“Good afternoon,” Rosalinde said, smiling as Celia moved past her to sit on the settee. “I’m afraid I will not be a very good hostess, as I have a matter to resolve with the staff. But I shall return to you in…” She cast a quick glance at Celia, who was perched on the edge of the settee. Her expression was serene enough, but Clairemont could feel the tension rolling off of her.
Apparently, so could Rosalinde, for she shot him a meaningful look and said, “I shall return in half an hour, perhaps a bit longer.”
His eyes widened. While he had heard that sometimes engaged couples were allowed periods to be alone, this was unprecedented. And judging from Rosalinde’s face, it was brought about by Celia’s distracted and unhappy demeanor.
“Thank you, Mrs. Danford,” Clairemont said.
She nodded and slipped from the room, pulling the door almost entirely closed behind herself, yet another breach of conduct that Clairemont couldn’t help to read volumes into. He pushed it aside, though, and turned his attention on Celia. Her gaze was focused on her clenched hands in her lap.
Slowly, he moved to sit next to her on the settee. He wanted desperately to touch her, but he held back, giving her a little space, at least until he got a better read on her demeanor.
“How are you today, Celia?”
She lifted her gaze. “I’m better, thank you.”
There was something in her tone that made him doubt that sentiment. “Does Rosalinde know of your actions?” he asked, wondering if a falling out between the sisters had caused this malaise he now saw.
She shook her head. “No.”
“I don’t want to press you if you are reticent to share with me, but I must ask one more thing. Does the difficulty you’re encountering have anything to do with what happened between us at the ball? Or yesterday in my carriage?”
He held his breath as he pictured both encounters. God, how he had loved giving her pleasure. But it wasn’t his place or his right. And if he had hurt her with his actions, he would despise himself for the rest of his days.
Celia turned toward him, lips slightly parted, and did what he would not do. She took both his hands.
“No,” she whispered. “Of course not. The connection between us is…it is incredible. I regretnothing.”
He almost slumped in relief at her words. But she was still struggling. And once again he wondered if it had something to do with the strained relationship with her grandfather.
He lifted a hand and pushed a loose lock of hair away from her cheek with the tip of his finger. “You know, I understand a little about hiding pain. About struggle. I’m here and I’m listening.”
She sucked in a deep breath and her eyes widened. It seemed as though she wanted to say something, yet she couldn’t start.
He smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “Your grandfather’s home was near where I found you yesterday,” he offered, a statement, not a question or a demand.
Her entire body stiffened, and she turned her face. “You know that?”
“I found out.” He pinched his lips together. “I’m good at finding things out.”
Her hands were shaking beneath his, and he squeezed gently. When he did, she let out a shudder and said, “Yes. I-I went to see him. I went to make a bargain with him.”
“A bargain?” Clairemont said, his eyes narrowing. That didn’t sound good. But he didn’t press. This wasn’t the interrogation of a criminal. He had to be gentle if he wanted her to trust him enough to open up. He continued to stroke his hands gently, rhythmically.
“Yes.”
“What kind of bargain?” he asked.
She was silent for what seemed like forever, but he could read her very well. She was in pain. And how he wanted to fix it, to comfort her. To keep her from ever looking so broken again.
This was protectiveness, and it overwhelmed his senses in a way he’d never experienced before.
“Tell me, Celia,” he finally pushed, but as gently as he could.
The next breath she took was more of a sob. “If I do, you may hate me.”
Those words raised his hackles. Her secret had something to do with him? Did that mean she knew something about his reasons for being in London? Was he in danger? Was she?
“I can’t imagine that happening,” he said, keeping his tone even while his body went to alert. “Why would you think that?”
