“No,” she said. “You are being purposefully cantankerous and wild. I mean…” She looked about the ballroom and dropped her voice. “You know well what people call you.”
“I do not care what people call me.”
“You should,” she said. “If not for me, then for your sisters.”
Her mother was right in many ways. Not so long ago, Celestine was the very embodiment of what a young lady should be. She was polite. She was agreeable. What was more, she wanted to meet a man and fall in love. She was proud to say it!
Now, with all that had happened, Celestine had developed a new reputation, and a new nickname to go with it. Those who knew of her, and those who did not, referred to her as the ‘Mad Hargrave Sister.’
Not the most original name, but not entirely wrong either.
“Speaking of my sisters,” Celestine started, wanting to change the topic from herself. “I have just spoken with Marigold, and she wishes for me to… what? What are you looking at?”
Her mother’s attention moved over Celestine’s shoulder, searching out a commotion that took place across the ballroom. Celestine turned to follow her gaze, and she immediately saw the cause.
The Duke of Blackthorne was one of the more well-known men throughout the ton, but just like with Celestine, it was for all the wrong reasons. He was a known rake and a scoundrel, the type who was said to have left a litany of women in his wake… and one who would leave a dozen more before he was done. Worse than that, rumor said that he owned his own gaming hell, and that he took pleasure in bankrupting men of his own class for the simple reason that it gave him power over them.
Oh yes, he looked the part too!
Even from a distance, he stood out like a storm on a placid horizon. Taller than most, his shoulders were expansive and strong. His gait was powerful so that people moved out of the way as if to get too near might see them squashed. His face was square-shaped, his jaw was like an anvil, and his eyes were so grey that they were almost black.
Handsome, obviously, but aware of it. He likes that people notice them, and he loves that people fear him.
“Oh no…” Celestine’s mother said with a quake in her voice. “He is coming this way… oh no.”
Indeed, Celestine watched as the Duke found them at the end of the ballroom. A smirk rose up his full lips, satisfaction foundin his eyes, and he started across the room. As he walked, the crowd parted and many looked away, desperate to appear busy so that he would not speak to them.
“Please, Celestine, whatever you do, behave yourself!” her mother whispered.
“I am not afraid of His Grace,” she said, even as her heart started to thump against her chest.
“You ought to be,” her mother said. “Do not antagonize the man. Best that he not notice you at all.”
Celestine frowned at her mother, surprised by how terrified she was. Her mother was one of the most assured people who she knew, so to see her behave that way was telling.
At the very least, it suggested to Celestine that even her mother would not dare and try to pair her daughters with the Duke. No mother would wish such a thing upon their own kin.
Celestine was still looking curiously at her mother when the Duke appeared before them. She felt him… a coldness that swept over her… the sense that was the sun shining in the sky, his mere presence would blot it out and demand night take over.
“Lady Fairbrook,” the Duke said strictly, his voice deep like a clap of thunder. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”
“As it is you, Your Grace.” Her mother offered a meek curtsey. “Are you enjoying yourself this evening?”
“I hope to…” His grey eyes found Celestine and while she tried to meet his stare as if to warn him away, she found herself glancing down as if in fear. “But that all depends, really.”
“Yes, well…” Her mother took Celestine’s hand. “I am so sorry to do this, but I am afraid that my daughter and I were just –”
“Miss Celestine, yes?” he cut her mother off. “I do not believe we have had the pleasure?”
“Nor will we,” Celestine said with a fake smile.
“Celestine!”
The Duke chuckled. “It is so refreshing when rumor proves true…” His grey eyes worked her over in assessment. “So rarely am I surprised that it makes for a far more entertaining evening.”
“I am happy to have been of service,” she said, holding her fake smile, forcing herself not to look away.
He held her stare; amusement passed behind his eyes. Then, he looked away as if bored and landed back on Celestine’s mother. “I am glad to have found you, Lady Fairbrook. My hope is that you might point me in the direction of your daughter.”
