Page 59 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
That seemed to catch her by surprise, and she appeared as though she wanted to press him for more details, but the dowager had appointed herselfthe recital’s prefect, and threw Celeste and Kieran another acidic glare.
There was nothing left to do but listen to the concert. He composed more nonsense verses in his head to distract him from the music, lest it led to another embarrassing and unwanted display of sentiment.
Celeste nudged him with her elbow. Then she tipped her head in the direction of someone seated. He followed her gaze toward a middle-aged woman with ash-blond hair, who had turned slightly in her chair to regard Kieran.
Perhaps she sized him up as a potential amour, which wasn’t an uncommon occurrence. But then the lady gave the younger woman beside her a poke. She directed her companion to look at Kieran, and the resemblance between the two was such that it was evident the young woman was somehow related to her.
“Lady Caunton likes what she sees for her daughter,” Celeste murmured in his ear. “Very nice. Miss Goswick comes with eight thousand but more importantly, you won’t find a more respectable young lady in London. Spotless family reputation, too. Ideal for your purposes. I’ll introduce you two at the recital’s conclusion.”
“My thanks,” Kieran said quietly, bowing to Miss Goswick and her mother. Yet within him, something grew heavy and dour even as he reminded himself again that the whole purpose of this excursion was to pair him up with a young lady. Yet having Celeste point him toward other women, women that he mightpotentiallymarry...There went that weight in his gut again.
Whatever troubled him, he’d have to find some way of subverting it. His family’s ultimatum was ever present—and if he didn’t take a wife while Finn and Domdidfind brides, then he’d cost all of them their inheritances, a burden too heavy to bear.
After the recital, hewouldmeet Lady Caunton and Miss Goswick. That’s what he had to do.
He caught himself staring at Celeste as she resumed listening to the music. The curve of her neck continued to fascinate him. Yet, more significantly, she’d defended him against his family, her words continuing to reverberate within him.You deserve better.
He wasn’t certain what he deserved, but what hewantedremained out of reach.
Chapter 14
There was no denying it: Celeste had seen Kieran weep during the performance of Beethoven.
The sight nearly movedherto tears. She wasn’t familiar with the sight of adult men crying, save for her father’s unguarded moment when Ma had died. Domneverwept, not ever.
But something had brought tears to Kieran’s eyes, and it made her throb with the need to offer comfort.
She’d been about to reach for his hand when he’d abruptly started reciting silly rhymes. They’d been humorous enough to momentarily distract her, which she suspected had been his intention. Should she say anything to him about what she’d seen? Let him know that there was no shame in having emotions? Or would he deny it, and insist she was mistaken?
Men were peculiar, prideful creatures, but then again, the world didn’t rise up and applaud whenever a man displayed his feelings.
She waited until the recital finally concluded, but this public place didn’t seem to be conducive toheartfelt conversations. Seeing Lady Caunton and Miss Goswick stand up from their seats and move to mingle with the other guests, she was reminded of her responsibility.
“Never say I don’t honor my obligations,” she said to Kieran. “We have work to do.”
Yet her feet seemed made of stone as she walked with Kieran toward the two women. Mother and daughter stood together, observing the other socializing guests. This was precisely why Kieran had approached her in the first place. It was not for the pleasure ofhercompany, and she had to remember that. After he upheld his end of the bargain, it would be downright churlish of her not to assist in his quest for a wife—much as it filled her mouth with a bitter, acidic taste.
“My lady, Miss Goswick,” she said, curtseying once they had reached the mother and daughter. “May I introduce you to a family friend, Mr. Kieran Ransome?”
“One of the Earl of Wingrave’s sons?” Lady Caunton asked with more curiosity than suspicion.
“Indeed, my lady,” Kieran said, bowing over her hand. “I am the youngest of three sons, but I believe the first two were trial runs before my parents finally got it right.”
Lady Caunton laughed, though Miss Goswick looked to her mother first before permitting herself to giggle.
“How did you find the recital, Mr. Ransome?” Lady Caunton inquired.
“Inspiring, my lady.”
Celeste regarded him, searching for a telltale signthat he’d been emotional during the performance. Yet his eyes were as dry as his tone.
Even so, her lips quirked as she remembered the funny little nonsense rhymes Kieran had improvised during the music. It oughtn’t have astonished her that he could spontaneously come up with a clever turn of phrase. He was an intelligent man, and playful, and every now and again he said something especially poetic.
Come to think of it, when they had met at Catton’s, she’d observed the slim notebook he carried with him, and that there were lines written within it. Unlikely that Kieran was the sort of man who wrote down lists of things he intended to do each day, as her father did. Whatdidhe write in that little book?
It didn’t matter, because she had to stop her appalling fixation on the man. Never mind that he’d brought her to Ratcliff for no other purpose than she wanted to be there. She had to forget the taste and feel of his kiss, his lips on her neck, and how he’d touched her with expert reverence in her most intimate place. It didn’t matter how his dark eyes turned the shade of deepest midnight when he was aroused, or that he was sharp-witted, occasionally whimsical, generous, and unexpectedly sensitive. He was meant for someone else.
“Do excuse me for a moment,” Celeste said, her eyes suddenly hot. “I believe I see someone I’ve been meaning to speak with.”
