“No. She’d want you to be happy, and for you, Cecilia is happiness. So, I’ll ask you again, Darlington. When are you going to put an end tothis nonsense?”
Gideon closed his eyes, ready to search inside his heart for the answer, but it was right there already, waiting for him. It had been, all along. Now he’d given himself permission to seize this second chance at happiness he was desperate to get to Cecilia, and couldn’t bear to wait another moment. “It ends here, Haslemere.Here, and now.”
“You know what, Darlington? I’ll join you.” Haslemere rubbed his hands together, a sly smile curling his lips. “I’ve a notion to pay a call on Georgiana Harley. I wouldn’t want her to forget about me, now would I?”
* * * *
“If ye didn’t think Miss Cecilia was fit to take on Darlington, ye wouldn’t have sent her there in the first place.” Daniel Brixton folded his massive frame into the seat on the other side of Lady Clifford’s desk. “If ye thought her fit, then she’s fit.”
“Perhaps Imiscalculated.”
Lady Clifford tapped a finger against her lips, considering it. She’d realized any number of scenarios could play out in this case, including the Marquess of Darlington chasing Cecilia from his castle and right back to London the day she arrived, but she hadn’t anticipatedthis. “What does Lord Darlington mean, sending Cecilia back to me with abroken heart?”
Daniel grimaced at that. He didn’t believe in broken hearts. “She’ll be all right. That lass is as strong as anyof the others.”
“Yes, she is. Not in the same way, of course. She’s always been the tenderest of my girls.” It was the very reason Amanda had sent Cecilia to Darlington Castle in the first place. Even now she couldn’t regret it, as Cecilia had done just what Amanda hoped she would. Yet she couldn’t deny her plan appeared to have gone awry in one respect. “I didn’t foresee any romanticentanglements.”
Daniel, who also didn’t believe in romantic entanglements, let out an irritable grunt. “Aye. Never thought of Darlington as a scoundrel, but I’m not surprised. Marquesses are shifty. Only thing worse than a marquess is a duke.”
“To be fair, Daniel, we don’t know Lord Darlingtonisa scoundrel. If you recall, most of London thought him a murderer, and he’s never been that. Perhaps we should give him the benefitof the doubt.”
“Don’t see why.” Daniel didn’t believe in giving anyone the benefit of the doubt, especially a man who dared trifle with oneofhisgirls.
Lady Clifford pushed back her chair with a sigh. “Well, at the very least, I think I should have a word with Cecilia. Will you call her down to the drawing room, Daniel? Emma and Georgiana, too. They may as well hear what Cecilia has to say. Perhaps then they’ll stop fretting over her.”
“Aye, my lady.” Daniel did as she asked, then vanished once they were all settled together in the drawing room. Lady Clifford let him go. One of the girls was sure to start weeping, and he couldn’t bear itwhen they wept.
“Ah, here you are, girls. Cecilia, come sit with me, dearest.” Lady Clifford held out a hand to Cecilia, who took it gratefully, and settled beside her on the settee. “It’s been a week since you returned from Kent. I think it’s time we discuss what happened at Darlington Castle.”
“What happened?” Georgiana threw her hands up in the air. “Weknowwhat happened! Cecilia went to Kent, proved Lord Darlington innocent of murder, and he thanked her by breaking her heart, the villain.”
Cecilia turned red-rimmed eyes to Georgiana. “That’s not what—”
“Now everyone in London is prattling on about how ill-used poor Lord Darlington’s been.” Georgiana rolled her eyes. “Mind you, these are the same people who spread the rumors in the first place, and called him the Murderous Marquess behind his back.”
“They should all beg his pardon.” Cecilia’s face flushed with anger. “It’s a horrible thing to—”
“He may not be the Murderous Marquess, but he’s certainly a cold-hearted rake, and that’s not much better,” Emma declared, sprawling in the chair beside the settee.
Cecilia shook her head. “He’s not a rake, Emma. He’s—”
“Of course, he’s a rake, just like his friend, Lord Haslemere. Dear God, what a pair they are.” Georgiana shuddered. “I hope they both stay in Kent, or Surrey, or wherever it is, and we never lay eyes on eitherof them again.”
“Girls, if I could have a word?” Lady Clifford held up a hand, and everyone went silent. “Thank you. Now, I didn’t bring you downstairs to discuss Lord Darlington.”
Emma sat up. “You didn’t?”
“No. As far as Lord Darlington himself is concerned, the matter is closed. You’ll have your wish, Georgiana. There’s no reason for us to see him, or Lord Haslemere ever again.”
“Neveragain?” Georgiana deflated. “Are you certain that’s the best…er, what I mean is, I’m vastly relieved to hear it, my lady.Icertainly haven’t got any use for either of them.”
Lady Clifford’s lips twitched. “Yes, well, our concern is Cecilia, not Lord Darlington or his friend. Cecilia, dearest, do you know why I sentyouto Darlington Castle, rather than Georgiana or Emma?”
“Yes. Because Georgiana and Emma are both busy with other tasks. Otherwise I’m certain you would rather have sent either of them.”
“Indeed, you’re wrong. Even if I’d had Georgiana or Emma at my disposal, I still wouldhave sent you.”
Cecilia blinked.“Me?But why?”
