Page 9 of Seeking Ruin

Wasn’t she ruined, though?

Kitty drummed her fingers in her lap, a ridiculous, dangerous, delicious idea formulating in her brain. Why couldn’t she do what she wanted? Her father would arrive to cart her away to obscurity soon enough, so what did she care about causing more gossip while she was still here? Did she not deserve some genuine excitement after everything that had happened?

The answer, she thought as a slow grin came onto her face, was a resounding yes. And she knew of just the perfect place to start.

**

Sebastian remained in his carriage long after it reached the front of his townhome, taking a moment to fortify himself for the interaction that was to come. Seeing his mother was always something that filled him with annoyance. Long ago, very long ago, he might have been quivering in his seat at the thought of her scrutiny, but his days as a cowering, lonely little boy were long over. Deciding to just get on with it so he could continue his day, Sebastian took a bracing, irritated breath and stepped out of the carriage. The house was silent, save for his butler who answered the door, and he was beginning to wonder if the woman was out or, even better, hadn’t arrived yet. He’d received the note informing him of her impending arrival only two days prior, after all.

“Ashford,” a familiar cool voice greeted.

Ah, wishful thinking, then. Sebastian looked up to the top of the grand staircase with a bland smile, inwardly grimacing. “Good morning to you too, mother.”

The Duchess of Ashford looked the same as she always did, dressed with impeccable fashion and sporting perfectly styled auburn hair, the only imperfection on her marble face being the subtle wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. Her dark eyes narrowed on his form. Were he still a child, he might have shriveled under the familiar glower, but today he merely made a casual show of handing his hat and walking stick to his butler. “Impeccable timing, as always.”

“Where have you been?” she replied, ignoring his barb entirely. “I was shocked upon my arrival this morning to see you were not abed recovering from whatever ridiculous debauchery you likely had been up to after last night’s ball.” Ah yes, the ball he had gone to at her behest in the hopes of avoiding her coming over to needle him. So much for that idea.

He peeled off his gloves one finger at a time. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“I read all about that sordid affair with Dolefield’s chit last night.”

“Of course, you did.” His mother always kept abreast of any and all gossip, though it was more out of a mercurial need to decide who would retain the honor of her acquaintance rather than any genuine interest in the affairs of others. Except his, of course.

“I am disappointed that you would lower yourself to participate in such an altercation.”

He absently rubbed his sore cheek. Thankfully, it hadn’t bruised terribly much. “Oh, yes. How horrid of me to assist my dearest friend. Uncouth indeed.” Not that the woman would understand what it was like to have a genuine friendship. He didn’t think his mother had been genuine with anyone in her entire life.

She sniffed and began walking down the stairs. “Mercifully, you only played a minor part in the debacle. Those silly girls will keep most of the attention to themselves, I am sure.”

He debated whether or not to tell her that one of those ‘silly girls’ had been the object of his morning social call, if only to see the duchess’s face pinch in displeasure. He might even get an eye twitch for his efforts. “You seem to have quite the opinion of them.”

“It was only a matter of time before that Highbridge girl got herself into some kind of scandal. I cannot say I am shocked that such an impertinent little thing managed to ruin herself so spectacularly.”

No, he thought with a surprising jolt of anger, he would not tell her of his visit. Miss Highbridge had enough on her plate as it was, and the last thing she needed was to be the target of his mother’s ire, especially if he wanted to further their acquaintance. Sebastian paused in the process of pulling off his greatcoat. Where in the hell had that thought come from? The girl was intriguing, yes, but he had no desire to cause some sort of misunderstanding with his visit, as even she was likely on the lookout for a husband to salvage the mess she was in. There would be no help from his quarter on that front, that was for sure.

“Anyway,” the duchess continued, seemingly unaware of his distracted state, “I am here on important matters. No doubt you are well aware that my attempts to get you to society events have a specific goal in mind. You cannot avoid your duty to the title any longer, as much as I am sure you would take joy in ending our line.”

“Later,” he said, already tired of the conversation, and began walking in the direction of his study. An afternoon of ledgers and a glass of obscenely expensive liquor awaited him, and he would take sums over this battle any day.

“No, Ashford. Now,” she commanded icily. Why she thought she still held any kind of sway over him, he had no idea. He could tell her off, as he usually did, but then the shrew would likely follow him around the house for as long as he refused to oblige her, berating him every step of the way.

He stopped in the middle of the foyer with an aggravated sigh. “Never mind.”

“For once, you see reason.”

“Never mind about the ledgers,” He mumbled to himself.

“I beg your pardon?”

Sebastian ignored her, walking around the woman and gesturing for his butler to return the hat and coat. “I’ll be back at…well, that’s none of your business, now is it?”

“Where are you going?”

“To get myself good and foxed before finding a nice doxy to have my way with, Mother.” He grinned as her face morphed into outrage at his shocking statement. She opened her mouth, but he slammed the front door on her before she could speak. Sebastian strode down the stairs with a cheerful whistle. A good rut at Barrow’s den was just the thing he needed.

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