Page 32 of The Earl She Once Saved

Her gaze touched the scar at his temple. “Almost exactly.”

Across the room, Verity looked up from her embroidery. Rafe felt the glance.

As it turned out, Verity’s aunt was delighted by Celestine. Within minutes tea appeared, invitations were discussed, and the room settled into the easy social shape Rafe remembered from before the war.

Celestine sat beside him. Too near, perhaps. He noticed because Verity sat opposite.

Celestine spoke of old assemblies, summer picnics, riding parties, names Rafe had not thought of in years.

“Do you remember the Winthrop ball when James Marchmont tore his coat climbing through the conservatory window?” she chuckled.

“He claimed the door was locked.”

“It was not.”

“No.”

“He had merely forgotten where it was.”

Rafe smiled. Celestine laughed and placed a hand lightly upon his sleeve. The gesture was easy and familiar. Verity’s needle paused, only for an instant. Rafe told himself he had imagined it.

“And now,” Celestine continued, “you must come on Friday.”

He lifted an annoyed eyebrow. “To what disaster?”

“Our ball.”

“Ah.”

She pouted her rouged lips at him. “You have not forgotten?”

“I have been home three days,” he reminded her.

“Then you are excused for ignorance, but not absence.”

She turned toward Verity and her aunt. “You have already received the invitation, I trust?”

Verity’s aunt brightened. “Indeed.”

Verity herself did not look up.

Celestine’s smile remained. “Though I know dear Verity rarely chooses such gatherings now.”

There was nothing wrong with the words. That was precisely their skill.

Verity pulled the thread through the cloth. “No.”

Celestine sighed softly. “Of course, one understands.”

Rafe looked at her. The tone had changed.

“I imagine society must be rather trying in your circumstances.”

Verity’s hand became still. Her aunt’s teacup clicked against its saucer.

Celestine continued with exquisite gentleness. “People can be so unkind where there is uncertainty. And with poor Lord Edgeworth vanished all these years …”

Rafe felt something cold settle in him. Verity lifted her eyes.