Page 94 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
“Mr. Kilburn, Dom,” he said, visibly tearing his attention away from her to give a quick bow to her father and shake her brother’s hand. With a bow to her, he added, “Miss Kilburn.”
“Ransome,” her father replied, his tone slightly terse. In a somewhat warmer manner, he said, “Been making yourself respectable, I hear.”
“I’ve endeavored to, sir, but my efforts would’ve been in vain had it not been for your daughter’s kind intercession.”
Her father grunted before heading toward the earl, who hailed him in greeting.
“Everything ready?” Dom asked Kieran.
Celeste whispered urgently, “What do you have planned?”
“I—” He ground to a stop when Lord Montford appeared at the entrance to the parlor. Both he and Dom went rigid as marble. Clearly, then, Dom also knew about the earl’s blackmail. It was close to miraculous that her brother didn’t immediately charge Lord Montford and pin him to the floor as Kieran hammered him with punches.
The earl entered the room, his expression decidedly smug as he looked at Celeste standing with Kieran and Dom. It was the visage of a man who believed himself the untouchable victor—and the hell of it was, she couldn’t dispute that. Lord Montfordhadwon.
“Go get a drink, Dom,” Kieran said under his breath.
“Like hell I will,” her brother fired back.
“Please, Dom,” Celeste said lowly. “There’s murder in your eyes and I won’t have you brought before a magistrate on my behalf.”
“Go, Kilburn,” Kieran added. “Everything’s in place.”
Her brother grunted, but walked away.
“What’s in place?” Celeste demanded of Kieran.
Before he could respond, Lord Montford strutted over and proprietarily tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. A muscle in Kieran’s jaw flexed.
“There you are, my dear,” Lord Montford said indulgently. “I hope you were extending an invitation to our wedding to Mr. Ransome.”
“I wasn’t,” she clipped.
“Then I shall. Ransome, do say you’ll come. Though perhaps a morning ceremony might be a little early for your attendance. The wedding breakfast should be at a more reasonable hour for you.”
Fury flashed in Kieran’s eyes, his hands forming fists at his sides. Words hard as steel, he said, “There’s someone I’d like you to meet, Lord Montford.”
The earl raised one of his brows. “Indeed? I feel I know everyone in this room. Some I know more intimately than others,” he added, glancing at her with the look of a man inspecting a favorite cow.
She ground her teeth together. Why wasn’t it acceptable for young women to publicly scream in rage?
Kieran bared his teeth in what might have been a smile but looked more like a predator flashing its fangs before snapping the neck of its prey. “Oh, that may be the case. You may already be acquainted with her. However, indulge me for a moment. And please, Miss Kilburn, come with us.”
He gestured for Lord Montford and Celeste to accompany him, and walked with purposeful strides across the saloon toward where his father and brother continued to talk with the dark-haired woman. From the back, she appeared to be about Celeste’s height, and their proportions were likewisesimilar. Her bronze gown was a trifle snug for an assembly of this size and with this esteemed company, with the added effect of drawing several gentlemen’s gazes toward her.
Heads turned to follow Celeste, Kieran, and the earl as they neared the dark-haired woman.
Kieran approached and cleared his throat. The woman turned, and Celeste stifled a gasp.
It was Lottie, who had been part of the gathering at the Imperial Theatre. But why would she be here?
Lottie smiled at her and Lord Montford.
Celeste glanced apprehensively at Kieran. What was he playing at, inviting Lottie here?
“Lord Montford, Miss Kilburn,” Kieran said, his eyes gleaming sharply, “may I introduce Miss Salome O’Keefe? She’s a good friend of mine lately returned to London from the Continent.”
Celeste stared, but the cogs in her mind turned quickly.
