Page 79 of Tempting Her Viscount

Chapter Twenty-Six

After three days of avoiding Celia, Gray showed up at Kit’s home late the next morning.

“You and Celia haven’t taken breakfast at Penbrook House so, I decided to come here to see you.” He frowned as he took in the otherwise empty room. “Please don’t tell me she’s still in bed. Not because I have issue with the lateness of the morning, but because I don’t wish to think of my sister in your bed.” He shivered.

Kit thought he might be ill. Celia hadn’t been home the last few mornings? That could only mean she was in someone else’s bed. Rathmore.

His hands clenched into fists until he focused on releasing them. What did it matter who she took breakfast with? He was going to marry Willa. He had been avoiding Celia anyway. Why should he care if she found what she’d been looking for in Lord Rathmore? Kit was going to marry Willa. Damn. He was repeating himself in his own thoughts.

“You’ll be relieved to know she is not in my bed. Nor will she be again,” Kit announced right before the footman entered carrying the dishes with their meal.

Gray waited until the man was gone again before glaring at Kit. “What did you do? I warned you what would happen if you hurt my sister.”

“What did I do? I asked her to marry me. Again.”

“And?”

“And? And she refused me. Again.” Kit frowned and speared a piece of ham he no longer had an appetite for. “She doesn’t want to wed. Which left me no choice but to search for a bride elsewhere.”

“Perhaps if I spoke to her.” Gray tapped his chin with his index finger.

Kit raised his brows and laughed. “Yes, because you are so adept at having your sister follow your suggestions in all else, why shouldn’t I have considered employing your powers of persuasion previously? What good fortune I have.”

“You could have simply passed on my offer.”

“Yes, well, I find I’m still a bit sore over the matter and it brings out the prickly part of my humor.”

“I’m sorry.”

Kit didn’t hide his surprise at this. “Sorry? I thought certainly you’d be overjoyed that I’d no longer be chasing after your dear sister. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”

“You’d think as much, but now I find I feel the opposite. I can’t think of anyone else who I would want to see on a regular basis whenever my sister visits. Or to provide my nieces and nephews.”

“I hope you’re not pining for your extended family just yet, as your sister has no plans to marry anyone. She still insists on being the merry widow with a line of lovers out her door.”

Gray groaned and shook his head. “And what about me? Am I allowed to see you or am I only supposed to show loyalty to my sister?” He threw his hands in the air. “This is exactly why I didn’t want you involved with her.”

“Yes, because this situation is most inconvenient for you. Pay no mind to the fact that I truly wanted to marry her, and now I may spend my life with a woman I feel content with but not in the same way I felt for Celia. Your sister continues to make a mangled mess of my heart, but, yes, Gray, I’m so sorry you are put out.”

“I appreciate your concern.”

“Bloody arse,” Kit muttered under his breath, while Gray took the last slice of bacon.

Kit smiled and steepled his fingers. “If your sister is not in my bed, and is not in her own, it’s likely she’s found a lover and is with him.”

The bacon fell to Gray’s plate and he pushed it away with another moan of distress. He deserved it.

“I may have some news soon. I’m courting someone and we are getting along quite well. I think it would be a fine match.”

“A fine match? Do you hear yourself? That’s all you can say to recommend the person you plan to affix yourself to for the rest of your days? Fine? Fine is what I say when Celia asks if I like the new rug in the parlor. It’s not a word to describe something I really care about.”

“Thank you, Gray. I’m sure I will come to think of Miss Derforth as more than fine.”

“Miss Derforth? As in Ernest’s little sister? Willa?”

“Yes.”

“Good God, man. Is she even out?”