.
Struggling, Sebastian dredged up what little restraint he possessed. “I believe that question should be posed to Hetfield. ‘Tis his honor that has been tainted.”
All eyes turned expectantly to the older man. Panic lit his face, but he regained his composure. Sebastian saw the fine sheen of sweat on the earl’s face. It was going to be very difficult for him to simply walk away at this stage. His honesty, and honor, had been called into question. He would have to accept the challenge to save both. I’ve got you now, you damn bastard.
“I still insist that no cheating occurred, but if there was something amiss with the cards, it must have been my error,” Dawson interjected. “After all, I dealt the cards. Any blame must fall on me, not Hetfield.”
“But you barely won any of the hands,” Lord Faber insisted. “Unless you and Hetfield are in this scheme together?”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Sebastian said with a sneer. “Dawson is the most honest, honorable gentleman I know. He would never cheat.”
The response was instinctive. Sebastian did not even realize he had uttered the words until he saw the relief on the earl’s face. Shit.
“Your confidence in me is most humbling, Benton. Thank you.” Though he spoke congenially, Dawson’s brow was furrowed as if he were trying to decipher a perplexing puzzle.
“All right then,” Lord Faber said. “We all agree the accusation has no validity.”
“The matter is closed.” The earl’s voice was urgent and curt. “We shall speak of it no more.”
Sebastian barely heard the muttering of agreement from Sir Charles and Lord Faber. The earl turned and strode away. No! Sebastian felt the bile rise in his throat as he stared after Hetfield knowing he was powerless to stop him. A coldness welled up inside him, so strong and deep it stole his voice.
How had this happened? He had been so close, so near. It had all been going according to plan. That is, until Dawson stuck his nose into the mix. ‘Twas like having a fish on the line, tugging and fighting. Inch by inch, yard by yard, reeling the prize closer, closer, and then, just as the fish was pulled from the water, it slipped from its hook and swam to safety.
Beside him, Sebastian heard Dawson exhale with relief. At the sound, his control snapped. A primitive part of Sebastian’s brain shouted at him to pummel his friend until Dawson’s face was bruised. If he could not taste the earl’s blood, the blood he craved, he would settle for whoever blocked his path.
Fearing he would succumb to his rage, Sebastian rudely turned away. Shoving aside a dandy standing in the doorway, he practically ran from the room. With each angry step he couldn’t stop thinking that if Dawson had not intervened and smoothed it all over, this dilemma would have finally had a resolution.
Come morning he would have been facing the earl over crossed swords or pistols. By afternoon, the earl would have been disgraced, wounded, and in the most just circumstances of all, fighting for his life.
Chapter 3
Sebastian hurried down the hallway, paying scant attention to his surroundings. He passed beneath a gilded archway, then cursed under his breath when he realized he was standing in the duke’s ballroom, surrounded by a sea of grandly dressed people.
It seemed as if no one had declined the invitation for this party. The large room was overflowing with guests. Which was hardly surprising, since the duke was related to many of the most influential and wealthy families in England. Anyone who was anyone clamored to be a part of tonight’s festivities.
Sebastian’s initial hope that the distraction of the crowd would ease his black mood was quickly dashed. His face felt tight, his eyes hard. Slowly, he unclenched his fist. He could feel himself trembling inside, shaking with rage and disappointment.
I must control myself! A pair of French doors leading to the gardens was close. Without hesitation, Sebastian stalked outside, snatching a glass of champagne from a passing footman. Never breaking stride, he downed the liquid in one long gulp, hoping the action might help calm him.
Alas, it did not. Sebastian’s anger felt like a raging river, swollen to the edge of its banks with nowhere to go. He needed to leave, to go somewhere private, where he could be alone to release this scalding rage that threatened to consume him. Where he could drink until he was beyond feeling, beyond sense.
Vengeance is for God to decide. That was what his grandmother had repeated to him time and again when she had made him promise to leave the earl alone, to forgo any revenge. Had she been right? Should he turn the other cheek and forget?
For years he had taken his need for revenge and buried it deep inside himself. Could he do it again? Could he bury it so far, so deep that he never needed to face it? A vision of his mother’s lifeless body invaded his head. Sebastian felt a tightness growing in his stomach as he struggled to close his mind to the memory.
Oh God, Mother, why did you do it? Was your pain truly so unbearable? Did you not realize how much I loved you, how much I needed you, how much I would suffer with your death?
Sebastian felt wetness on his face and realized it was tears. Christ! He was blubbering like an infant. He wiped them away irritably with a shaking hand, then began walking again, consumed by his need to get away. Though he was outside, the air felt as if it were closing in on him. His evening shoes were grinding against the crushed stone pathway as he hastened to the garden wall, searching for an exit. But there was none to be found.
Sebastian grimaced and glared at the solid brick wall in front of him. Tipping his head, his eyes scanned and assessed the imposing stone that apparently enclosed the entire garden. It easily stood ten feet tall, with decorative ironwork adorning the top. Damnation! It was too high to scale in his tight-fitting evening clothes, and even if he somehow reached the summit, those sharp, lethal-looking iron points would surely do irreparable damage to his clothing. Or his manhood.
