“I don’t know what you are doing,” Celia admitted. “I don’t know what bond you’ve formed with her, if any at all. I hope you wouldn’t be so cruel as to use her, to hurt her, in order to lash out at me somehow. But I cannot rule that out.”
“And that is what you wished to speak to me about here today,” he said.
She shrugged. “I am not certain that my speaking to you will change anything you plan to do. As I said, I am unaware of a great many things when it comes to you and Rosalinde and how true you are. But I do know one thing: my sisteristrue. And if you cut her, she will bleed. I love her, Mr. Danford. I love her with all my heart. And I ask that if what you share with her is only about this war you wish to wage with me, that you not allow her to be a casualty. It would be too cruel.”
She got to her feet, and Gray was forced to do the same out of propriety.
“You have said quite a lot,” Gray said, surprised that his voice shook slightly. He cleared his throat and settled himself before he continued, “And I will think about all of it, I assure you.”
“Good,” she said. “And now I must excuse myself to ready for the arrival of the other guests.”
She inclined her head and moved to the door, but there she stopped and faced him once more. “I do understand your position, you know. I too am the younger sibling, yet driven to protect the elder after seeing them go through pain. The impulse is one I respect. I hope you willalwaysprotect Stenfax, as I will always protect Rosalinde. And I also hope that perhaps one day you will understand that I am no threat to him. Or to you. Good day.”
She departed before he could respond, and Gray found himself staring at the door for a long time after he had been left alone. He’d spent so much time building Celia up to a monster in his head, he hadn’t allowed any other possibility to shine through. Now her passionate defense of her sister changed his thoughts on her. Whatever else she might be, he believed she truly loved Rosalinde.
And her parting words about younger siblings protecting the elder gave them a connection he hadn’t expected. Celia knew what he felt, perhaps more than anyone else he’d ever met.
So either she was very good at manipulation, or she wasn’t exactly the ogre he had made her out to be in his mind. Either way, he was left uneasy.
He turned and poured himself a cup of the tea she had left behind. He sipped the warm brew as he stared out the window at the rolling hills of his family estate. Even dead as they were, even with the trees empty of their leaves, the sight was still beautiful. Stenfax wanted to protect all this.
And Rosalinde wanted to protect Celia. He shut his eyes and could see her before him, bright eyes flashing, slender body trembling, chin lifted in defiance. She was passionate. She was lovely.
And goddamn, but he wanted her to be his. He had never imagined that would be true when he realized who she was that terrible morning he’d found her in the breakfast room with his family. He’d not allowed himself to want more of her than whatever passion declared he must take.
But when he thought of Celia’s words…
She leads with her heart.
Rosalinde did do that. He’d seen it. He’d felt it. He’d benefitted from it. She was unlike anyone he’d ever known. And he…
No, he wouldn’t finish that thought. The fact was there were so many complications that would keep them apart. His own schemes alone were enough to break her heart the way Celia had warned him not to. And he didn’t want to hurt her any more than he had to.
“You have to let her go,” he whispered to himself.
The cup in his hand began to shake, and he set it aside so he wouldn’t slosh liquid all over himself. He stared at the desolate landscape once more and realized it was the same as his heart. Empty.
“Youhaveto let her go,” he repeated, stronger now, knowing it was true. Hating it was true.
But how could he do it without breaking her heart? How could he do it without destroying himself in the process?
He didn’t know. But he’d have to do it soon. Because plans would be in motion in the next few days that would not be able to be undone. Plans that would change everything.
Chapter Fifteen
Gray stepped from the house onto the stone steps and watched as the next carriage in a seemingly endless line of them pulled up. But as he caught the symbol on the door, his boredom with performing host duties faded and his pleasure increased.
He leaned over to Lucien and elbowed him. “Folly,” he said.
Stenfax responded with a wide grin and they headed down the steps together to greet their newest visitors. The footman held open the door and a tall, wiry man stepped out. He turned back to help a beautiful redheaded lady down before the two stepped forward. Both were smiling as they caught a glimpse of the two brothers.
“Stenfax, Gray!” the Marquess of Folworth said, releasing his wife, Marina, and coming up to exchange a slap on the back with each. “Great God, it’s good to see you.”
“Folly, you old—” Stenfax began, then cut off whatever salty name he was going to call his friend. He glanced behind them where the rest of the family, Celia, Rosalinde and their grandfather stood, and shrugged. “Well, you know what you are.”
“He does,” Marina said, slipping up to press a kiss first to Gray’s cheek, then Lucien’s. As she stepped back, Gray saw her watching Stenfax carefully. He just barely held back a flinch at her obvious concern.
“Come on, then, meet my future bride and say hello to the rest,” Stenfax said, guiding them up.
