The Countess Conspiracy (Brothers Sinister, #3)

by Courtney Milan

“We must be off.” She glanced at Sebastian. “I don’t have time for you any longer.” “Aunt Violet!” Amanda protested, as Violet took her wrist and led her away. “How rude! What would people think of you, if they heard that? Even if he is a rake.”

“Rakus indifferentus, alas for him, but quite merrily for the rest of us, has a shortened lifespan. If he’s not killed by the women he preys on or the men who care for those women, he’s often taken by the clap. His subspecies is particularly vulnerable to it.”

He took a deep breath. “Do you remember on the eve of your wedding, when you were nervous? Do you remember how I joked that you should jilt your husband and elope with me?” “I was eighteen.” She glanced at him. “You were sixteen. You were still in school.” “Yes, well.” He swallowed. “Also, I wasn’t joking.”

“I like it when people like me.” Sebastian shrugged. “When a woman bursts into tears in the bedroom because she’s realized she doesn’t want to go through with it, you’ll make her very happy when you pull out a pack of cards.”

“But what is the goal? What are we working toward?” “Your complete and utter surrender,” he intoned. She sucked in a breath. “I won’t be truly alive,” he continued, with a mischievous look, “until I’ve feasted on your virtuous flesh and sucked the marrow from your bones.” Violet jabbed him in the ribs. “Very funny.”

In summation,” Sebastian said, “today, I think we have managed to offend or kill all our nearest relations.”

“That’s the thing,” Sebastian said. “Tomorrow—we can always make it better. Whatever happens, we can make it better. I don’t know what anyone will think or what they will say, but so long as we’re together, it can’t be so awful.” His hands tangled around her. “I love you.”

Violet drew a deep breath. “It’s about Sebastian Malheur.” “Are you actually having an affair with him?” her mother said. “Because that’s not so bad. In fact, I’d imagine he’s fairly good at what he does.” Violet felt her face burn.

“We protect what is ours,” her mother said fiercely. “And this—this is yours. You’re going to take it back.”

So,” Benedict said as soon as the door closed. “Violet. Little Violet. Do you remember that when you were five, you announced to me that you were going to marry her?” “That was a little premature of me,” Sebastian said. “Please keep it to yourself. I have yet to mention it to her.”

“My lady,” Sebastian said. “Have you given any thought to the offers you’ve had? Cambridge? Harvard? King’s College?” “I’ll have to find out more. The terms. I’ll have to think it all through.” Sebastian came down the stairs slowly, stalking toward the woman he loved. “Me, personally? I’m partial to Paris. And I’ve always wanted to be a faculty spouse. I think I shall do well with that.” “Paris is nice, but…” Violet stopped and looked up at him. “A what?” “A faculty spouse. I could hold teas for all the other faculty spouses.” He grinned at her. “I’d do an excellent job.”