Page 80 of Tempting Her Viscount

“Yes. She’s a grown woman now. Quite charming and beautiful.” He waved his fork. “As well as other things besides merely fine.”

“This is how it’s to be then? You are getting leg-shackled and my sister is out doing who knows what, and I’m to be alone.” He shook his head. “Celia will just have to understand that you and I are friends and will continue to be so.”

At the moment, Kit wasn’t sure he cared if Gray remained his friend. Fine was a perfectly good word for more than parlor rugs.

“Your sister and I are to remain friends. Therefore, I see no reason why she would be upset by us remaining friends as well.”

“You and CeeCee are to remain friends? But neither of you came to breakfast.”

“Yes.” He shrugged. “I believe the thing is to offer friendship, but then avoid each other at all costs. I assure you I didn’t come up with the concept myself.”

“I see. It’s most inconvenient. Better to stay alone, like me.”

“Except I’ve been alone long enough. I want a family, Gray.”

“Prepare to feel pain, my friend. For that’s what family brings.”

Kit acknowledged the fact that a family would not always be a joy, but he couldn’t resist the desire to be part of something more than himself. Not to mention the matter of the title.

“What of your title?” he asked the question aloud to Gray.

“Bugger my title to hell. My father was a wretch and I hate that I have to own anything of his. I wouldn’t burden another soul with the taint of the Penbrook name.”

“You could do more to repair the name so it would be something honorable to pass to your son should you be blessed to have one.”

Gray looked at him briefly and glanced away. “Perhaps someday.”

Like many times before, Kit detected a small glimpse of pain in Gray’s eyes before it hardened over.

Kit knew the man hid a great deal of hurt away from the rest of the world. A pain that kept him from finding happiness with a wife and family. But Kit was willing to face the chance of that fate to end the loneliness that had been a constant pain until Celia.

“Promise me one thing,” Gray said. When Kit only waited, the man looked him in the eye intensely before speaking. “Don’t settle for just anyone to fill the emptiness in your life. A poor choice would be more disastrous than making no choice at all.”

Kit nodded in agreement, hoping he wasn’t doing that. Willa was a fine woman. No one would ever be Celia, therefore, no matter who he selected, they would not be the person he truly wanted.

Blast and damn.

*

The next day,after another night spent tossing and turning, Celia decided to change tactics. She couldn’t continue to go out at dawn and walk her frustrations away. It wasn’t working and she’d soon need another pair of boots.

She needed help, and not the kind of help Kit provided. Which was no help at all. She met Gray for breakfast. She’d been avoiding the breakfast room the past few days. She didn’t want to see Kit’s smile and hear his tales of love. Willa was a wonderful girl and Celia was happy Kit found what he wanted. She just didn’t want to hear about it over her eggs.

“Where’s Kit?” she asked, surprised he wasn’t following his normal tradition of attending breakfast at Penbrook House.

“He hasn’t been here all week. Not that you’ve been around to notice. And I’m not asking where you’ve been, and wouldn’t want to hear the answer if I had asked, which I have not.”

“Of course.” Celia sipped her coffee and kept her eyes on her plate as if she guarded some great secret. The only thing she had to hide was the fact she’d yet to proposition Lord Rathmore and he’d yet to proposition her. They circled about each other like boxers in a ring.

“Perhaps Kit had a late night.” Gray raised his brows as if this news would irk her. It didn’t, but mostly because she knew it wasn’t true.

“Kit is courting a debutante, so I can assure you if he had a late night, it wasn’t doing what you’re imagining.”

“And I assure you, sister, I’m not imagining anything when it comes to Kit.” He winced and handed over the butter for her toast. “But if I was—and again I never would—I would wonder why you refused his offer of marriage.”

She huffed out a breath. “As I’ve told you both now many times, I have no interest to marry. I would think you of all people would understand, as you don’t hold with the institution at all and have no plans to marry either.”

“I know why I don’t wish to marry. But I would think a young woman such as yourself would want the security marriage provides. As well as children and a home of your own.”