Page 23 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

He remembered, and Sebastian heaved a sigh. “Which poor soul is she trying to get leg-shackled now?”

“I would not call Miss Kimble a poor soul. She seems willing enough to make any match now.”

The mention of Gabby had him shifting in his chair too. “I see. She’s still got her heart set on Brookes?”

“Not only Brookes. There’s Pendleberry’s youngest, Holtby’s heir, and Foxwood’s middle son being talked of now. It’s not right to corner my friends and acquaintances when they call on me at home, and I told her I won’t have it again, for all the good that did me. Banished from my own drawing room since. She’s even moved the pair in with us.”

“Which pair?”

“Bennett and Gabby Kimble,” Windermere complained. “Not that I mind Kimble’s company, of course, but I would like to have been consulted before the offer was made.”

“Quite right,” Sebastian agreed. “She should have indeed.”

After his talk with Kimble weeks ago, seeking clarity about his intentions toward his ward Gabby and receiving a denial he had any, Sebastian had turned his back on the pair and society at large.

Kimble had also expression concern about Cordelia’s situation and his. The fact that Brookes had sought the man out just to warn him not to expect the duke’s addresses to Gabby to be sincere or continue had been irritating but nothing but the truth though.

Sebastian had as much interest in marriage as Brookes did. Only Brookes never came out and said so. He’d let women make a fool of themselves over him and enjoy it. Sebastian could not do that to any woman. Not after Cordelia had been so badly disappointed.

No, it was best if he let the gossip subside again and wait for news of Gabby’s impending marriage before venturing into society again. It was fortunate he’d made such a decision. He’d avoided running headlong into her when he called on the Windermere’s.

Sebastian had thought Gabby too inexperienced to make much of a challenge when first they’d met. She wouldn’t be like that for long after Esme’s constant influence took hold.

“Esme has taken it upon herself to take the girl under her wing and mold her in her own image. A new wardrobe, hairstyle, escorting her everywhere about Town. Whispering in her ear about things an innocent is likely not supposed to know about before marriage. It’s been almost impossible to get my wife’s attention these last weeks,” Windermere continued on, unaware that his words were causing Sebastian equal parts amusement and concern. Gabby would flex her claws soon, no doubt, and the other gentlemen would fall under her spell. No man in his right mind would hesitate to seduce the young woman if given half the chance.

“I’d put down my foot about it all,” Windermere continued, “but she promises me that Gabby will have a proposal from someone any day now.”

Sebastian’s stomach did a strange flop. “To whom?”

“Damned if I know or that they’d warn me,” he complained. When Sebastian looked up, Windermere was regarding him sternly. “Can you at least promise to drop by tonight’s ball? I could use some sensible company.”

Sebastian frowned. He didn’t feel very sensible right now. In fact, he felt compelled to go rescue Gabby from the man’s wife. He had liked Gabby the way she was when they’d met. Optimistic. “You have Kimble. Your wife’s cousin. Surely, as guardian, he has the final say on all matters concerning his ward’s future.”

“Esme can be very persuasive when she wants to be. Kimble is happily going along with everything she wants done out of misplaced gratitude, so far. Yet can you tell me there’s nothing better than a conversation with an old friend rather than a new one,” Windermere said and then stood abruptly, glancing at his pocket watch and grimacing. “And now I must go back. We’re escorting Gabby to a luncheon, where my wife will probably not speak to me for hours. I miss the days when I had her complete attention. I suppose the only way to get her back might be to go along with her scheme to marry off Gabby as quickly as possible.”

He left with the shake of his head, leaving Sebastian conflicted. Who would have thought Windermere would be so possessive of his wife’s time and attention? His friend had been happily married, content and at ease, only a few weeks ago. But now he was pushed aside, relegated to an afterthought, while his wife helped Gabby snare herself a worthy husband.

Brookes, or someone just like him.

He growled softly, something he’d caught himself doing more of lately. He’d been on edge and was getting worked up over every little thing. He’d even snapped at his valet this morning for taking too long with his shave. Not a good idea when the man had a sharp blade poised at his throat.

Even with Cordelia, he was losing patience. He wanted his sister back, the way she used to be before her season had changed her for the worse.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, worried suddenly about the changes he might discover in Gabby the next time they met. He growled again, moody, and restless still, and he knew exactly why, of course.

The kitten was out there, sharpening her claws and trying to win the heart of some poor fool, and it could be Brookes that still had her heart.

He’d dreaded reading the newssheet, fearing he’d see an announcement of a marriage in the paper, or overhear gossip at the club to that effect in these past few weeks. At least he assumed she was still trying to throw herself at that unworthy idiot, Brookes, but Esme might have found other, better prospects.

He pressed his head against the back of the chair and suppressed another groan.

“Are you asleep?” Cordelia whispered, and Sebastian snapped open his eyes immediately.

“Just resting my head,” he answered, watching her watching him from the safety of the doorway. It was so rare that Cordelia came down from her room this early in the afternoon, he didn’t know what to say at first. He did not want to have her scurry off with a misplaced comment about his evening plans, not that he had any. “Windermere was here, complaining that his wife is too busy for him.”

“That’s odd. I thought they were happy.”

“Well, I think they are still, but Esme has decided to help Gabby Kimble snare herself a husband for the last few weeks and he’s feeling overlooked. He’ll get over it once Gabby is safely married off,” Sebastian promised, but the last came out as a growl again.