Into Temptation (Spoils of Time 03) by Penny Vincenzi Read Free Book Online Page B

pleasant smile.
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes. I just feel I have to make some kind of a protest. Something which will hurt my mother.’
    ‘But it won’t. Surely. I had the same thought. But it would hurt Lyttons, and Giles and Venetia and Jay, not Celia. She’s gone, walked away.’
    ‘But she hasn’t, has she? Not really. She’s still got her shares. And she’ll be terribly angry. And hurt.’
    ‘Kit—’ Sebastian hesitated. He hadn’t thought he could be saying this. ‘Kit, is hurting her terribly really what you want?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Kit briefly, ‘it is. I can’t bear this marriage. I’d finally learned to trust her again, to accept what she had done and why—’
    ‘What we had done,’ said Sebastian quietly.
    A silence. Then, ‘Yes. Yes, all right. Both of you. And somehow this negates that trust. It’s ugly. It distorts everything. You must see that.’
    ‘I do,’ said Sebastian. ‘Of course. But—’
    ‘There aren’t any buts. She is absolutely amoral. And I’m going to leave.’
    ‘Well – I suppose it’s your decision. I’m still not sure it’s a wise one.’
    ‘It’s not meant to be wise,’ said Kit. He sounded suddenly like a sulky small boy. ‘It’s meant to be – well, a strong statement.’
    ‘It’s certainly that. Where will you go, do you think? Look out, old chap, you nearly knocked my coffee over.’
    ‘Sorry. Wasn’t looking.’ He smiled suddenly, a nicer smile. ‘Funny how I still use those words. I don’t know where . . . I thought I might talk to Izzie about Michael Joseph.’
    ‘It’s an idea. They have some fine authors. I’m sure they’d be very pleased to talk to you. Your track record is pretty good. Five big sellers now. It will cause a big stir, Kit, in the publishing world.’
    ‘I know,’ said Kit, ‘not all of it very tasty, either. I’m afraid I can see the articles now, can’t you? And there’ll be a lot of schmaltz too. I’m such good copy, aren’t I? The war hero and – well all that. God I hate it. Still, I’m not stupid.’ He sighed. ‘Schmaltz sells.’
    ‘Kit you mustn’t be bitter. It’s your books that sell.’
    ‘Sebastian, I do assure you I try not to be bitter. And I know in some ways I’m very lucky. But it’s still – hard. Terribly hard.’
    ‘Of course it is,’ said Sebastian. His voice was very gentle as he looked at Kit.
    There was a long silence: then, ‘Well anyway, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to see them all this afternoon. I must go. Friday all right?’
    ‘Of course,’ said Sebastian, ‘what would Friday be without our dinners, Kit? Here, let me help you. You’ve left your hat behind.’
    ‘Have I?’ He sounded surprised. ‘I’d forgotten I’d worn one. I’m not quite the thing today, I’m afraid. Thanks.’
    He put his hat on, picked up his stick, made his way across the room.
    ‘’Bye Sebastian. Thanks for listening. And let me know when you see the first article, won’t you? I wonder what it will say? New battlefield for war hero author? War hero deserts Lyttons? Oh, they’ll have a field day.’
    ‘I think,’ said Sebastian, his voice suddenly more cheerful, ‘it will say “Publishers battle over Christopher Lytton.” You’ll get a lot of offers, Kit, mark my words. Now here’s Marks with the car.’
    ‘Good. New Lytton House please, Marks.’
    Sebastian watched the car drive away. It was one of Kit’s biggest extravagances; he was slightly embarrassed about it, his lifestyle in other ways was so modest, his small mews house in Kensington, his rather shabby clothes . . . But the car made his life so much easier and more efficient. Everyone told him it was worth it.
    Sebastian went back into the house, the house on the edge of Primrose Hill which he had bought with the proceeds of the first Meridian , and out into the garden. Thinking that he too had once threatened to leave Lyttons, with exactly the same intention as Kit. To hurt Celia. And in the end had not been