Page 25 of The Lady’s Great Escape

Chapter Ten

Kit knew. No. He didn’t just know, he was Lord Desire. They had… He’d… She’d… with Kit. Celia opened her mouth, but no words came out. Which was a good thing because at that moment Graham shuffled into the room.

“Good morning,” he said, taking his seat with a groan. “Fair warning, if anyone speaks too loudly, I will graciously stab them with a fork.”

Taunting her brother and risking a stabbing were the least of her concerns this morning.

She’d made love with Kit. Kit! The man who had abandoned her when she’d needed him most.

She’d told herself she’d forgiven him long ago after everything had turned out for the best in the end, but deep down she must have still held some animosity for his rejection because it was resurfacing now.

She swallowed loudly and a sound similar to a whimper slipped free.

“Sister? Are you well? You look quite pale.”

“What?” she said, looking away from the man she’d seen naked a few nights ago to blink at her brother.

“What’s wrong? Are you ill?” Gray reached out and placed a hand on her wrist. “I hope you haven’t contracted what Kit and I had. It was terribly inconvenient.”

“I—I’m…” She cleared her throat. She couldn’t exactly speak the truth, that she was in shock. That she’d taken her brother’s best friend to her bed and done all manners of things with him there.

But Gray had given her the perfect opportunity for escape, and she grasped onto it.

“I think it would be best if I went to rest. My stomach is a bit off this morning. Please excuse me,” she said and practically jumped from her seat.

“Should I summon a doctor?” Gray called after her, stopping her at the door.

“No. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I just need to lie down.” She met Kit’s eyes briefly on her way out. He’d stood when she had as was gentlemanly and now offered a bow and winked at her.

Winked.

Memories crowded in as she rushed up the stairs so fast, she was breathless when she arrived in her room. Or perhaps it was from those memories rather than the running that caused her shortness of breath.

How had this happened?

If she hadn’t stolen her brother’s invitation and gone to that bloody masquerade she wouldn’t be in this situation.

Except that up until a few moments ago, her time at Lady Harrington’s had been the most exciting and memorable of her life. She couldn’t even now force herself to regret what had happened. Even knowing it was Kit, didn’t ruin the experience. In fact, it seemed to make the moment sweeter in some way.

Lord Desire was no longer a stranger. He was the man she’d made love to, wrapped up with the man she’d respected and called a friend for years.

Hadn’t she asked for someone who looked like Kit? She’d described the man exactly when asked her preference. There had to be a reason for that.

But what would happen now? Now that they both knew what had transpired between them.

Would he tell Gray? Worse, would he tell Edward?

No. She was sure he wouldn’t. Kit would be more at risk if Gray learned of their night together than she. And she wasn’t aware of an association between Kit and Edward. She should be safe.

Perhaps Kit would agree that they would just continue on as friends and pretend the night at Lady Harrington’s had never happened.

She let out a breath and hung her head. How was she supposed to pretend the night had never happened when it was the single most amazing night of her life? She couldn’t.

“Are you well?” Nettie asked as she came into Celia’s bedchamber. “I thought you’d gone down for breakfast already. Did you need something adjusted?” Her maid looked her up and down, no doubt witnessing the blush Celia felt creeping up her neck. “Are you ill? You’re pale, but also seem flush at the same time.”

“I assure you, I’m quite well. I just decided to lie down. Perhaps I woke too early.”

“That doesn’t sound like you? And you seemed fine when I dressed your hair this morning.”