Would that not be the perfect ending to this disastrous night? Walking through the duke’s ballroom with a tear down the middle of his breeches and his arse hanging out for all to see?
Sebastian turned, took a few steps, then paused. Pivoting on his heel, he hurled his empty champagne goblet at the wall. The sound of shattering glass brought him a fleeting moment of satisfaction, yet did nothing to solve his dilemma. He was still trapped. In more ways than one.
With a grunt of frustration, Sebastian eyed the brick again, debating whether he should take a chance. But for once, common sense ruled. There was no help for it. He’d have to go back inside the house and through the ballroom in order to take his leave.
The duke’s servants had lit torches in strategic points throughout the garden and lanterns were scattered in the higher trees. They twinkled like stars and enhanced the romantic mood. Sebastian could hear snatches of muted conversations as he wound his way down the various stone pathways. Fortunately he did not stumble upon any romantic trysts.
He had no sooner stepped back inside the crow
ded ballroom when he was waylaid by Lady Agatha and the Dowager Countess of Ashland. If not for the friendship the two older women had shared with his grandmother, he would have snarled at the pair and sent them on their way. Yet even with his temper still simmering, he found he could not be so rude.
“I see that you are not dancing, my lord,” Lady Agatha said. “In deference to your recently departed grandmother, I am sure. ‘Tis such a heartfelt and respectful gesture. You do her memory proud.”
“Indeed.” The dowager countess bobbed her head enthusiastically in agreement. “However, as I recall, her greatest wish was to see you married to a suitable lady. It might be a more fitting honor if you set yourself to accomplishing that task by seeking out the company of a few of the eligible debutantes in attendance this evening.”
Lady Agatha pounced on the suggestion. “It might. The countess and I would be pleased to assist you.”
“Oh, yes. Truly. We know all the girls from the very best families.”
“We most certainly do. Mark my words, we could find you a suitable bride in a fortnight. Tell me, Lord Benton, do you prefer a lady with light or dark hair?”
Sebastian felt a tightening in his gut. The urge to reach out with both hands and place them around Lady Agatha’s wrinkled neck was almost overpowering. But that would leave the countess free to continue talking. Perhaps he could bang their heads together?
“‘Tis a most generous offer, ladies,” Sebastian replied. “Having someone else procure a woman to please and entertain is something men fantasize over. I will most definitely call upon you if there is ever a time when I feel incapable of accomplishing the task on my own. Or if I lack the sufficient coin to pay for the pleasure.”
Knowing he had gone too far, Sebastian forced himself to smile in order to leave the impression he was joking. Too bad he wasn’t.
Still, his scandalous, improper remarks produced the desired effect. Lady Agatha and the countess went mute. Sebastian hastily bowed, then made his escape.
He was forced to take a meandering path through the crowd as he headed toward the exit. He did not pause to speak with anyone, though several people attempted to engage him in conversation. One particular set of ladies approached him with open, encouraging smiles, but the expression on his face must have conveyed his turbulent frame of mind, for they gave him a wide berth.
Yet as they passed him one woman snapped open her fan, then raised it to her lips to hide her comments. Disparaging remarks, judging by her frowning brows. About him, Sebastian was certain. God Almighty, would this evening never end?
He continued to move through the crush, his spirits rising slightly when he caught sight of the large, open archway leading out of the ballroom. At least he could finally see his way out. But the crowd seemed to be growing and he quickly found himself pressed close behind two chattering females, one in a gown of vivid green, and the other in an ensemble of subtle blue.
“Who is that insipid-looking redhead over there near the potted fronds?” Green Dress asked. “I’m sure I’ve never seen her before.”
Blue Dress tugged at the dangling ribbon around her wrist, raised the attached quizzing glass up to her eye, and peered through the lens. “Oh, I met her earlier. ‘Tis the Earl of Hetfield’s daughter. Straight from the country, by the look of that outfit.”
The Earl of Hetfield’s daughter! Sebastian’s head whirled so quickly he felt a wrenching pain shoot through his neck.
“My heavens, it is such a dreadful gown. Does she not own a looking glass? Truly, one would expect more from Lord Hetfield. How can he allow her to be seen in public? ‘Tis an embarrassment.” Green Dress shuddered, moving her hand over the silk of her own skirt, as if to assure herself that she was in a superiorly fashionable garment.
“She has a pretty sort of face, I suppose, but honestly, what was the earl thinking bringing her to Town after the Season has begun?” Blue Dress asked. “All the competent, fashionable dressmakers have been booked for weeks working on their clients’ wardrobe. My maid told me that Madame Claudette nearly doubled the price of each garment when the earl insisted the gowns he ordered be ready as soon as possible.”
“Did he pay it?”
“Judging by the dress his daughter is currently wearing, one must assume he did not.”
