She held his gaze steadily, only further driving in the point that he could either support her or go. Sebastian knew from experience that Elsie being a Beauregard and now a mother, that she wouldn’t hesitate to choose her child. It wasn’t as if Sebastian even expected her to choose any differently; would never think of asking her to do such a thing either.
He nodded in response, feeling himself shudder slightly as the tension lessened in the room. It was still there, but the worst seem to have passed. At least…
“I’m sorry,” he said again, truly meaning it as any animosity he might have felt toward Kirke faded from him (well, most of it). “I shouldn’t have asked.” Should have said congratulations and moved on - be supportive like he had always been for her and she had always been for him. But when the anger faded from his eyes there was still something akin to hurt showing on his face. This moment wasn’t about him, though. It was about her and the little gift she’d been granted and so he pushed away his selfishness and managed a smile; still perhaps a weak one, but genuine nonetheless. “Of course you won’t do it alone, Elsie. Even if you had to, you’re more than capable of handling it.” He could sense her nervousness though, wanted to reach out a hand to comfort her but thought it was still too soon from his blunder.
In an effort to conceal whatever he was feeling even further, he surveyed her with a watchful eye, slipping easily into his work mindset. “How are you fairing?” Aside from the aftermath of their row, her color looked good, and she held herself well. Looked happy and content.
He nodded in response, feeling himself shudder slightly as the tension lessened in the room. It was still there, but the worst seem to have passed. At least…
“I’m sorry,” he said again, truly meaning it as any animosity he might have felt toward Kirke faded from him (well, most of it). “I shouldn’t have asked.” Should have said congratulations and moved on - be supportive like he had always been for her and she had always been for him. But when the anger faded from his eyes there was still something akin to hurt showing on his face. This moment wasn’t about him, though. It was about her and the little gift she’d been granted and so he pushed away his selfishness and managed a smile; still perhaps a weak one, but genuine nonetheless. “Of course you won’t do it alone, Elsie. Even if you had to, you’re more than capable of handling it.” He could sense her nervousness though, wanted to reach out a hand to comfort her but thought it was still too soon from his blunder.
In an effort to conceal whatever he was feeling even further, he surveyed her with a watchful eye, slipping easily into his work mindset. “How are you fairing?” Aside from the aftermath of their row, her color looked good, and she held herself well. Looked happy and content.