himself to be rude. “Thanks.” He slid the magazine back across the table. “I will purchase a copy on my way home. Eve will be beside herself.”
“Keep it. It’s a gift. Gabby and I wish her the best.”
Politeness was one thing. Sebastian refused to accept the earl’s charity. “Return it to your wife. I can afford a copy for Eve.”
“You know that wasn’t my meaning.” Ellis’s mouth turned down. “What will it take to make things right between us, Thorne?”
More than a bloody magazine. And yet, Sebastian felt more at ease in the other man’s presence today. Perhaps delivering this good news hadn’t been Ellis’s worst idea.
Sebastian shoveled more food in his mouth before he said something ridiculous like perhaps he no longer held a grudge against the earl. The past was less relevant now that Eve was back in Society and turning heads. She would receive an offer of marriage before the Season’s end, and Sebastian could rest easier knowing her future would be secure. Besides, he had more important matters on his mind, such as meeting Lady Prestwick at Finsbury Square in an hour. Still, he wasn’t ready to ease Ellis’s conscience by offering forgiveness.
The earl sighed after a time. “You haven’t been attending the assemblies with your sister. I am surprised.”
“A fool is easily caught off guard.” Sebastian didn’t want to ruin his sister’s prospects by reminding everyone they were related. It was best to keep his distance for now. “Mother and Lady Prestwick are adequate chaperones.”
“I didn’t think you trusted anyone besides yourself when it came to your sister’s well-being.”
Sebastian hunched over his plate and avoided eye contact. He didn’t need anyone reminding him that he should be watching over Eve, but she was better off if he kept his distance. “Could I break my fast in peace now? I’ve never known anyone who nags as you do.”
“I was not nagging.” Ellis pushed back from the table, grumbling under his breath. “This was a waste of time.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Sebastian nodded toward the magazine in the earl’s hand and gentled his tone. “Extend my gratitude to Lady Ellis. It was a thoughtful gesture, sending her messenger boy.”
Ellis’s tense posture eased and he cracked a smile. “Sod off, Thorne.”
Sebastian chuckled under his breath as his longtime rival sauntered from the room. For a moment, it seemed like old times. And it felt good.
His fellow gents were still staring, so he glared in return. With nothing more to see, they resumed their activities. He supposed they missed his and Ellis’s antics, and strangely, he was beginning to miss challenging the earl, and besting him.
When Sebastian left the club, he set off for The Temple of the Muses, where he and Lady Prestwick had been meeting almost daily for the past week under the pretense of browsing for books. Even though he looked forward to seeing her, he dreaded delivering disappointing news again. Her mystery woman, Lavinia, was proving to be as elusive as a ghost.
The hopeful glimmer in Lady Prestwick’s eyes dulled each time he had nothing positive to report. So far he had been able to tease her out of the blues, but he still hated causing her distress. He often fought the urge to hold her close and offer comfort. Aside from the public spectacle he would make of them, she didn’t seem amenable to accepting sympathy.
He entered the bookstore and headed for the novels written by Maria Edgeworth. The authoress seemed to be a favorite with Lady Prestwick. Perhaps Eve would enjoy the books as well. He would choose one to take to her along with the magazine.
As expected, Lady Prestwick was tucked into a corner with a book already in hand. He sidled up beside her and pretended to peruse the same shelves. A quick glance at the book cover revealed her selection.
She offered a shy smile. “Good morning, Lord Thorne.”
“Lady Prestwick,” he responded with a tip of
“Keep it. It’s a gift. Gabby and I wish her the best.”
Politeness was one thing. Sebastian refused to accept the earl’s charity. “Return it to your wife. I can afford a copy for Eve.”
“You know that wasn’t my meaning.” Ellis’s mouth turned down. “What will it take to make things right between us, Thorne?”
More than a bloody magazine. And yet, Sebastian felt more at ease in the other man’s presence today. Perhaps delivering this good news hadn’t been Ellis’s worst idea.
Sebastian shoveled more food in his mouth before he said something ridiculous like perhaps he no longer held a grudge against the earl. The past was less relevant now that Eve was back in Society and turning heads. She would receive an offer of marriage before the Season’s end, and Sebastian could rest easier knowing her future would be secure. Besides, he had more important matters on his mind, such as meeting Lady Prestwick at Finsbury Square in an hour. Still, he wasn’t ready to ease Ellis’s conscience by offering forgiveness.
The earl sighed after a time. “You haven’t been attending the assemblies with your sister. I am surprised.”
“A fool is easily caught off guard.” Sebastian didn’t want to ruin his sister’s prospects by reminding everyone they were related. It was best to keep his distance for now. “Mother and Lady Prestwick are adequate chaperones.”
“I didn’t think you trusted anyone besides yourself when it came to your sister’s well-being.”
Sebastian hunched over his plate and avoided eye contact. He didn’t need anyone reminding him that he should be watching over Eve, but she was better off if he kept his distance. “Could I break my fast in peace now? I’ve never known anyone who nags as you do.”
“I was not nagging.” Ellis pushed back from the table, grumbling under his breath. “This was a waste of time.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Sebastian nodded toward the magazine in the earl’s hand and gentled his tone. “Extend my gratitude to Lady Ellis. It was a thoughtful gesture, sending her messenger boy.”
Ellis’s tense posture eased and he cracked a smile. “Sod off, Thorne.”
Sebastian chuckled under his breath as his longtime rival sauntered from the room. For a moment, it seemed like old times. And it felt good.
His fellow gents were still staring, so he glared in return. With nothing more to see, they resumed their activities. He supposed they missed his and Ellis’s antics, and strangely, he was beginning to miss challenging the earl, and besting him.
When Sebastian left the club, he set off for The Temple of the Muses, where he and Lady Prestwick had been meeting almost daily for the past week under the pretense of browsing for books. Even though he looked forward to seeing her, he dreaded delivering disappointing news again. Her mystery woman, Lavinia, was proving to be as elusive as a ghost.
The hopeful glimmer in Lady Prestwick’s eyes dulled each time he had nothing positive to report. So far he had been able to tease her out of the blues, but he still hated causing her distress. He often fought the urge to hold her close and offer comfort. Aside from the public spectacle he would make of them, she didn’t seem amenable to accepting sympathy.
He entered the bookstore and headed for the novels written by Maria Edgeworth. The authoress seemed to be a favorite with Lady Prestwick. Perhaps Eve would enjoy the books as well. He would choose one to take to her along with the magazine.
As expected, Lady Prestwick was tucked into a corner with a book already in hand. He sidled up beside her and pretended to peruse the same shelves. A quick glance at the book cover revealed her selection.
She offered a shy smile. “Good morning, Lord Thorne.”
“Lady Prestwick,” he responded with a tip of
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