There was a catty giggle, followed by a tsking sound of disapproval. What a pair of harridans! Sebastian could almost pity the poor girl, but her connection to the earl made that an impossibility. She was the daughter of his enemy.
“Who is that dowdy female standing beside her?” Blue Dress asked. “Though a bit long in the tooth, she still looks too young to be a chaperone.”
Sebastian did not bother waiting to hear Green Dress’s reply. The Earl of Hetfield’s daughter, eh? He had not known the earl had a daughter. His heart started to race. Anxiously he crossed the crowded ballroom floor, eager for a better look. Merely out of curiosity, he assured himself.
His eyes moved to the potted fronds. Bloody hell. A pretty sort of face? The young woman standing in the soft candlelight took his breath away. Her hair was a cascade of amber curls artfully swept up to bare her neck, her skin the color of rich cream. Her features were perfectly formed, perfectly proportioned. She had the ethereal, classic feminine beauty that transcended time, the kind of beauty that poets wrote of, that drove sane men to rash acts.
She appeared fresh and innocent and slightly nervous. He could detect her nerves by the way her head was constantly turning every which way as she took in the scene around her. Every few moments she would turn toward the woman standing beside her and say something. The subsequent answers given invariably made her smile. Interesting.
Sebastian was surprised she was not surrounded by a bevy of eager young bucks, each clamoring for her attention. Fashionably dressed or not, she was easily one of the most attractive females in the room.
The Earl of Hetfield approached and Sebastian’s mood turned sour. The young beauty turned, smiled, then affectionately patted the earl’s arm. He leaned close and whispered something in her ear. Her smile widened further.
A haze fell over Sebastian’s vision. The picture of a doting father with his daughter tore at something deep inside him. Here was the earl, free to indulge himself in parental affection while Sebastian’s mother was forever denied that joy.
Noting again with bitterness the apparent affection between the pair, a devious thought suddenly struck Sebastian. This lovely, innocent, virginal girl could hold the key to his revenge. The earl might not wish to defend his honor over a pair of cards, but he most certainly would risk all to save his daughter from ruin.
Sebastian was pricked by his elusive conscience, but only for a brief instant. This female was a means to an end and if it was the only way to achieve his revenge, then so be it.
His experience with females was almost legendary, yet Sebastian prided himself on the fact that he had always behaved like a gentleman. The various mistresses he had kept over the years had been amply rewarded financially and always treated with dignity.
The numerous affairs he had engaged in had always been with willing society women of experience who knew fully the consequences of their actions. They knew he would not marry them; indeed, often they were already married.
There had been several widows who had campaigned to be his viscountess, but he had made his views on matrimony very clear—he planned to stay single until he was at least forty. Even the constant badgering from his grandmother to take a wife had not altered this stand.
He had never outwardly lied to a lady, nor made promises he had no intention of keeping. And he most definitely had never seduced an innocent girl and then cast her aside.
There’s always a first time.
Many a duel had been fought to preserve or restore a daughter’s honor. Especially a young, innocent daughter. Sebastian grimaced.
Seducing the redheaded beauty would not be easy, since he would need to keep it a secret from the earl. After the incident this
evening in the card room, Hetfield would naturally be suspicious of him. However, if he succeeded in ruining the girl in the eyes of society—and Sebastian was highly confident he would succeed—the earl would have no choice but to defend his family’s honor.
Sebastian gazed again at his pretty young victim. Something jabbed inside him at the thought of what she would suffer. The censure of many, the relentless whispers of the gossipmongers, a scandal that would forever plague her. Yet beautiful women, he reasoned, always seemed to find their bearing and achieve their goals. Some man would eventually marry her, despite her tarnished reputation, and count himself lucky to have such a lovely wife.
At least she would escape with her life, which was far more than his poor mother. For a split second he worried that rationalization was solely to ease his conscience, but just as quickly, Sebastian tossed it out of his mind.
The earl laughed loudly at something his daughter said. Sebastian’s lips also quirked upward, though his smile held no humor. His grandmother had been wrong. Vengeance was not for the Lord, but rather man’s work. Sebastian knew the only hope he had to bring some measure of peace to his life was to strike back at the man who had caused his pain.
And now he had found a way to do it.
Eleanor became aware of the intense stare of the man across the room as the third waltz of the evening was played. He strolled the perimeter of the ballroom, yet his eyes never wavered. There was a determined, methodic edge to his scrutiny that was slightly alarming, for it seemed to go deeper than polite interest.
Naturally, this attention was not directed at her, but rather at Bianca. No one ever noticed the moon when the sun was shining so brightly. Normally, interest in Bianca from a handsome man would be welcome, but Eleanor had not been impressed by any of the gentlemen who had pressed forward for an introduction this evening.
The majority had been older, some as old as their father. A few had a desperate air about them, two greeted her with a lascivious smile, another openly leered at Bianca as he held her hand too long. This would most certainly not have happened if the earl had been there to offer Bianca support and protection, but he abandoned them soon after they arrived. He had briefly returned to check on them and just as swiftly removed himself outside for a smoke.
A Little Bit Sinful Page 4
