33. Deep revelations

AS THE CARRIAGE WHEELS catered on the roads of London, bumping over the inequality on the road, heading all the way to Park lane where Cole's townhouse was located.

Sebastian tried to keep his mind from wandering far. He needed to be abreast of the whole situation.

The duke of Hanton looked out his carriage window and thought of how best to proceed. He hadn't laid any claims to the chit, which meant that he had nothing to complain about. Sebastian frowned. surely there must be firm a way to go about this issue without causing any altercation.

The carriage rolled to a stop at Park lane, in front of Cole's townhouse. Sebastian hurried out and climbed the steps until he was at the front door. Then he picked up the knocker and knocked.

The front door did not immediately open like he thought it would, which only added to his growing frustration. Sebastian stared at the door and cursed profusely.

But then the door swung open and the butler emerged.

Sebastian scowled. "Where is Cole?"  he bit out.

"Upstairs my lord. In his bedchamber." The butler's voice croaked out.

Sebastian nodded at the butler and stepped past him into the hallway. He climbed the stairs and headed for Cole's bedchamber.

On reaching there the duke of Hanton pulled the door open and stepped inside.

Cole was sitting behind a desk, writing.
His hand was stained with ink. Sebastian noted. He must have been corresponding all day.

Cole turned his head and saw Sebastian, he couldn't help but notice his eyes were trained on his hand. Cole smiled. "Have you come to bid me good wishes on my impending marriage? yes?"

********

"No, " Sebastian confessed.

Cole's brow puckered.  "If you are not here to bid me good wishes, then why are you here?"

Sebastian frowned, he thought about lying to Cole, he thought about introducing another topic, yet he knew the best way to disarm Cole would be to go for the truth so he walked to Cole's table and stared down at him. "Because I want you to resolve your engagement with Julia."

Cole's mouth dropped open and then a devious smile crept upon his face.

The duke of Hanton's eyes narrowed. why was Cole smiling like that? what did it mean? Sebastian's eyes narrowed further. He scanned Cole's face but found nothing.

Cole seems to have recovered from his obvious surprise. His attitude was one of nonchalance. He leaned back on his chair and stared at Sebastian. "Why?"

Why? the duke of Hanton speculated. He couldn't bring himself to answer that simple question immediately. So many reasons, why he wanted the engagement to be resolved swarmed up in his head, begging for release, but he focused on one simple truth. "Because I love her." He said.

Sebastian had known Cole since when they were in leading-strings, in all those years, he had never had cause to lie to him, and he wasn't about to start now.

when Sebastian had made his confession, he had not been looking at Cole, but now that he was, he found that he was quite stunned by what he saw.

He had expected his dear friend to be shocked, perhaps even surprised, but what he did not expect was the sight of Cole struggling to keep himself from laughing. Eventually, he lost the struggle and dissolved into a fit of laughter.

Sebastian frowned and patiently waited for his friend to end his little charade. But his patience was quite slim, he didn't know how long he might last before he snapped at Cole.

Cole had his head bent over his knee, his shoulders quaking as he laughed at Sebastian. Then he raised his head and stared at Sebastian, his eyes alive with mirth. "I always knew you were in love with Julia, perhaps you would have known too if you hadn't been so stubborn," Cole said as he rose from his chair matching Sebastian in height.

"What the bloody hell do you mean by that!" Sebastian growled

Cole sighed. "The same thing I have been trying to say, I found out you were in love with Julia and I schemed the whole thing."

Sebastian's jaw dropped whether in horror or surprise. Cole didn't know. "You must admit I am quite a genius, heh?" Cole grinned.

Sebastian dismissed his question. "You mean to tell me that all this time you were spending with Julia was just to spite me?"

Cole smirked. "No. It is more like all this time I was spending with Julia was to make you realize your love for Julia and look how well you did," Cole said and slapped Sebastian on his right shoulder.

Sebastian swatted his hand off and scowled.

"Though I must admit,  I did have some help. Julia and Vicky were of great help."

"Vicky?" Sebastian asked and groaned. He would never live this down his sister would never let him. "Ah!" Sebastian groaned. "I do feel like a bloody fool."

"No need to wallow yourself in pity, at least there was a bonus to it. Julia is in love with you."

Sebastian's head snapped up. "what!"

Seeing his friend's reaction Cole grinned. "I thought so."

"How would you know?" Sebastian asked.

"The same way I knew about you."

Sebastian scoffed. "'Twas mainly luck on your side."

Cole shrugged.

Sebastian sighed. " I want you to send a note to the papers and call off the engagement, but make it look like she cried off. I don't want her reputation to suffer a dire for this rash decision."

Cole nodded. Agreeing to the truth in his statement.

"I need to see her," Sebastian mumbled.

"I'm afraid, that is not possible."

Sebastian's head shot up. He hadn't been aware he said that out loud. "What do you mean, " he asked.

Cole sighed. "Julia and her mother had been invited to a house party and they have already departed."

"Bloody hell!" Sebastian cursed, he had never liked house parties. "who and who are expected at the party, " he asked.

Cole hesitated, and Sebastian felt a sinking suspicion creep into his mind. "Would the duke of wychfort be in attendance?"

"Yes."

Sebastian scowled. Then he shot up from the bed as he began to put two and two together. By the time they might have reached the house party. The news regarding the dismiss of the impending marriage might have reached the tons ears and then Julia would be a free woman again and would become swarmed by gentlemen. Sebastian scowled.

An idea, a remedy, was slowly rising it's way up to his head. An idea he knew, Cole would hotly refute, but he still said it anyway. "I need you to go to the house party."

Cole's eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. "No, I won't," Cole said with a sudden calmness that surprised Sebastian.

But inside, he was tearing up. why the hell did Sebastian suggest such a thing for? he knew he didn't attend a social function, yet he was suggesting he attend one.

Sebastian had not said a thing and the silence irritated Cole. he turned and glared at him. "why don't you go, what is stopping you from going?"

"Because I need to procure a special license. I need to marry her, the sooner the better and I ride out at first dawn." Sebastian said passionately.

Cole scowled. if he had not been utterly angry he might have smiled, instead, he kept quiet and turned his back to Sebastian.  There was no way he was going. bloody hell! he won't. Cole clenched his teeth as he tried to quell the rush of panic that was slowly racing up his body. from behind him, he heard

"Please." in a voice that could only be Sebastian's.

Cole's back stiffened. he fisted his hands and clenched his eyes. Sebastian had never begged him before. Never. Maybe he could do this.

Cole took in a huge breath and turned. "I will do it, and you do owe me." He said and angrily marched past Sebastian.

The duke of Hanton grinned. "Gladly."