Page 89 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
It had been two nights since the theater, and she’d grown even more pale. She smiled as she entered the chamber, but the smile resembled one of the painted scenery flats used at the Imperial Theatre. The vibrant woman who’d stolen his heart was nowhere to be found.
Across the room, her gaze found his. A tremor worked its way down her body.
He took a step toward her, but she gave a minute shake of her head. There was nothing to do except watch her as she circulated through the party. Could no one else see how unhappy she was? Clearly not, because no one seemed to express any concern for her, only chatting blithely and laughing heedlessly—damn them all.
He should leave. There was nothing to be gained by remaining. Yet he stayed precisely where he was, staring at her as if she were a distant star whose warmth he’d never know.
“I’m grateful for the invitation, my lord,” Celeste said to her host, but what she truly wanted was to curse Lord Hempnall. He’d inadvertently brought her to a gathering where, for entertainment, the guests could be diverted by watching her soul break apart.
No matter where she was in the drawing room, she felt Kieran’s gaze upon her. Part of her wanted to beg him to look anywhere else—surely people would see the longing in his eyes—but to have him nearby was torture. To be close to him, yet separated by the span of the drawing room, soothed and tormented her in equal measure. At least he was nearer than he’d been at the theater—twenty feet rather than two hundred.
An acrid taste climbed into her mouth when Lord Montford entered the drawing room. He said something to Lord Hempnall that made the older man beam munificently. Lord Montford was always good at saying the right things to people, so he knew precisely how to manipulate a situation to his advantage. Of course, what Lord Montford had said to her had been pure contamination, but she didn’t matter to him so much as reaching his objective.
After bowing to Lord Hempnall and greeting several other guests, Lord Montford made his way to her. She ought to have expected him to search her out.
Her worried gaze shot to Kieran. He stared at the earl and went very still, like an arrow about to be shot from its bow.
Fervently, she prayed he wouldn’t do something that everyone would regret.
“Enough prevarication,” Lord Montford said without preamble once he reached her side. He kept a smile on his face, yet spoke low so only she could hear him. “You’ve had enough time to recognize that what I’m doing is for your benefit.”
“Is that what this is?” she asked with forced sweetness. “Your charity? I never asked for it.”
He exhaled with irritation. “I see you’re determined to cause yourself and your family grievous injury. Don’t trouble yourself any longer. I’ve the situation well in hand.”
Before she could ask what that meant, he called out to a passing Lord Hempnall, “On behalf of myself and my intended, I wish to thank you for your hospitality.”
Celeste’s stomach plunged. He’d done it. The bastard had gone and done it.
“Your intended?” The viscount’s eyebrows rose as he looked to Celeste, then he laughed. “How utterly charming, that you two are to be married.”
“What’s that, my lord?” Lady Hempnall said from her place at the pianoforte. “Lord Montford and Miss Kilburn are affianced?”
“It appears so, my lady. This is the first I’ve heard of it, Lord Montford,” Lord Hempnall said in a playfully chiding tone.
“She has just accepted my proposal,” Lord Montford answered, looking at Celeste with fondness.
A mixture of rage and despair choked her as she stared back at him. How did she keep discovering new depths of unhappiness?
“Felicitations, my dear,” the viscount said, patting Celeste’s icy hands. He grimaced. “Goodness, you are chilled. Here, stand by the fire and we shall toast your upcoming nuptials.”
Celeste glowered at Lord Montford, yet if she dared to contradict him, he’d waste no time in exposing and ruining her.
“Engaged.” Kieran’s voice cut across the room like a saber. He stared at her, eyes blazing, jaw taut. His fists opened and closed, the veins on the back of his hands standing out in stark relief.
He had to contain his fury—for his sake.
Terror made her dizzy as she silently pled,Don’tdo anything. I beg you.
“Congratulate us, Ransome,” Lord Montford said affably, but there was no mistaking the threat in his gaze.
Fury burned in Kieran’s eyes and for a moment, Celeste truly feared that he’d leap across the room and slam Lord Montford’s head into the fireplace’s marble mantel. But then, without a word, he paced toward the hallway. At the threshold, he swung around to send her one final, searing gaze, before stalking away. A moment later, the front door slammed shut—the sound of her heart breaking.
The room was silent, until Lord Montford said heartily, “Clearly, Ransome doesn’t admire the institution of marriage.”
Laughter erupted and people gathered around them. Celeste barely choked back bile as guest after guest offered her and Lord Montford best wishes on their impending nuptials.
Chapter 22
