He was nearly finished shaving when another knock sounded on the door. “Come in,” he called, more than a bit disgruntled at having been interrupted again.

The door opened slowly, and Hawthorne stepped inside. As before, the butler had a stoic look on his face and kept his eyes trained on the far wall. “Your Grace,” he began. “I regret to inform you that Her Grace has demanded that you come down from whatever indisposition you’re—ahem—entertaining and meet with her immediately.”

“She said that?” Sebastian shot out, his nostrils flaring and eyes narrowing.

“Yes,” Hawthorne replied, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else. “Her exact words were, ‘Tell him I’ve no intention of waiting while he sneaks his latest mistress down the back staircase.’”

Sebastian clenched his jaw until a muscle ticked in his cheek. That sounded exactly like her, quick to assume and quicker to judge. Wouldn’t she be horrified to know he’d merely been in his bath when—

Wait a moment. Sebastian stopped, poking out his cheek with his tongue. If she was going to be demanding, he would give her precisely what she wanted. “Fine,” he snapped. “Escort her up.”

“Your Grace?” The servant’s eyes flared with what appeared to be panic. “Here?”

“You heard me, Hawthorne.” A calculating smile curled Sebastian’s lips. “Escort my wife up here, directly. I look forward to her visit.”

Chapter Three

Veronica followed Hawthorne up the sweeping marble staircase that led to the second floor of Sebastian’s opulent town house. The poor servant had come back down and informed her in a voice that could only be described as distressed, “His Grace has indicated that if you’re not inclined to wait, you may come up to his bedchamber.”

Veronica had fought the urge to allow her jaw to drop. Instead, she’d narrowed her eyes and contemplated the matter. What was Sebastian up to? She had expected little from him, but he was clearly attempting to call her bluff. And she wasn’t about to let him get away with it. If he wanted to embarrass himself and his mistress by inviting his wife to enter the room, she would surprise them both. After all, Veronica had long ago stopped being hurt by the notion that he shared his bed with another woman. Mostly. Although she’d never actually witnessed it before. This would be a first.

Regardless, she refused to allow Sebastian to get the upper hand, and she did not intend to cool her heels in the drawing room any longer, waiting for his exalted presence. She hadn’t been able to leave for London until much later than she’d hoped this morning. As a result, it was nearly nine o’clock, and it had been a long day. She wanted this over as quickly as possible. She would march directly upstairs and say what she had to say.

“This way,” came Hawthorne’s tortured voice as they reached the top of the stairs and he turned to the right.