The woman smoothed out the skirts of her gown. “Lord Haven wouldn’t be my first pick. His mother was a maid after all, but I’ve recently decided I can accept it. He is the only person Lady Eloise has allowed to escort her around so much.
Uncertainty filled Celeste. “My lady, what does this have to do with me?”
“I suspect Lord Haven is interested in making a foolish choice like his father and my son.”
She did know who she was. The woman smirked at her coldly, and any hope of this woman wanting a relationship with Celeste disappeared. She refused to allow the pain to show on her face. The carriage slowed to a stop. The woman sighed. “I’m here to fix the problem for both families involved.”
Fear filled Celeste. “Does my father know you are here?”
“He is not your father. You're his by-blow.”
Celeste felt as if she’d been slapped. The woman pulled back the curtain, and she realized they were in Devil’s Acre. Her stomach clenched. This area of London had been her home before she’d found refuge at the Den. She looked closer and realized they were outside the building where she and her mother lived.
She shuddered, hating that Lady Burrows had brought her here. It reminded her of all she’d lost and how closely she’d come to following her mother’s path. While the brothel they lived in was no longer there, a new one had sprung up. It didn’t look any better.
“Did you work there as well?”
She shook her head. Lady Burrows seemed to ponder that. “I wonder what London society would say if they knew Lord Haven’s potential wife lived in a brothel as a young woman. I imagine they would make assumptions even if they weren’t true.”
The older woman released the curtain and tapped on the carriage roof again. Anger welled in Celeste. “Why have you brought me here?”
“You are in the way of a match between my granddaughter and Lord Haven. Society will celebrate their union. I insist you stop seeing him.”
Her heart pounded and her eyes burned. “Are you threatening me?”
The cold woman said, “I’m simply sharing what the newspapers may report if Lord Haven continues to court you.”
“I’m your granddaughter as well,” she said quietly.
“You are not.”
The carriage came to a halt, and Celeste suspected they were back at the Den. Devil’s Acre wasn’t very far from the club. In all the years she’d been gone, Celeste had never returned, not wanting to remember her mother’s last year of life.
“Are we in agreement, Miss Hathaway? You will cease to spend time with Lord Haven.”
Celeste wanted to scream no, but she didn’t. What could she do? Being the by-blow of a lord was a scandal, but if London discovered that Caleb was betrothed to someone who lived in a brothel in Devil’s Acre, it would ruin his family. She nodded jerkily and stepped out of the vehicle, saying nothing else. Donahue opened the door for her while glancing at Lady Burrows in the carriage. “Is everything fine, Miss Hathaway?”
“Yes, I’m just tired.”
She quickly made her way to her apartment and burst into tears. Celeste couldn’t be with Caleb. She would have to find a way to end it. Her mind flashed to the streets of Devil’s Acre and all that she’d endured. Until now, she’d held out hope that her father, at one point, had cared for her mother. However, the fact that the Burrows family knew where she and her mother resided during their last year together made it evident that such a thought was foolish.
Chapter 12
Courtney beamed at him from across the breakfast table, the next day after the ball. “You are the talk of London. The title of the article is American Marquess wooing club owner. Will you deny it?”
Their mother frowned at him as she took the paper from Courtney. Cordell rolled his eyes. Finally, their mother asked, “Is this true, Caleb?”
“It is.”
Her eyes widened. “She is not on the marriage mart. What will people think?”
His brother groaned. Caleb sighed. “Mother, I’m marrying Celeste Hathaway. I’ve made my choice.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but he interrupted her, “She is the only woman I want to wed. I love her.”
The room grew quiet as his whole family stared at him in shock. Finally, Courtney grinned. “You are in love.”
“What is her background?” his mother questioned.
