Page 30 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
“Predictability is anathema to foolhardy men such as myself.” Though he had no idea what it was about him that she found surprising. In truth, he surprised himself by remaining vigilant at her shoulder lest anyone—anyman—attempt to accost her, rather than leaving her to fend for herself.
Naturally, he’d tend to her welfare. If any harm came to her, surely Dom or the elder Mr. Kilburn would seek him out and demand vengeance. It was simple self-preservation.
“I assumed you’d join me in all these wild wagers. Instead, you play devil on my shoulder but leave all the risk-taking to me.”
“My taste for gambling is minimal. A few bets here and there are enough to slake my thirst.” She didnotneed to know that he’d given the pale boy most of his money.
Her gaze turned shrewd, but then she started. She looked over his shoulder, and her cheeks faded into pallor. Kieran turned to see what had snared her attention.
A tall, blond man stood at the entrance to the gaming room. He was fair skinned, possessing the kind of English handsomeness that resulted from similarly featured people mating and producing attractive progeny, and his broad shoulders filled out his expertly tailored coat.
“Oh, hell,” Celeste muttered. Her face remained pale.
“You know him?” Kieran demanded, protectiveness rising again in him.
“I do. He’s the very last person I wanted to see me here. And,” she added, her voice strangled, “he’s coming this way.”
Chapter 7
Celeste’s heart thudded painfully as Lord Montford strode in her direction. She should have expected that at some point in her foray into London’s freer side, she’d encounter a familiar face. Yet, of all people, she hadn’t expected Lord Montford.
What was he doinghere? And for the love of all that was holy, why was he heading her way?
His attention seemed focused not on her, but on Kieran.
“Good evening,” the earl said as he neared. “We’ve met once, but briefly. I’m Lord Montford.”
“My lord,” Kieran said without interest.
“Have you seen your brother?”
Kieran made a vague gesture with his hand. “I may have seen Finn here tonight.”
Celeste barely kept herself from blurting,Youdid?
Hopefully, her disguise did its job and concealed her identity.
“Ah, no, not Finn.” Lord Montford offered a suitably sheepish yet charming smile. “Your eldestbrother. Simon.” The earl’s gaze moved to her, and Celeste’s throat closed.
Would he recognize her?
If Lord Montford identified her beneath her wig and paint, disaster would follow. She didn’t know much about gaming hells, but she was confident unmarried women didn’t frequent them, certainly not in the company of one of London’s most notorious scoundrels, and absolutely not in a figure-hugging emerald dress that revealed more than it concealed.
Lord Montforddidstare a little too long at her cleavage, and then his attention rose higher, to her face.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
“Have we met before?” he asked, tilting his head.
What was theoppositeof something respectable, reserved Celeste Kilburn might do?
“Doubt it, ducks,” she said, speaking with her old Ratcliff accent. “I’d remember a pretty face and soft hands like yours. Like milk, them hands.”
Kieran made a low, choked noise and looked suspiciously on the verge of laughter, while Lord Montford glowered at her.
This was it. The earl would know her voice, and then realize who she was. He’d tear off her wig and point at her, declaring to everyone at Jenkins’s that she was none other than Celeste Kilburn, daughter of dockyard magnate Ned Kilburn—ruining her and her family’s reputation for eternity.
Scarlet rimmed her vision. Madness, that something as useless asreputationhad value, and that it threatenedher entire existence. Not only that, someone like Lord Montford had it in his power to completely destroy her with a few words.
