Page 95 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
“MissWho?” Lord Montford sputtered.
“Salome O’Keefe,” Lottie said, dipping into a curtsey. Her voice was pitched low, matching the same tone and accent that Celeste had used whenshewas Salome. Now that Celeste recalled it, many had remarked at how when she was disguised, she and Lottie looked almost identical.
Hope reared its head, and Celeste was half-afraid to embrace it. What if this scheme didn’t work?
“But we’ve met before, Lord Montford,” Lottie went on. “In rather faster company than this, though discretion prevents me from saying more about it. I was raised abroad, you know, and standards ofconduct are a touch less restrictive than they are here in England.”
Elation burst in Celeste’s chest. Trying to speak as calmly as possible, she said, “You must find life here very quiet, Miss O’Keefe.”
Lottie gave an appealing laugh. “I do, but Mr. Ransome has been gracious enough to escort me so I do not find myself the object of unwanted attentions. Still,” she added, eyeing a reddening Lord Montford, “I am surprised that some individuals frequent places of wildly disparate character.”
“I have introduced Miss O’Keefe to my family,” Kieran said silkily, “as well as the rest of the company in attendance tonight.”
“That surely includes Mrs. Lapley,” Celeste said with a smile. She finally permitted herself to feel the possibility of freedom, and it made her light-headed.
“Indeed, yes,” Kieran replied. “Such a respected figure, and someone whose word is widely circulated amongst the ton.” He looked directly at Lord Montford, who gaped inelegantly. “Mrs. Lapley will be certain to report that Miss Celeste Kilburn met Miss Salome O’Keefe tonight, and in front of many other esteemed personages.”
“We met at the theater, didn’t we, Miss O’Keefe?” Finn added, stepping forward with Dom at his side. “You recall Mr. Kilburn?”
“I’m frequently seen at the theater,” Lottie said, smiling. “And I recall the pleasure of making both of your acquaintances. Keeping yourselves out of trouble, I pray?”
“Never,” Dom answered.
Celeste couldn’t stop herself from smirking, but she didn’t care. Kieran had manipulated the situation so that Lord Montford could never accuse her of being Salome, not when “Salome” herself stood six feet away from her. And with an abundance of witnesses, including the lights of London Society, a duke and duchess, the earl and countess, and Celeste’s own family.
She watched gleefully as Lord Montford turned red, then purple, and then the color leeched from his face.
“Excuse me...” he muttered. “I’d completely forgotten I have another engagement, and... your pardon.”
His movements stiff, Lord Montford bowed before heading toward the door.
“A moment before you go, if you please,” Kieran said, striding after the earl. He clamped his hand on Lord Montford’s arm and hustled him into the corridor.
Celeste murmured an excuse to the assembled company and swiftly followed after Kieran and Lord Montford. In the hallway, she caught sight of Kieran shoving the earl into a room, then something heavy slammed into the furniture before falling to the floor.
Whatever came next, she needed to be a part of it. She hurried into what appeared to be a small sitting room, and saw Lord Montford sprawled across the carpet with a ferocious Kieran looming over him, hands knotted into fists.
“It’s done, Montford,” Kieran said, his voice cutting as flint. “Your accusations are baseless now.”
Celeste’s shadow fell across Lord Montford, who looked to her wildly.
“I was trying tohelpyou.” The earl sounded desperate, wounded.
“What you callhelpwas never wanted,” she fired back. For good measure, she added, “You son of a bitch.”
“Scoundrel I may be,” Kieran said, words low and almost languid, “but now I’ve many powerful friends. Dukes and earls who can make your life very, very unpleasant if you aren’t careful.”
Kieran took a step closer to Lord Montford, who scrambled back like a crab.
“This gambit you attempted,” Kieran went on idly, “is never again to be repeated. Not with Miss Kilburn, not withanyone.Am I making myself understood? Am I?” he repeated when Lord Montford was silent.
“Y-Yes,” Lord Montford stammered.
Kieran actually chuckled. “Playing on the dark side of the street wasn’t a good idea, Montford. That’s whereIlive, and that’s howIplay. You’re nothing but an amateur.”
“One other thing,” Celeste added, leaning down. “You are to tell everyone that the engagement has been ended on mutually amenable terms. There’s to be no retribution. No cuts direct, no gossip or slander toward myself, my father, or my brother. Is that understood?”
“It is,” the earl said, his face pale.
