Now the color drained from Rosalinde’s cheeks and she turned to face Celia. “What is the news?”
“I ran into the Duke of Clairemont at my club this afternoon,” Gray said, but his deep voice sounded like it was coming from under water to Celia’s ringing ears. “And he asked my permission to court Celia.”
He smiled as he said it, and Celia returned the look even as she clasped her hands in front of her heart. It was done. Aiden had taken the step to officially pursue her. That meant the connection she felt was one from his side, as well. And now she shook with the power of it.
Until, that is, Rosalinde stood up and paced away. Celia saw her sister’s face and it was not as pleased as she’d thought it would be considering their conversation about the man a few days before.
“You hesitate,” Celia said, standing, as well. “Why?”
Rosaline faced her, but she shot Gray a look. A look that spoke volumes. Celia glanced between the two of them.
“What are you two keeping from me?”
“Nothing,” Gray reassured her as he moved toward Rosalinde and took her hand. “I will admit that I wasn’t certain of Clairemont when we were writing to each other. I shared that worry with your sister when you two met on the terrace last week.”
“Why weren’t you certain?” Celia asked. “You knew each other before, didn’t you?”
Gray nodded. “In school, but that was a lifetime ago. I have certainly changed since then, and from his letters it was clear so had Clairemont. I was pleased to have him investing in my plans, but sometimes he wrote things…impliedthings…that made me question his character. That was fine in business, it’s something I could simply keep an eye on. But when it comes to you—”
He broke off, and Celia stared at him. “You—you wanted to protect me?” she asked.
He smiled and released Rosalinde to take a step toward her. “You and I started on the entirely worst foot, Celia. I know I was judgmental of what I didn’t understand and I know I hurt you with my interference in your engagement with my brother.”
Celia nodded. There was no denying those things, even if she understood Gray’s motives more now than she had then. He adored Stenfax and had wanted to protect him after he’d been hurt in the past.
“But I have come to admire and care for you, Celia,” Gray continued. “As if you were my own sister. Which means, I’m afraid, you have inherited my protectiveness with my siblings.”
Celia laughed. “Oh yes, your famous protectiveness. Felicity and Stenfax have both spoken of it many times.”
“With rolled eyes, no doubt,” Gray said with a laugh of his own. “But teasing aside, the fact is I don’teverwant to see you hurt. If I can prevent it, I will move and heaven and earth to do so.”
Celia blinked as sudden tears filled her eyes. She’d spent her life under the dubious protection of her grandfather, a man who had seen her as a tool. A man who had blackmailed her into nearly marrying what she did not love. She had never expected protection from anyone but Rosalinde.
Now hearing Gray say those words, lay claim to her as a sibling not because he had to, but because he cared for her. Well, it moved her. She reached out and he took the hand she offered, squeezing gently.
“But don’t fear,” he continued, pointing his comment both to her and to the teary-eyed Rosalinde, who watched them both with a broad and happy smile. “The more I talk to Clairemont, the more comfortable I become with him. He isn’t the man I thought he might be, in the best way possible. So I gave him my permission to forward his suit, if that is your wish, of course.”
Celia released his hand and nodded. “You don’t know how much your support means to me, especially given our bad beginning. But I must say that I do want Aiden…Clairemont…to court me.”
She blushed at her slip of using his given name so freely. That mistake didn’t seem to escape Rosalinde and Gray, either, for they both stared at her, wide-eyed.
She ignored their looks and continued slowly, “I-I like him.”
Rosalinde moved forward and stared at her intently, her bright blue eyes, the ones so like Celia’s own, taking in every expression. Finally, she sighed. “You do?”
Celia nodded. “I do. Very much, despite our short acquaintance.”
Saying those words out loud made the truth very clear to her. She really did like Aiden. And she could see that blossoming into something far deeper in the not so distant future. If it did and he went on that journey with her, that meant she would actually have the happiness she saw on her sister’s face every day.
“I still worry,” Rosalinde said with a sigh. “A sister’s prerogative, I suppose.”
Celia shrugged. “You and I weren’t exactly lucky in love, not until you met Gray.”
“No,” Rosalinde said, stepping back into her husband’s arm and settling her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. “We weren’t. But if I can find happiness, I know you will, as well.”
“I want that,” Celia said. “I want what you two have.”
She bit her lip to keep from saying more. Yes, she was more than happy to have even the chance to fall in love and reach the joy Rosalinde had found. But there was more to her excitement about this potential match.
