The four women she had known all her life stood there staring at her. Celia read their leeriness as if it was her own. They knew something was terribly amiss. After releasing Elias’s arm with a subtle yank, she hurried forward and opened the parlor doors. “Please. If just for a moment. I promise to share only good news.”
“Of course.” Sophie linked arms with her mother and Frannie and tugged them forward.
“Yes, we could use some good news after enduring the Whitfields’faux pasand then dear Thea’s collapse,” Frannie’s fake mother-in-law but true mother said. “Please assure us she is resting well.”
“She is indeed,” Celia said, forcing a false smile. Once the ladies had seated themselves, she continued with the only actual good news there was to share. “Dr. MacMaddenly has determined that Mama has a weak heart. The esteemed doctor has a medication that will hopefully help her cope with the condition. In fact, he administered the first dose this evening, and Mama is resting much better than before.”
At her reference toMamarather than Her Grace, all four women cut sharp looks over at Elias where he stood by the door.
“Do not worry.” Celia held out a hand, beckoning him over. “He knows I am Lady Cecilia and plans to write to Charles about our intentions.”
With a charming smile that made her heart even heavier, Elias strode forward, took her hand in his, and pressed it lovingly to his cheek. “We are to be married immediately,” he announced. “And while we would like the blessing of the duke before we marry, His Grace often takes quite some time to reply, and we are not willing to wait.”
“Yes,” Celia said, struggling to keep her voice from cracking. “Mama has given us her blessing, and that is enough.”
Sophie was the first to break the awkward silence that followed. She hurried to hug Celia. “Congratulations, sister! I am so happy for you.”
Frannie, her mother, and Sophie’s mother followed suit.
“And when will this glorious event take place?” Frannie asked with a forced brightness that made Celia cringe.
“As soon as I obtain the special license,” Elias said. “With any luck, before the week is out.”
“Splendid,” Sophie said, then turned to Celia. “Do forgive us, sister, but we really must retire now. The evening has been quite draining, but I am so pleased it ended on such a happy note.” With a startled look, she turned to Elias. “My lord, do forgive me, but your brother waits for you in his carriage. He refused to come inside because he feared that the news about the duchess would not be good. I nearly forgot to tell you.”
“Think nothing of it.” Elias took Celia’s gloved hand once again and bowed over it. “Until tomorrow, my dearest. Rest well.”
She forced herself to beam up at him with a loving smile while managing a curtsy. “I shall dream of you,” she lied, damning him with all her heart. She held her breath until her odious judge and executioner exited the house, and she heard the front door close behind him. As soon as it thudded shut, she sagged down into the nearest chair and held her head in her hands.
“Sister!” Sophie and Frannie cried out in unison as they rushed to her side.
“Tell us this instant,” Frannie ordered her. “What was the meaning of the charade we just witnessed?”
Celia lifted her head and gave Frannie and Sophie’s mothers a stern look. “You must not tell Mama any of what I am about to tell you. Swear it.”
Lady Rydleshire and Lady Ardsmere both held up their hands and shook their heads.
“No. Whatever it is, do not speak of it until we leave the room,” Lady Rydleshire said.
Lady Ardsmere nodded as she hurried toward the door with Sophie’s mother. “Thea, Lavinia, and I made a pact long ago that we would never keep secrets from each other. If there is anything that must be kept from our sister, even if for her own good, then we would be more comfortable not knowing about it, so we do not break our word to her.”
Celia nodded and waited until they left the room, then closed the parlor doors behind them.
Sophie patted the seat between her and Frannie. “Now sit and tell us what happened.”
With a despondent huff, Celia flopped down between them, leaned back against the cushions, and covered her eyes with her hands. “On the way home from the Whitfields’, Mamaextracteda promise from me.” She let her hands drop and stared up at the ceiling. “She wanted me to marry Elias so he could protect me.”
“And?” Frannie prompted.
“And she also made me swear to tell him the truth.” Celia kept her gaze locked on the cream-colored plaster roses decorating the pale blue ceiling. “So, I did.”
“You didn’t,” Sophie whispered.
“I did.”
“All of it?” Frannie asked.
“All of it,” Celia repeated. She folded her hands and sat straighter, then gave them both reassuring looks. “The only thing I withheld was information about the Sisterhood. As far as he knows, my deception is the only case of fraudulent behavior. I will take your stories with me to the gallows.”
