Page 37 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
Then Lord Montford’s attention fell on Celeste’s hand, resting atop Kieran’s sleeve. The other man’s focus sharpened, turning proprietary as he looked up at Celeste.
Very subtly, her posture changed, turning more rigid.
“Mr. Ransome’s family is very intimate with mine.” Celeste’s words were nonchalant, perhaps deliberately so.
“Ah, of course,” Lord Montford answered congenially. “I dine with the Kilburns often.” He turned to Celeste. “Do you remember, the other day, when you took tea with my mother? She said you enjoyed the lemon biscuits, and will be happy to have our cook share the recipe with your cook.”
“That would be delightful,” Celeste replied and though her tone was genial, her eyes remained cool.
Tension coiled in Kieran’s spine, along with the urge to safeguard her. The earl wasn’t overtly threatening, yet something about him seemed to steal the joy from her.
“We’ll see you and your father next Wednesday for supper, won’t we?” Lord Montford asked.
“My father would be loath to miss it.”
Lord Montford grinned. “Charming. And I’ll be sure there are lemon biscuits to conclude the meal.”
“Delightful,” she said.
“Good to see you again, Mr. Ransome.” Lord Montford inclined his head, his expression perfectly amenable, and then he was gone.
Kieran and Celeste stood together for a moment, and she didn’t move or speak.
“What do you need?” he asked protectively.
“Lemonade,” she croaked.
He quickly escorted her outside, and in short order, they both held mugs and stared out at the lake. A child attempted to sail a boat upon the water’s surface, though his insistence on placing stones on the toy vessel’s prow kept it from floating. The sky had turned pale gray, as it so often did in London this time of year, and cool wind toyed with the ribbons of Celeste’s bonnet.
“At the onset of our arrangement,” Kieran said after taking a drink, “you didn’t mention you had a suitor.”
“It wasn’t of consequence,” she replied, distant. Then, more firmly, she said, “No, that isn’t so. It’s absolutely of consequence. Lord Montford is the rest of my life, and I needed something for myself before I’m forced to spend my days at horticultural exhibitions and tea with his mother where she insists I adore her cook’s dry lemon biscuits.”
“Are you engaged to be married?”
She was quiet for a moment. “Not yet.”
“Soon, though.” Something hard and cold knotted itself between his ribs.
“My father told me Lord Montford will make a formal offer for me by the end of the Season.”
“Do you have feelings for him?” Her approaching engagement was and wasn’t a surprise, but that didn’t make the news any more palatable.
“What’s more important are my father’s feelings,” she answered, her voice flat. “He’s eager for me to become an earl’s wife, and eventually holding the title of marchioness.”
“I see now,” he said, rubbing his hand against the odd feeling in his chest. “Why you set the terms and time limit for our arrangement.”
She made a quick, humorless noise that resembled a laugh. Turning to Kieran, she said with sudden vehemence, “You must understand. If I refuse the earl, the Kilburns and their gauche new money won’t be accepted into the upper ranks. We must at all times appear grateful to be part of Society. We cannot have a trace of scandal. Which is why, when Dom jilted Willa, it became even more important that I perform my role as perfect young lady.”
“The burden all falls on you.” His muscles tightened. “I want to run all the way to Hans Town to find both Ned and Dominic Kilburn and bellow at them that it’s not fair to put such a responsibility entirely on your shoulders.”
“When has fairness ever held sway on how the world works?” she asked wearily. “Regardless of what I want, I’m going to have to marry the earl, and that will be that. My function in Society will be encased in amber, forever preserved, never changing. Perfect wife, mother of great men, facilitator of someone else’s dreams.”
“Which is why you wanted to experience all you desire of disreputable London while you still could.” His hand ached with wanting to thread his fingers with hers, a small way to show her that she wasn’t as alone as her damn family forced her to be.
“Thus far,” she said with an attempt at a smile, “you’ve been an excellent guide. It’s far better than my pointless shopping trips and dull morning calls.”
He faced her. “If you could have anything, anything at all for yourself, what would it be? Please, don’t hold back,” he said when she started to speak and then stopped herself. “If there’s one belief I want you to hold, it’s that you can always speak your mind with me.”
