isabella-aldwyn:
Bella winced as the man’s grip tightened on her wrist, knowing the man’s fingers would be leaving dark bruises where he grasped. Unused to being handled with such violence, her brow furrowed in pain. Before she could react further, the man had pinned her against the wall of the corridor. Try me. “Don’t tempt me.” The words escaped her in lightning response to the man before she could cork herself, her back bristling from his challenge. It was irritating enough that Sebastian was deliberately mocking Harry’s name, when he visited their residence more than enough times to have known that Harry was his preferred name over ‘Henry’. Unfortunately, these were stupidly fearless, emphasis on stupid, words for a girl who had no control of her arms. She should have slapped him when she had the chance, but her arms were now very much immobile and in pain. Enough so that she could not keep the pain off her face.
His threats of ruin were enough to draw the blood from her face. To be ruined, thereby ruining all her sisters’ lives, was enough for Bella to calm herself down – at least for a moment. Still unable to keep the glare from her expression, she answered his question with a bitter twinge, “Harry is overseas on business. He departed not a fortnight ago. He’s busy taking over everything after Edmund’s death.” The girl gave a bit of a shrug, as much as one could with her arms extended above her. “Is this not a bit of an overreaction. Whatever business deal or trade you have with my brother, he will honour it, I’m sure.” Harry and Edmund, the latter especially, had good reputations in the Ton for exactly that: their impeccable honour. “Let go of me now, and I will not mention this unruly encounter to my Brother who would have much to say to you if he heard of this.” Bella said carefully, the severity of the situation enough to temper her fury to simply attempt to escape the situation. Any decent gentleman would not risk his reputation in the Ton, especially with an old money name like the Aldwyns.
Bella led him to believe she truly didn’t know anything. It was frustrating that she was another dead end. At that point Sebastian was better off holding the entire family hostage. There would be an uproar if Sebastian ever went through with the idea. Still, it helped that he knew where Bella would be at all times. Suddenly, attending the season wasn’t the worst few months. “I’m not afraid of him.” Sebastian said coolly. He slowly let go of her wrists and took a few steps back. He had a few options laid out before him, but instead of choosing he decided to reign in his anger. It didn’t do him any good despite wanting to. “You are going to reach your brother and tell him I want what I’m owed. If not... I’ll make good on my word.”
