“As were we all,” Stenfax said with a shake of his head. He paced away across the room. “That was a damned spectacle,” he murmured.
Gray watched his brother. Waves of tension coursed from him, as well as anger and outrage. He was surprised to find he washappyto see Stenfax so emotional. This wasn’t dangerous like the night on the terrace wall. But it was real. And he hadn’t seen his real brother for nearly two years.
Rosalinde was watching him, too. “My lord—” she began.
Stenfax turned, his hand up. “Forgive me, Rosalinde, but I believe you have said enough. About what you think should happen, about truths that have shocked us all. You and my brother have said a mouthful lately. Now it is between Celia and me.” He motioned to Celia. “Will you come here, please?”
Celia rose slowly and walked toward Stenfax, her shoulders back and her chin raised. She looked like she was marching to her execution. Gray could hardly blame her. After everything they had been through in the past half an hour, she had to believe his brother might be cruel.
Which proved she didn’t know Lucien at all. And proved Rosalinde’s earlier point about the poor quality of their match.
“Areyouall right?” Stenfax asked, his tone softer, warmer.
Celia blinked as if surprised by his inquiry. “I-I can’t believe he would do that. I always knew his capacity for vindictiveness, but if Gray hadn’t stopped him—”
Stenfax took her hand. Gray realized it was the first time he’d ever seen him do so, unless it was required. He held it gently. “But Graydidstop him,” Stenfax said softly. “I’m so sorry, Celia.”
She nodded. “Thank you. But you must think so little of me now. Seeing what my grandfather did. Hearing the truth about my parentage. I know it shocked me, I cannot imagine your reaction.”
“Celia, I think no less of you than I did the day I asked for your hand,” Stenfax said with a shake of his head. “You are no more in control of your grandfather’s actions than you are of the wind or the rain. As for your parentage, yes, I suppose that secret coming out could cause a scandal, but that wouldn’t stop me from wedding you.”
“You still wish to wed me?” Celia asked, her tone filled with disbelief, and Gray thought some disappointment.
“Your sister’s points before the chaos were very good ones,” Stenfax said. “And I think we both know that to be true. So before I answer your question about whether we should wed, I think you need to answer this one: do you care for me, Celia?”
She hesitated for a moment, and Gray could see her fighting with herself. Then she smiled. Perhaps it was the first real smile he had ever seen from her. He had to admit, it was an appealing expression.
“No,” Celia said with a small laugh. “I do not love you even in the slightest. Do you care for me?”
“Looking at you, so beautiful, knowing your intelligence and your kindness, I’m sure this answer speaks of my poor character, but no, Celia. I don’t. Not the way a husband should. Do you wantmorethan what a marriage between us would entail?”
Celia nodded without hesitation. “I thought I didn’t, but I find that I do, Stenfax. I do. And I thinkyoudeserve more.”
Gray shut his eyes. They would not wed. This had been his desire for months, only Elise’s situation had changed his mind. But now he found he was not upset by it. He was not pleased by it, either. In the end, it had been his brother’s decision. And Gray couldn’t fault him for making it. Even if he was terrified about what Lucien would do once he found out Elise was free.
But that was a matter to be dealt with another day.
“Are you saying you two are breaking the engagement?” Rosalinde said softly as she slowly rose from the settee.
Celia smiled once again at Lucien and then slipped off the ring she had been given just that summer. She handed it to him, then leaned up to kiss his cheek.
“Yes,” she said before she turned to go back to her sister.
“Yes,” Stenfax agreed as he placed the ring in his front pocket and patted it to ensure its safety.
Stenfax smiled, and Gray stared in wonder. His brother looked…happy. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d seem him thus.
Celia returned to Rosalinde and slid an arm around her. They rested their heads against each other a moment before Rosalinde’s smile fell.
“I’m happy you are doing what is in your heart,” she said. “Though I do worry about Grandfather.” Her delicate hands came up to touch her throat, and Gray flinched.
“I do, too,” Celia said with a shudder. “How could we go home with him after what he tried to do to Rosalinde?”
Gray stepped forward. “We’ll work it out.” Rosalinde looked at him, a question on her face. Doubt. And in that moment, he knew exactly what he would do to save her. “We’ll work it out,” he repeated, firm and certain.
Celia cocked her head. “You sound like you have an idea of what happens next. Would you care to share it?”
Stenfax leaned against the edge of his desk again. “So much has happened. Why don’t we start with simply discussing how we will announce the breaking of the engagement? And the arrangements for the next few days? We will work out the rest as we go.”
