Page 55 of Tempting Her Viscount

No. These men were not suitable for Celia. For that matter, neither was he.

He stayed until the men finished their game.

“Come with us. We’re heading to the theater. The show should be ending by now.”

It was common for this group to show up in the back room after the play to visit the actresses. The women were happy to continue entertaining even after the play had ended. One woman he’d spent time with explained the energy from the crowd and the desire to spend this energy in bed with a vigorous lover.

“No thank you,” Kit said. “I have other plans.”

“I haven’t seen you making the rounds with Graham lately, would those plans be to find a lovely bride and get shackled?” Andrew asked.

Kit smiled. “Perhaps, but let’s not speak of it too loudly. I don’t wish to alert the mamas.”

Roger leaned in and whispered, “Your secret is safe with us.”

He found Celia by the refreshment table speaking to a woman he knew to be married to either Lord Westfield or Lord East-something. Older than Kit, and married, the men didn’t move in the same circles as his friends so he didn’t know them well.

“Lord Stormont, may I introduce you to Lady Eastbrook.”

“Ah,” he said before reining in his happiness at not having to wonder over that later. “It is a pleasure, my lady.” He bowed as he should. They exchanged vague pleasantries before the lady moved along to find her husband.

“I was certain she was Lady Westbrook, I’m glad I didn’t speak it out loud,” Celia admitted.

Kit laughed and felt, once again, that he had already found the person for him. She just didn’t know it. He hadn’t been able to convince her to marry him years ago and he doubted he would now.

“Any luck?” he asked, hoping maybe she’d found the perfect woman who could overshadow Celia and make him happy.

“I’m afraid not. It would be much easier if you didn’t have a restriction.”

“I told you I don’t want a young miss. All the simpering and giggling would be tedious.”

“Not all debutantes simper,” she said. “I see you came back to me empty-handed as well.”

He let out a breath. How could he tell her he couldn’t find a man suitable for a brief tryst? All the unmarried men and half of the married ones would jump at the chance. And while he had made a restriction on her search, she had selected no such criteria. She didn’t want to keep the man; she only wanted the experience. Any man with the proper working equipment could give her that.

No. It was he who had set unattainable conditions on her relationship, making it certain he would fail to find someone fit for the task.

“If you wanted to know which women were up for accepting the attentions of a man, I could go around the room and point them out in seconds. But the men…” He shook his head.

“You told me you didn’t take many women to your bed.”

“I haven’t, however every man knows which women are available for such things and those who aren’t.” He appraised the crowd and offered a few names.

“My, I didn’t realize everyone would know.”

He blinked at her in surprise. “It is London, Celia. Everyone knows everything among the ton. In fact, once you find someone, I imagine you won’t have to look for another. Your name will be passed on to the next man and the next.”

Her face went pale. “Forgive me, I must go.”

He took her arm, worried she might fall. “Are you well?”

Her eyes glistened as she frantically looked for the exit.

“This way.”

*

Kit directed Celiatoward the balcony and out into the side garden as if he knew she needed air.