Page 91 of The Lady’s Great Escape

“She wants the adventure and excitement of a lover, not the mundane life as a wife.” Kit signaled for another drink. He’d need a steady supply to get through this conversation.

Gray groaned. “I thought I would be glad when your arrangement came to an end, but I find I’d prefer her to be with you than any other blighter she might invite…” He shivered despite the warm evening. “Anyway, you should ask her again.”

“I asked her when I was but eighteen and she chose a shriveled-up old man over me. I asked her again when I realized she and I had—” His sentence was cut off by another loud groan from Gray. “And I asked her recently for no other reason than I wanted to spend my life with her. Each time I’ve asked, she’s said no. She’s not interested in marriage or… me.”

“That first time…” Gray paused and cleared his throat. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with you. Our father forced her into that match with Hamlin. While he wasn’t a rough sort, he wasn’t a suitable husband for Celia. She was unhappy and associated that unhappiness with marriage. You just need to show her how good it can be with you.”

He nodded as if it was as easy as that.

Kit was becoming more irritated with his friends and found himself wishing he’d stayed home after all. Especially later when he realized they were heading to the back room of the theatre where the singers often conversed with male visitors and invited them to their rooms for the night.

As if Kit would be interested in such a thing. Knowing he wasn’t he still followed them inside.

“You need to get back on the horse, old chap,” Hayworth suggested while nodding at a bountiful brunette.

“Thank you for that incredibly wise advice.” Kit shook his head. He missed Hale and Julian. At least they would offer him sympathy.

Gray slapped Kit on the back before heading into the stuffy room overflowing with cloying perfumes and sweat. “We’re always looking out for you.”

He should have left. He had no wish to enter into yet another relationship with a woman who would never be his wife. But minutes later a woman took the seat next to him and offered a smile.

Her gown was not up for the challenge of confining her immense bosom and Kit frowned at the creamy flesh overflowing her dress because it reminded him of Celia.

Celia wasn’t quite so endowed, but her breasts were soft and full with nipples the color—He closed his eyes and forced the thought of her away. He needed to get over this.

He wanted all of Celia, not just her body and not temporarily, but she didn’t want him.

He’d asked for her hand three times already, and it was time for him to let her go once and for all.

*

On the fourthmorning she hadn’t gone down to have breakfast with her brother, he arrived at her room. She was glad to have a visitor, even if it had taken four days for her brother to check on her. What if she’d been ill?

Her need for conversation won out over her need to scold her younger brother for his delay.

“Are you well?” he asked with genuine concern in his eyes and Celia pushed her earlier irritation aside.

She let out a breath. “I’m fine.”

“Is there a reason you’ve taken all your meals in your rooms? Have I done something to upset you? Something so vile as to leave me to eat heaps of bacon on my own?”

She smiled. She wasn’t able to stay angry with Graham for very long.

“Surely Kit is able to assist.”

Gray shook his head. “He’s not been to breakfast either.”

Celia forced a brittle smile to her lips. As much as she wanted to be happy—was happy for him—it still hurt to hear of Kit’s plans to marry. But she must push through. She couldn’t hide away in her rooms just to avoid hearing of it.

“Of course, I’m sure he is quite busy making arrangements for his wedding.”

“Wedding? Kit’s not getting married.” He tilted his head. “You didn’t hear? Willa Derforth is marrying Lord Rathmore.”

Celia couldn’t contain her shock. The woman Jonathan loved had been young Willa? A smile came to her lips to think of how happy Rathmore must be to have won the hand of the woman he loved after all.

“But that means, Kit…” He must be heartbroken to have lost the woman he’d hoped to wed.

“Yes. I wanted to speak to you about him.”