Page 37 of The Lady’s Great Escape

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, when Kit returned to his home after having breakfast with Gray and Celia, he received a letter from Lady Harrington.

Dear Friend,

I’ve deduced that your Lady Selene most likely used Lord Penbrook’s invitation as he was not in attendance, yet his invitation was produced for entry.

Might I suggest you ask him who he might have given it to?

I wish you luck in your quest of finding the lady.

Your faithful servant,

Lady H

Kit chuckled at the woman’s use of the word faithful and put the note aside to peruse the other invitations he’d received. More than he usually received. Perhaps his attendance with Celia had improved his standing with the ladies of the ton.

The more balls he attended, the more likely he was to meet someone who might entice him. Hopefully someone who enticed him more than Celia. Or at least as much.

What if he ended up with a woman who paled in comparison to Celia and he forever compared his poor wife to the woman who wouldn’t have him?

He shook that thought away and smiled at the knowledge that if he hadn’t figured out who Lady Selene was by now, he surely would have known after receiving the news from Lady Harrington.

He probably wouldn’t even have needed to petition Gray on who he’d given his invitation to. Just knowing it originated from Penbrook House would have been the clue Kit would’ve needed to bring him to Celia.

He would have found her after all. Fate had interceded and brought them together as he’d hoped. He just had to hope Fate had other plans in store for them.

Rather than confuse people as to if they were courting, Celia had suggested they meet at the ball instead of arriving together as they had the night before. From his place in the ballroom, he was able to see the interest in the other men’s eyes as she descended the stairs. An angel coming down to visit Earth in a gown of scarlet.

He was not the first to procure a dance, but he was able to secure the most coveted position of dancing with her and taking her into dinner. It meant, however, he had to wait for his turn and he found himself impatient to put his hands on her.

To distract himself, he danced with a few other women. Women he’d known already. He couldn’t help but notice the mamas on the edges of the room with their young daughters who attempted to catch his attention.

He didn’t know what exactly he wanted in a wife, but he was quite sure a young girl wouldn’t do. He couldn’t spend his days with his home filled with giggling and inane chatter.

Of course, he knew a young wife would not stay young and would mature, but surely, he wasn’t the one cut out to assist with that. He’d rather have someone already matured.

His gaze caught Celia’s and the way she licked her lips had him wanting to take her into the nearest room and make love to her.

He patted his jacket where he kept a sheath—not to be found without one ever again—and smiled.

*

“I wonder ifI might take you outside for some air, countess. You seem rather heated,” Kit whispered from behind Celia. She could feel the heat of his body as he stood so close.

She may not have been overheated previously, but she was becoming so now. Which she knew was the rake’s intention.

“That would be lovely. Thank you.” He stepped to her side and offered his arm. She took it and allowed him to lead her out onto the balcony.

After a quick glance around to make sure no one would notice, he spirited her down the stone stairs and into the darkness of the gardens.

“Wherever are you taking me?” she asked, feigning innocence.

He smiled. “As if you care so long as it ends with your skirts around your waist and me buried deep inside you.”

She laughed, unable to offer the charade of offence at his lewd suggestion. She was already damp for him and his plans sounded like heaven. She’d had him after breakfast that morning, but she needed him again.

“I find the more I’m with you the more I want. Is that how it is with everyone?”