Veronica’s head snapped up. She searched Sebastian’s face. “Your mother…was unkind to you?” Her frown intensified.

Sebastian sighed and scratched the back of his head. “Yes, I suppose I never mentioned it before because I didn’t want you to know that the Sinclairs weren’t a happy family. But my mother is a snake. Never believe a word she tells you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Veronica stood on the balcony overlooking the white wonderland of snow-covered trees behind the manor house. She was wearing her pelisse, hat, and gloves, but the cold still found the crevices and bit her skin. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself more tightly.

The painting set was a beautiful gift, and it was kind of Sebastian to have remembered and bought it for her. And he hadn’t merely given her a thoughtful gift. Her sisters were delighted with their presents of a small pearl bracelet for Jessica and a compendium of Shakespeare’s comedies for Elizabeth. Grandmama and Mama had been equally charmed by the bottle of French perfume and new embroidery set he’d given them, respectively. Grandpapa had been quite pleased with the humidor he received for his favorite cheroots. In short, Sebastian was more popular than she was in her family this year. It seemed as if they all had missed him.

She’d missed him too.

The thought came out of nowhere, hitting her like a blow to the gut. She didn’t want that thought. She didn’t need that thought rolling around in her mind, confusing her. But something niggled…the words Sebastian had said just before he’d left to give Jessica and Elizabeth their gifts. My mother is a snake. Never believe a word she tells you.

Veronica certainly hadn’t known that Sebastian and his mother disliked each other. Though she wasn’t surprised given the fact that he hadn’t introduced them until the day of their wedding. But why hadn’t she ever bothered to ask him about his mother? It was true that every time she’d tried to bring up his childhood, his family, he’d changed the subject. But she should have pressed. She realized that now. She’d never stopped to consider why Sebastian had spent so much time at their house when he was younger. She’d just accepted it as a fact. He was simply always there, with Justin. A comforting presence. But now it saddened her to think of Sebastian choosing to spend time with another family because his own was so unhappy. His mother was a snake? Veronica couldn’t help but feel sorry for a boy who had to deal with an unloving mother. She couldn’t imagine such a thing. And she’d uncharitably assumed that he hadn’t introduced her to his mother because he didn’t want her to find out about his mistress. But now she understood that he hadn’t introduced them because he didn’t like his mother and apparently his mother didn’t like him. Unfathomable, but true. Now Veronica couldn’t shake the idea that his mother may have lied to her. Only she hadn’t lied, had she? Sebastian had admitted he had a mistress and Veronica knew for a fact that his mistress was named Melissa. The woman had written her a letter and signed it, for goodness’ sake.