Page 62 (1/2)

“Sebastian?” Aht of hi?”

Sebastian’s head snapped up He stared nonplussed at her; as though he couldn’t believe she ake Visibly shaking, he ihts and sat back down in the chair with a thump

“Aly at her for several moments as silence stretched before theret as he studied her pale face lovingly He coughed uncomfortably around the lump in his throat

“How do you feel?”

A a“Sore,” she declared fir of the state of her feet

Sebastian winced and frowned in concern “I am so sorry So very, very sorry,” he whispered mournfully

“It wasn’t your fault”

“I wonder soht, and I should have left you in Glendowie It was ht in the ed you into this” Sebastian fought his way through the tumult of emotions that churned within him

“I want you to know that what happened last night; what they did to you doesn’t change the way I feel about you” His eyes met and held hers “I love you, and alill”

Aed for “I love you too”

“Do you? Do you really? Even after last night?” Sebastian’s voice tree of the bed He didn’t want to frighten her, but couldn’t stand the distance between theain reassurance that she really was going to be alright

“Last night was one of those things We all thought Ballantyne had been arrested It appears he left before they could get him You cannot control events caused by soht was your fault If anyone was to blame, it was me When I left the pavilion, I should have returned indoors instead of wandering around outside”

“Do you re if she had blanked everything out

“I can re,” she whispered shakily “I do love you, you know I just didn’t want to be tied intoyou didn’t feel the same way I didn’t want us to end up like my parents”

“We never will, Amelia I love you” Sebastian carefully picked her hand up, kissing the back of it tenderly “Nothing you can do will ever change that I will give h, I haven’t done a very good job of looking after you so far”