The ball tonight was a looming shadow over the day. Nerves and Celine’s continued absence from my arms left me tetchy and irritable, to the detriment of all.
It had been so easy this morning to agree to attend this certainly disastrous ball when Celine was all mussed from my hands and mouth. How could I say no when her fingers were tangled in my hair and her lips pressed against mine?
Now, though, I actually had to attend this mess. An event exclusively for the wealthy and titled, of which I was neither and she was both.
Even though her mother hadn’t warned her off, thetonwould certainly set Celine to rights. They would remind her that I was beneath her in appearance, status, rank, and wealth.Below her in even the more subjective measures of desirability—affability and gentility. Tonight would throw into sharp relief just how ill-suited we were.
She would finally see, finally understand, what I had known the entire time. I learned many years ago that affection wasn’t enough to scale society’s barriers. Love wasn’t enough—my love, specifically. And, as easy as it was in her presence, my love alone could not forge a relationship—especially not in the face of such obstacles.
Still, I could not regret last night. I would not trade a single second of it for the entire world. Not even if it was the only night we would ever have.
I would treasure it enough for the both of us.
A million years later and far too soon, Kit popped his head back into my office with a wordless nod toward the door. My forlorn expression, he was content to ignore, but my heaving sigh was not enough.
“It’ll be all right, Will. You’ve got an earl in your corner, remember? Just give me the signal and I’ll commit some horrible faux pas that will have them talking for the next decade.”
“What, precisely, is the signal?”
“Your complete and utter humiliation. Do not worry, I will know it when I see it.”
“Lovely.”
“Just hide in the library. That’s what Wayland and Lady Juliet do. Probably best knock first though.”
“Do I wish to know why?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Very well.”
The walk back to Cadieux House was too quick, even with a detour for flowers—not irises. I bypassed Bouvier asquickly as possible, desperate to avoid conversations about my whereabouts last evening, I took the stairs two at a time.
“Will?” Celine called from her dressing room. I turned that way instead of toward the blue room I had been using. Peering inside, I found Celine’s maid fussing with her curls at the dressing table.
“’Lo, love,” I murmured, leaning against the door. I could only see her reflection in the mirror. Even that sight felt very much like the punch I had taken a few days ago. She was so damn beautiful with the late-afternoon sun streaming through the window.
Her eyes darted to the clock on the mantel before widening slightly. She said six—I was certain of it. I had left at quarter to four, it couldn’t be anywhere near six. Still, my stomach lurched with worry as I checked the clock myself—half past four.
“You’re early.” The statement was simple, but her voice was thick with unknown emotion.
“Too early? I can duck into the study for a bit.”
“No, no. Not too early.” A sentiment was behind the words that was clearly beyond me and it had me off-kilter already.
Clenching my hands for want of something to do, I nearly squished the purple calla lily stems in my grasp. Trying to affect more confidence than I felt, I stepped into the room and set them on the table beside her.
“You’re earlyandyou brought me flowers?” she asked, turning toward me in her chair.
“Yes?”
“Jane, would you be a dear and fetch a vase?” Though the question was directed toward the woman behind her wearing a slightly peeved expression, Celine’s eyes never left mine.
It was very, very slowly dawning on me that I may not have made a misstep after all. I may have done something very right.
Behind her, the maid tossed a handful of hairpins on the table in irritation before setting off in search of the vase. Though improper, I could hardly blame her for her annoyance. It was entirely probable that Celine’s hair would be in quite a state of disarray when I was finished greeting her.
“You came home early.”
