Page 30 of A Kiss Of Lies

Sebastian turned and gave him a questioning look. Christian cleared his throat. “May I present my ward, Lily Pearson, and her governess, Mrs. Sarah Cooper.”

“Wedohave much to catch up on,” was Sebastian’s dry reply. He stood studying Sarah, and Christian could tell she was becoming uncomfortable.

Lily broke the silence. “Why is he staring at you like that, Sarah?”

“Have we met before?” Sebastian asked Sarah, ignoring Lily’s comment.

Christian could not see Sarah’s face, which was hidden from view by her bonnet, but he noted how tension invaded her small frame.

“I very much doubt it, my lord.”

Sebastian frowned and seemed to be trying to peer under her bonnet. Finally he gave a wicked smile and said, “Obviously, wishful thinking on my part. I’m sure I would have remembered a lady of such beauty.” His voice lowered and seemed to purr in the humid air. “I’m sure I’ll remember you in the future, especially once we become better acquainted.”

Christian couldn’t see Sarah’s reaction to Sebastian’s comment, and for that he gave thanks. He already wanted to smash Sebastian’s perfect white teeth down his throat.

Sebastian clapped him on the back. “I’m pleased I leased the villa, Roaring Pavilions, since you have company traveling with you. There is plenty of room. It’s located in Sugarloaf Bay; it’s a few miles from town, but the view and setting are worth the journey.” He scratched his head. “However, I’m not sure we will fit all of us, including the luggage, in one journey.”

“Sarah”—Christian deliberately used her first name to proclaim his interest, and also to perhaps mislead Sebastian as to his true relationship with Sarah—“why don’t you organize for your and Lily’s luggage to be loaded, and take the carriage to the villa? It can come back for us later. Sebastian and I have some catching up to do.”

He did not look at his friend as he spoke, but he could almost feel Sebastian’s grin and knowing wink.

“Of course, my lord, as you wish. Come along, Lily.”

Lily ignored her outstretched hand and stayed in the same spot, even though Sarah had already turned to go below. She looked at Sebastian. “Can we swim? Is the villa near the sea?”

Sebastian smiled down at her. “The villa has two private coves with the whitest sand and bluest water. Tell Margarita I said she’s to show you the way.”

Lily let out a delighted squeal and couldn’t stand still in her excitement. “I’d never seen the sea until this voyage. And I’ve never swum in the sea. We had the river and lake in York, but not the sea. The water was always too cold to swim in.”

“The sea here is like a warm bath. You could swim in it all day if you wished.”

She beamed up at Sebastian for a moment before grabbing Sarah’s hand and pulling her toward the hatch. “Hurry, Sarah. It’s so hot I want to get to the villa in time for a swim.”

The men stood watching the pair until they disappeared below.

“Gosh, where did you manage to find such a beauty?”

“I assume you are talking about Mrs. Cooper—the respectable, widowed Mrs. Cooper, who happens to be in my employ.” His tone made it obvious to Sebastian how he would feel about anyone dallying with his employee, not that that was likely to stop a man of Sebastian’s appetites.

“And here I thought you were warning me off because she was your mistress,” Sebastian chuckled.

Christian turned on his heel and made to disembark. He called over his shoulder, “I need a drink.”

Within a few minutes they were ensconced in one of Kingston’s taverns. It was a few streets back from the sea and attracted a more genteel clientele. There were no drunken sailors, at least the majority of patrons didn’t stink, and the serving wenches were clean and pretty. No wonder Sebastian knew of its existence.

They settled into a corner table with tumblers of ale, ensuring that no one could overhear their conversation. Christian scrutinized his fellow Libertine Scholar, wondering what he was doing in Jamaica. The overt, forced merriment did not match the strain he noted on his friend’s face. He looked his immaculate self as usual, with not a crease in his expensive clothing and his hair elegantly combed back off his face. But he looked as if he’d lost weight, and no matter how relaxed he tried to appear, tension was emanating from his large frame.

“So, you are Lily Pearson’s guardian. How did that come about?”

Christian knew where this conversation was heading—Sarah. He didn’t want to discuss her, especially not with Sebastian. “Do we really have to talk about Lily first? I’m desperate for news from England.” He’d leave asking what was troubling his friend until they’d had a few drinks. It was obvious Sebastian was trying to disguise just how much trouble he was in.

Sebastian took a long gulp of his ale and leaned back with a sigh, tilting the chair onto its rear legs. “There is not much to tell. I’ve been gone from England for over a month. When I left, Grayson was working diligently on your behalf.”

“And . . . ?”

“Grayson’s wondering why you haven’t sailed home sooner to demand that this litany of lies be revoked. The Duke has kept it quiet, of course, but he’s determined to bankrupt you in your absence. Questions and rumors about your disappearance are rife.”

Christian hung his head and studied his tumbler. Inwardly he flinched, but he allowed none of the rioting emotions consuming him to escape from his calm façade. What could he say to that? He hadn’t sailed for home immediately for two reasons. To begin with, he’d had no funds, and two, he couldn’t remember if he’d done what he’d been accused of or not.

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