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.It wasn’t only about the physical act.”He made a low sound in his throat, one that brought to mind an animal in pain.“Did she explicitly say she loved him?” Leah winced at the hoarseness in his voice, even though the words were spoken matter-of-factly.“Yes.”“That’s not enough.” Drawing his arm away, he lifted his head and met her gaze.“Lovers often confess their love, even when it’s not true.I could say I loved you right now and try to seduce you.”“I would never fall prey to such tricks.And we both know you wouldn’t try to seduce me.” The idea of anyone touching her like Ian had was too foreign.The thought of Wriothesly touching her was.disturbing.Her breath caught, much the same way it had when he lifted her veil earlier in the garden, when his fingers had played in her hair as he fixed the pins.Even though his features might hold a certain appeal, she no longer desired such false intimacies from anyone.Not after offering her soulless body to Ian again and again.He stared at her, the fire sending shadows to flicker across his eyes.Then his mouth tilted in a hint of a smile.“No, I wouldn’t,” he said.One thing was certain: he did have a rather unique talent for making her feel unattractive.Laying his head back, he asked, “What more was there?”Leah hesitated.“Perhaps you should read the letters, if you wish to see the proof yourself.”“If you fear my wrath toward you for being the bearer of bad news, you have nothing to worry about.I’m asking you to tell me.”When she said nothing, he flicked his hand.“Go on.”“She wanted to leave you,” she said in a rush, then paused, waiting for his reaction.He didn’t move; for a moment, it seemed even his chest would not rise with breath.“They were making plans to flee England—”“To go where?”“France.Paris first, then—”“The fools.I would have followed them.”“They were to go into hiding.”He pulled himself up from the sprawl, his movements now rigid.“I would have found them,” he said, then cut his eyes toward her as if demanding she acknowledge it as truth.Leah spread her hands wide.“As I said, they appeared to be in love, my lord.”“And I suppose that’s better?”She began to nod, but something in his expression stopped her.He needed her to tell the truth, just as she’d needed to see his grief and anger after he’d first learned of their betrayal.To know she wasn’t alone.She looked away.“Perhaps not.But it makes me feel.less unworthy.”Silence lengthened between them, and she could feel him watching her.“I am sorry for my comments at the lake,” he finally said.“I shouldn’t have compared you to her.I shouldn’t have been rude.Actually, you’re quite pretty—”Laughing, she turned to him.“Please.There’s no need for flattery.I didn’t mean unworthy in that sense.”In fact, it was almost more of an insult for him to believe he needed to shore up her self-esteem.His lips pressed together, as if he were deciding whether to respond.Instead, he stood from the sofa.“I need another drink.”“My lord—”“You still haven’t told me the truth, Mrs.George.”“Which truth?” she asked, tensing when he weaved back and forth.Returning to sit, he filled the glass.But this time, he sipped at it slowly, closing his eyes as he swallowed.Holding out the snifter toward her, he said, “Why you decided to host a house party.”She shook her head and pushed his hand away.“As I said, I wanted to help you.”“Liar.You’re much too selfish.For some strange reason it’s one of the things I like best about you.”Leah tilted her chin and smiled.“I thought we disliked each other.”“Oh, we do,” he said, taking another sip.“I detest you quite thoroughly.Especially when you smile.”Her lips flattened.“Do you?”He gestured toward her with the drink, the liquid sloshing out the side to drip over his thigh.Leah’s gaze followed the brandy’s path where it darkened on his trousers, then jerked upward again as he spoke.“You’re too bloody happy.It’s very offensive.”“Indeed?” she said, trying not to smile again.“And there it is.” He scowled, then swallowed the rest of the brandy.“If you wish to be a competent hostess, you will endeavor to be miserable.I might detest you less if you acted a bit more pathetic now and then.”“I see.” She paused as he bent to set the decanter and snifter on the floor.“It will pass, you know.Eventually.”“I should mention that I also disapprove of optimism.”She laughed, disarmed by this drunken, jaunty version of Lord Wriothesly.Without the brandy, he would have almost resembled the man she remembered prior to Ian’s death.“And now I believe I shall put my head on you,” he announced.“The room has started to spin, and it’s been a very long time since I’ve laid my head in a woman’s lap.”Leah ceased laughing as he twisted and began to lie back.“No, my lord.” His shoulders landed on her outstretched arms.“Sebastian! Let me up.”He groaned as she struggled against him.“I was beginning to wonder if you remembered my name.Please, be quiet.Just a moment.” Reaching behind his head, he caught her hand and moved it to his mouth, where he pressed a kiss against her bare skin.“Only a moment, until the world turns itself aright again.”Leah snatched her hand back, irritated by the lingering sensation left by his lips.He then took advantage by leveraging his weight against her, forcing her to allow him to lie down.With her hands pressed tightly against her chest—for there was nowhere else to put them—she stared down at him, bemused.His head was turned toward the fire, his eyes closed.“Thank you,” he said, and sighed.“I believe I might fall asleep.”“If you do, I promise to shove you off.”He chuckled, and her gaze skipped over the crook of his lips, noting the faint shadow of stubble extending across his jaw
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