Forgotten Time (Ravenhurst Series, #1) A New Adult Time Travel Romance (15 page)

Devlin gave him a sidelong glare. It was just like de Winter to mention he was married, just to remind Marguerite. Perhaps she forgot; but no, the do-gooder had to open his big mouth, and now she knew again. Blast the man. “Actually it was your aunt who sent me to retrieve some documents she left with you some time ago,” he said simply, his gaze straying back towards Marguerite.

Sebastian crossed his arms and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Since when did his aunt leave documents at his home? He had no idea what the man was speaking about. And why would Isabelle not come here to retrieve them herself? It was not like her to miss an opportunity to visit. Now that he thought about it, he had not seen her for some time. “I do wonder why my aunt did not come herself, or at least accompany you here, Renquist.”

Devlin pulled his gaze from Marguerite. “Oh, she was feeling a bit under the weather, so Judith offered to look after her while I came here in her stead to retrieve what she needed.”

“Under the weather? I do hope you sent for the doctor?”

Devlin adjusted his waistcoat. “No need, she is suffering as all women do at certain times of the month.”

Sebastian’s face went blank, “Of course, yes, I understand.” Sebastian chose to avoid some subjects at all costs. He took a cup from the maid that was just poured and handed it off the Marguerite.

“Thank you,” Katherine said as she took the offered cup from Sebastian. She kept her gaze averted, not able to look him in the eye. Good Lord, men couldn’t say the word “
period
” in the past any more than they could in the future.
Typical
.

Devlin wasn’t one to miss an opportunity. When de Winter left to retrieve another cup of tea, he took the moment to look his fill. He studied her profile as she stared into the flames of the fire, sipping her tea. Her dark lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, reminding him of how she looked while she slept, innocent and beautiful. Her lips were even fuller than he remembered. He could imagine quite clearly how they would feel against his body. A shiver of delight raced through him. He wanted her to look at him,
see him
.

Turning, she looked straight into his eyes. He raised a questioning brow at her, wondering what she was thinking. Her face turned redder and she quickly looked away.

Was she being shy, bashful? This girl was not the Marguerite he remembered. She had to be toying with him. Oh, was she playing coy? Or was she teasing him in a game meant to tantalize his mind as well as his body? Oh, he loved to play games too. He stared lazily at her, imagining what fun they could have, knowing this time it would be different. Just thinking of them together, with one another, began to make him uncomfortably hard. And as he glanced down, he could see it was becoming quite obvious.

Devlin decided he better leave before Sebastian turned around,
lest he find himself in dire straits. He turned and walked towards the door. As he reached the entrance, he looked back over his shoulder. “Pray, forgive me, but I have forgotten a most important matter I must attend to at once.” He donned his coat quickly, ignoring the curious stare from the doorman. He walked out into the brisk morning air, admonishing, time had not diminished that particular desire in the least bit.

Sebastian stared after Devlin’s departing form, exceedingly glad he was finally leaving, although he did wonder what he was up to? With Renquist, one never knew. He turned his attention back to the matter at hand, forgetting Renquist quickly. He decided to drink something a bit stronger for his conversation with Marguerite.

Katherine wasn’t a big drinker and never normally drank during the day, but watching Sebastian pour his own drink, she suddenly wished he would pour one for her as well. She felt even more unsettled from the leering looks his aunt’s husband had thrown in her direction every few minutes. He thought she couldn’t see, but she could, she could see really well. She wanted to poke her fingers into his eyes for acting like such a pervo.

Sebastian took his drink and settled in the chair across from Marguerite. “Now that we are alone finally, there are a few things I need to discuss with you.”

Katherine braced herself for what was to come.

He cleared his throat. “Since you have seen fit to return to me, although it may not have been on your own accord, I want you to know I still take our betrothal very seriously,” he said with conviction.

“Oh,” she replied simply, her mouth forming a perfect “O”. She had no idea where he was headed with the conversation but had a feeling it was not going to be good. Of course, Milford warned her about Marguerite’s and his engagement, but for some reason, it never occurred to her that the wedding might take place before she righted whatever wrong had been done. She thought about it for a minute and found she was not overtly averse to the idea either, which was so sad.

“Good,” he said quickly. “Now I want you to know I have made allowances for your indiscretion. And have graciously consented to marry you despite your debauched state.”

Katherine narrowed her eyes at him, watching his jaw tighten. It looked like the words left a bad taste in his mouth. She found herself agreeing. Maybe she was a bit too hasty in her pathetic declaration a moment before. Even though she had a good idea what he was talking about, she wanted to hear for herself. “Marry me in what state?” she asked, raising her brow in question.

He laughed; but it had a hard, bitter edge to it. “Your innocence is lost, you have sullied yourself, you let another have his way with you. Could I be any clearer?” His ire filled every word he spoke.

Katherine winced from his candor. “I see.” Of course, she did not see at all. What an ass. She was in every way entirely unsullied. Of course, he had no proof of the fact, but his words were still rude and hurtful.
Jerk
. She narrowed her eyes at him, her spine ridgid, “My goodness, how very gracious of you to take on a person such as myself in such a debauched state,” she poured on as sarcastically she could.

Sebastian determined quickly this was the Marguerite he remembered. He wondered if her true nature would eventually make an appearance. “I thought you might be,” he replied offhandedly as he removed a piece of lint from his sleeve. “Now I know this is a lot to take in at the moment, but in time, I am sure you will see how this is the best avenue for us both.”

