Part 62 (1/2)

Reaching for her teacup, Almira stilled, then looked up. ”Don't be daft!” Her face filled with dismissive contempt. ”They all said you were going to marry her, but you've just spent the better part of a week gadding about alone with her.” She snorted and picked up her cup. ”You won't catch me with that. You can't marry her-not now. Think of the scandal.”

The thought of the scandal clearly heartened Almira; she smiled gloatingly as she lowered her cup.

Sebastian regarded her, then sighed. ”Almira, I don't know why you fail to perceive it, but as I've told you before, there's a vast difference between the unwritten laws that govern the conduct of one such as I, or Mlle d'Lisle, and those that apply to the bourgeoisie.” His tone left little doubt as to the difference. ”Hence, you will most definitely be required to attend our wedding, and that in the not overly distant future.”

The delicate cup cradled between her hands, Almira stared blankly at him. Then she suddenly set down the cup. ”Charles! You must see him.”

She surged to her feet. Sebastian stayed her with an upraised hand. ”You will bring him to Somersham as usual-I'll see him there.”

Almira pouted. ”There'll be others there. He's your heir-you must spend more time with him. Besides, he's here.”

”Here?”The single word was loaded with foreboding. ”Where? No-silly question. I take it he's in the library?”

”Well, what of it? It'll be his one day . . .”

Sebastian whirled and strode for the door.

”Well, itwill !” Almira hurried after him.

Towed along, her hand locked in Sebastian's, Helena heard him mutter as he hauled open the drawing room door, ”Not if I have anything to say about it.”

The library was two doors along; a footman saw them coming and flung the door wide. The scene they came upon would have been farcical if it hadn't been so strange. Three footmen stood in a wide ring around a toddler, who was sitting on a rug some way before the hearth. The little boy simply sat, face glum, and stared woodenly at the dark shelves lining the long room.

The child was instantly recognizable as Almira's-the same round face and receding chin, the same ruddy complexion.

She rushed past them and swept the boy up in her arms. To Helena's surprise, the child showed no reaction, but simply turned his wooden gaze on Sebastian and her.

”See!”Almira all but thrust the boy at Sebastian. ”You don't have to marry her-there's no need! You already have an heir-”

”Almira!”

The single word cracked; shocked, Almira blinked, shut her mouth.

Helena glanced at Sebastian, sensed him rein in his temper, cast quickly about for the best direction to take.

Then he released her hand; stepping between Almira and her, he took Almira by the elbow. ”Come. It's time you went home.” He led her up the long room toward the door. ”Mlle d'Lisle and I will be married at Somersham; you will bring Charles there, and you will both attend the wedding. Helena will then be my d.u.c.h.ess. After that it will not be appropriate for you to call here while we are not in residence. Do you understand?”

Almira paused; even across the width of the room, Helena could sense her frustrated puzzlement. ”She will be your d.u.c.h.ess.”

”Yes.” Sebastian paused, then added, ”And her son will be my heir.”

Almira looked back at him; her face slowly leached to its previous wooden state. ”Well, then.” Hoisting Charles in her arms, she turned to the door that a footman held open. ”Of course, if she's to be your d.u.c.h.ess, then there's no need for me to come and take charge of things here.”

”Indeed.”

”Well, good-bye, then.” Without a backward glance, Almira went out.

Sebastian gestured, and the footmen-all, Helena noticed, looking hugely relieved-quickly left. They shut the door behind them; his expression distant, Sebastian walked back to her. Then he shook his head, looked up, and met her gaze. ”I regret that that is what you'll have to deal with. But there's no one more difficult, that I can promise.”

She smiled, wondering . . .