Page 42 of The Lady’s Great Escape

Chapter Sixteen

“Idon’t know what is going on between you and my sister, but I don’t like it,” Gray said as soon as they left the stables.

Kit nearly fell from his horse as he stared at his friend. How had he found out? He’d been so careful.

“Whatever do you mean?” Kit’s voice was so weak, he worried the man wouldn’t hear him.

“She wouldn’t look at you and you wouldn’t look at her. She barely said anything to you. Did you have a disagreement?” Gray winced. “I love you like a brother, but she’s blood so I have no choice but to take her side. Unless…”

He tilted his head. “She didn’t scold you at the ball for bad behavior, did she?”

Kit blinked. It wasn’t a surprise where Gray’s loyalties would lie, but the fact he cared for Kit like a brother came as some surprise. It made him even more leery of putting their friendship at risk by dallying with his sister, but he shook away the guilt.

“Whyever, would I require a scolding for bad behavior? I’m not the one who misbehaves, I’ll remind you.”

“True, but she’s cross with you about something. You’d do well to figure out what it is and have it dealt with. Or, you could take a page from my book and just apologize straight out.”

“Even if I don’t know what I’m apologizing for?”

“Yes. I’m sure you’re the cause if Celia is mad about something. Best just to apologize and have it over with.”

“And how will you know to avoid such a thing in the future if you don’t even know what has made her unhappy with you?”

Gray shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, does it? If I do it again, I simply apologize again and everything is set to rights.”

Kit wanted to press the logic, but that way was bedlam. Instead, he pushed on. “I have no doubt that’s the way for you, but I assure you, Celia is not angry with me because I’m not a selfish blighter of an older brother.”

“Still, she spoke to the selfish blighter and didn’t speak to you.”

“I’m sure she was just thinking of other things. She mentioned she had been invited for tea this afternoon. Perhaps she’s just nervous about the invitation.”

Gray nodded. “That could be it.” He bit his lip and whispered. “How is she doing? Have many men offered to dance with her? I hope you have. She needs a friend as she navigates the shark-infested waters of the ton.”

“I stood up with her at every ball so far. But she doesn’t need me to fill her card. She has plenty of eager gentlemen addressing her.”

“Truly?”

“Why do you act so surprised? She’s a young, attractive woman with a clever wit and a kind heart. What man wouldn’t want to be near her? And keep in mind if you mention the mark on her face, I’ll unhorse you and trample you.”

“Of course not. It’s only I know how shallow men can be about such things. While it isn’t so noticeable to us because we see her every day, other men might be put off by it.”

“Other men can go to the devil.”

“Agreed.” Gray nodded. “I’ll need to rely on you to frighten off any that come too close.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because she has said many times she doesn’t plan to marry again, so I only want to respect her wishes.”

“You only want to make sure you’re not faced with a man taking her away? Then you would be alone. Even for you that is low.”

“I don’t want a man to hurt my sister and men inevitably hurt the people they are supposed to love.”

They spent the rest of their ride not speaking of women at all, including Celia. To which Kit was entirely grateful. He didn’t want to be forced to lie to his best friend and the truth…

Promise not to duel or no, Kit was sure to find himself on the business end of a weapon if Gray ever found out what he’d done with the man’s sister.

It was all Kit could manage to keep a normal speed as he returned to his home, eager for Celia to arrive.