Katherine gripped the chair tighter. “What avenue would that be?”

Sebastian sighed in irritation; it was an obvious statement. “I speak of the one where we wed, of course. I will move to London while you stay here. That avenue,” he said tonelessly. “Of course, I will return periodically to do my duties as lord of the estate, and I will need an heir at some point. But other than that, I see no reason to stay on.”

Katherine’s anger turned in on itself, and was replaced quickly with dread. He was going to leave. How could she fix what she needed if he left? Wasn’t he an essential part of the legend? Didn’t she need him to help her find the knights love? She searched her brain, trying to come up with a reason to make him stay. She could always tell him the truth.
No. no. no.
She quickly discarded that notion. He would think she was crazy, with a capital C.

What would make him want to stay?

Why did any man, stay with a woman?
Love… Sex… Good food.
Hell, she didn’t know. She searched her brain for the numerous Cosmopolitan articles she often read about men. “
How to keep your man coming back for more”
she couldn’t remember that one. “
How to make your man fall for you
” she tried that one, but it didn’t pan out well. “
Give him what he wants, and leave him begging for more
”... oh hell, she would just have to wing it. Obviously, she wasn’t going to have sex with him… she thought about it… well, at least, not right now; she barely knew him. Although, looking at him now, the way his suit strained against his muscles, the way his hair fell perfectly forward …she was sure he would be pretty darn good at it. Perhaps she could make him fall
in love with her
. She snorted in derision. Like that worked so well in the past.

Her entire body tensed when he cast his eyes on hers again. Her mind was reeling. How in the hell was she going to make him fall for her? She chewed her lip, contemplating an answer before looking back towards him. She ended up biting her lip so hard, she almost drew blood. He was looking right at her, like she was a moron. She knew that look too.
Crap.
This was not going to work. She widened her eyes at him, making them bug out from her head. His own widened in response.
Oh hell,
she took another drink of tea to cover the awkward silence. After a few strained minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Well, isn’t that just wonderful,” she said, her voice dripping sarcasm. He narrowed his eyes at her. She took a breath. She continued before she lost her nerve. “Any idea on what I might do to amuse myself while you’re in London, doing whatever you do while you are there?” she said, pouring on fake sugary sweetness.

He smiled then, it didn’t reach his eyes.

Katherine shivered, as her stomach twisted in knots from the look he was giving her.
Oh shit.

He crossed his leg over the other, and his mouth twisted into a smirk. “Actually, I mostly indulge my most basic desires whilst I am in London. I find this act comparable to enjoying a savory meal. I try not to be too particular about the type of dish I indulge in. I find
they all
have a slightly different flavor, and who am I to deprive my palate of a delicacy when it is being offered so freely?” He shrugged his shoulders indifferently, raising his brow just slightly to see if she caught his double entendre.

Katherine was utterly speechless. Was he actually comparing the girls he did to a freaking meal? Her mouth dropped open as her eyes bugged out from her head in shock. After a minute, she shut her mouth.

Unbelievable. He may be nice to look at but apparently he was a complete and total pig. Oh, she knew plenty of those types, too; she had dated most of them. She should give his ass a number so he could stand in line behind the rest of the pigs she knew.

What in the hell was she supposed to do with him now? She watched him for a few moments, stare into the fire. He lifted his hand, running it through his hair. She watched the way the fabric strained over his muscle from the action. Her mind strayed. She felt offended, truly, she did, but as she watched him, staring at the fire, she couldn’t help wondering what flavor she might bring to his meal. Would he enjoy her as much as he did the others? And most importantly, could his hunger ever be sated with just one dish? Her heart sank a bit from the thought…
Probably not
.

After a few moments of silence, he turned back towards her, watching her intently.

She gulped and gave him a wide-eyed look, her face flushing, with embarrassment. She felt like he knew what she was thinking. “Um, ah, I see.” Of course, she did not see at all. She was still pondering whether she wanted to be a meal, or simply a snack. She cast her eyes to the folds of her gown, trying to hide her expression.

Sebastian was gratified with the reaction he received from his comments. He realized, even as he said them, she must indeed care about him a little if he was able to strike his intended mark.

That was a start. He stood. “I believe you should retire to your room, perhaps take a nap before it is time to prepare for dinner. I need to complete some unfinished business,” he said dismissively as he extended his hand to help her stand.

Katherine’s body stiffened, she refused his hand. He was speaking to her as if she were a little child. She hated when people talked to her like that. She was not a child to push around. She could feel her face getting hotter, she was pissed. Take a nap, not likely. And he rubbed his plates of food in her face too. That was so much worse than being told to take a nap. Suddenly, she almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. No wonder Marguerite left him. He was an asshole.

He lifted his brow at her, like he was daring her to disobey him.

She bit the inside of her cheek to stop from saying something she may regret. Instead, she turned away from him and tried to think of a way to get back at him. Maybe make him want to stay in the process.  Her mind spun different scenarios of how she could get a little payback and make him stay.
What did Reese do in Vanity Fair to get back at her man?
She made him want her. Granted, it was a movie, but men were pretty much the same everywhere,
right
? Maybe Katherine couldn’t make him love her, but she could certainly make him want her. And if he wanted to enjoy flavors, perhaps she should give him a taste of her own. Not the entire meal, but just enough to make him want
just a bit more
.