Page 11 of The Duke of Fire
Sebastian did not slow down for his friends. Instead, he snapped, “Do not tempt me to return. I am trying to control myself. Few people can say they have confronted their grandmother at her own wake.”
“You did not even take a glass of anything,” Benedict added, clapping him on the back.
Sebastian turned to his friends in suspicion, narrowing his eyes. “Did you two know about this?”
“Well… she said she had a plan, and made us promise not to tell you anything, and that she would handle it,” Cassian replied,looking at his glass of brandy as if it had become the most interesting object in the ball. “She said that you would absolutely understand.”
Absolutely understand? That was a lie.
“What am I supposed to understand? She pretended to die!”
“She said you would only come for a funeral.”
“And you agreed? Are you two in cahoots with my grandmother now?” Sebastian could not believe it. “Not only do I come rushing, wondering why I had not been informed about my grandmother’s death early enough, but my own friends are here to mock me?”
“We are not here to mock you,” Benedict reassured. “You know your grandmother well. We are worried about you,” Benedict said. “You have not been yourself lately, especially after that day atThe Blue Parrot, you—”
“I still feel you find this amusing.”
“Not amusing. No,” Cassian replied, shaking his head vigorously.
“We are simply fully aware that you would not have come if your grandmother said this would be a ball. Admit it now,” Benedict said, his voice becoming a little rough. “When you thought she died, you were here in no time in full funeral regalia. What does that say about you?”
“Benedict is right. We are worried about you, man,” Cassian added.
“I do not need nursemaids,” Sebastian grunted, pushing the door open. He had to get to the gardens. He could not breathe,not when his heart thundered in his chest. For a moment, he had calmed down. The cool air bit his skin, and the smell of roses overpowered his lungs. At least, these things were real. He did not have to be reminded of how this night took a turn.
He had barely been out when he heard something rustling near him.
Amelia had expected little of the dowager duchess’s infamous ball, but she had hoped, at the very least, to survive it with her sanity intact. Instead, she found herself scurrying to fetch drinks, cushions, and all manner of things for her sister-in-law.
“Everything hurts, Amelia,” Octavia moaned, fanning herself from the chaise. “My corset is too tight, my feet are swollen, and I swear I am close to fainting.”
“I hope you did not make Sarah tighten your corset more than she should,” Amelia replied.
Before Octavia could respond, her husband called her over, providing Amelia a moment of reprieve. She took it gratefully, slipping through the crowd to find a familiar face.
Then, she spotted Serenity Dawson, a good friend of hers, and heaved a sigh of relief. She rushed to her, hoping for some peace and normalcy.
“Serenity!” she exclaimed.
“Amelia, thank heavens. You look like a woman on the verge of murder.”
“I feel like one,” Amelia replied. “Octavia has made me her personal maid tonight. I would not be surprised if she asked me to peel her grapes next,” Amelia said in a rush, knowing that her time with her friend was ticking away.
Serenity giggled, probably imagining each scenario. Then, she sobered a little. “It is so terrible that your sister-in-law treats you like a servant.”
Amelia sighed. “I have somehow gotten used to it. I am more upset about losing some of my translations, though.”
Serenity blinked. “Not the scandalous ones?”
Amelia nodded miserably. It had once been a silly joke between her and Serenity—how they used to sneak scandalous novels from the bookstore and, for amusement, Amelia would translate the raciest bits into Latin. It was their way of pretending to be proper while reading. The coded language made it feel safe, harmless. Now she had threatened to expose their secret.
“Amelia! What if someone finds them? What if they read them aloud?”
“I will die. I will truly, physically die of embarrassment. I may have to earn money more quickly so I can banish myself from London forever!”
The two young women giggled at the thought.
