The carriage door flung open and Fergus glared at him. “What took you, lass? I havna been able to think on anything but if you found yer kin.”
Helena scrambled from the bench to hurry down the steps without extending Sebastian an invitation to join her. He gritted his teeth, ready to come to fisticuffs with the Scottish oaf for interrupting.
When she reached the ground, she smiled up at the giant. “Lord Thorne found them. Lavinia, Gracie, Cora, Pearl. They are all alive and well.”
The man released a lively whoop and lifted her in a hug. Sebastian didn’t have a chance to react before Fergus set her back on her feet and lobbed a grin at Sebastian. “Well done, my laird. You have made the lass verra happy.”
“He exceeded all expectations. I’m grateful for all he has done.”
Sebastian’s heart lurched. Why did that sound like a good-bye? “Helena…”
Her gaze shot in his direction but she didn’t respond to him. “I will call on Cora tomorrow then visit Pearl. By the week’s end we will begin our journey back to Aldmist Fell with Gracie.”
Her words were as powerful as a strike from Thor’s hammer.
Fergus frowned at him. “Are you certain, lass? There’s no urgency to return home. My cousin will take care of the land as long as necessary.”
“I’m sure you and Ismay are anxious to see your kin. There is no reason to delay.”
Devil take it! Sebastian would be damned if he was sent away like this. “We had a bargain, madam, or have you forgotten your end?” He climbed from the carriage.
In a surprising move, Fergus yielded to him, allowing Sebastian to stand toe to toe with the infuriating, stubborn, maddening woman. Her eyes widened.
“What about your promise to help my sister?” Sebastian said.
“B-but I fulfilled my promise. She is out in Society. You said she is likely to receive an offer of marriage soon.”
Sebastian lifted a haughty eyebrow, knowing his arrogance would engage her in a battle of wills. But a battle meant she was still engaged with him, and that was his only hope in keeping her. “The prospect of a marriage proposal is not the same as securing a match. Given the history of broken betrothals in my family, surely you understand my reluctance to release you from our bargain before my sister has married.”
She issued an outraged cry. “I never said I would help her make a marriage match.”
“It was implied, Lady Prestwick. What other reason is there for a young lady to join the assemblies?”
“I never said—”
“Ahem!” Fergus cleared his throat loudly. Helena blinked up at him. “Now, lass. It seems to me Laird Thorne has done you a good service finding your sisters. It isna right to break your word to him.”
“But I’m not breaking my word.”
The Scot kindly patted her shoulder. “If Miss Thorne receives an offer of marriage as expected and marries the lad after the banns are cried, Laird Thorne has no reason to feel slighted.”
Her puckered face nearly made Sebastian laugh aloud. It was as if she smelled something rotten. He detected it too. It was called conspiracy, and to him, it smelled sweet.
She threw her hands in the air. “This is ridiculous. I don’t know what you expect from me.”
“I expect you to remain in Town until my sister marries. If she requires more assistance, I can’t very well expect you to travel back from Scotland at a moment’s notice. Eve needs you here.”
Hell, Sebastian needed her in London if there was any hope for a future together. He couldn’t leave England and continue the work his father started before he became unfit for Society. Sebastian’s responsibilities were here, but he wouldn’t ask Helena to sacrifice her dreams for him. He would find a way to make them come true while keeping her where she belonged, by his side.
“Well,” she said with a slight huff, “if you expect me to sit around waiting for Sir Jonathan to come up to scratch, you are mistaken. The day after tomorrow, I am traveling to see Pearl and you cannot stop me.”
He allowed a lazy grin to spread across his face. “I wouldn’t dream of keeping you from your sister, madam. In fact, I look forward to making her acquaintance.”