They sat in uncomfortable silence for close to ten minutes, each lost in their thoughts. Aria sat motionless, doing her best not to look at the man across from her, even know she detested to show what he might perceive as weakness, but she just couldn’t bring herself to look at him. While Sebastian leaned back doing nothing else but studying her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. The reality of what they’d just agreed upon loomed between them, though neither of them rushed to address it further. The rich scent of wine mingled with the quiet crackle of the fireplace, amplifying the suffocating silence that blanketed the room.
The sudden sound of footsteps in the hall jolted them both. Before either could recover, Aunt Marie swept into the room, her expression unreadable bu
