Devil in Disguise (The Ravenels #7) - Lisa Kleypas Page 0,88
went on to describe the events following Keir’s arrival in London. The only part of the story he left out was Merritt’s personal involvement with Keir, which in his opinion was no one’s business but theirs.
Somewhere in the middle of it, Lillian interrupted. “Wait just a minute,” she said. “All three of you have known about this for a year, but no one told me?” As she read the answer in their faces, her brows rushed down in a scowl. “Evie, how could you leave me in the dark about something like this? It’s an utter betrayal of the wallflower code!”
“I wanted to tell you,” Evie said apologetically. “But the f-fewer people who knew, the better.”
Westcliff regarded his wife quizzically. “What’s the wallflower code?”
Lillian glowered at him. “Never mind, there is no wallflower code. Why didn’t you tell me Kingston had a natural-born son?”
“He asked me to keep it a secret.”
“It doesn’t count if you tell your wife!”
Sebastian broke in. “I decided not to confide in anyone other than Evie and Westcliff,” he said flatly. “I knew that telling you would only confirm all your worst opinions about my character.”
“And you thought I would use it against you?” Lillian asked incredulously. “You assumed I’d say hurtful things during a time of personal distress and turmoil?”
“I didn’t think it outside the realm of possibility.”
“After all we’ve been through … all the time our families have spent together … you think of me as an adversary?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way—”
“I would have been kind to you,” Lillian snapped, “had you told me. You should have given me a chance. I gave you a chance all those years ago, and—no, I don’t want another blasted apology, I’m pointing out that I set aside past grievances for the sake of your friendship with my husband. If I’m not worthy of your trust after that, I’ll be damned if I’ll try any longer.”
“Try to what?” Sebastian asked, mystified. As he stared into her infuriated face, and saw the hurt in her eyes, he asked slowly, “Lillian, are you saying you want to be friends with me?”
“Yes, you self-absorbed, dull-witted lobcock!” Lillian jumped to her feet, obliging the men to stand as well. “No, don’t get up,” she said. “I’m going for a walk. The three of you can finish the discussion without me. Apparently that’s how you prefer it.”
She strode from the room, and Westcliff began to follow.
“Wait,” Sebastian said to him urgently. “This is my fault. Let me make peace with her. Please.”
Westcliff swore quietly and relented. “If you upset her any more than she already is—”
“I won’t. Trust me.”
At his friend’s reluctant nod, Sebastian left the morning room and saw Lillian heading toward the back entrance of the house. “Lillian. Wait.” He caught up to her swiftly. She turned away from him, folded her arms, and went to a bank of windows overlooking a small garden.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was an ass. You deserve far better than that from me.”
She didn’t look at him. “Apology accepted,” she muttered.
“I’m not finished yet. I should have given Westcliff leave to say something to you. Selfish bastard that I am, it didn’t occur to me that I was putting him in a damned difficult position by asking him to keep a secret from his wife. I beg your forgiveness for that. You’re entirely worthy of my trust, and I wouldn’t have minded at all if he’d told you.”
Lillian’s shoulders relaxed, and she turned to give him a wry glance. “Marcus would never break a confidence,” she said. “He always tells the truth and keeps his word. You have no idea how trying it is.”
Sebastian’s lips twitched. “I might. I have my own issues with Evie. She insists on being kind and trying to see the good in everyone, every damn day. I’ve had to live with it for decades.”
He was gratified to hear Lillian’s reluctant snort of amusement. In a moment, he went to stand beside her at the window. Together they contemplated a bed of purple heliotrope and cascades of pink ivy geranium on lax stems that trailed over the border edging.
After an awkward but not unfriendly silence, Lillian ventured, “It must have been a nightmare to learn you had a grown child you were never told about. It could have just as easily happened to Marcus, you know.”
“Hard to imagine.”
“Not really. No matter how careful one is, there’s always a risk. As the mother of six children, I ought to know.”