Page 19 of Tempting Her Viscount

“My Selene was a lady. In fact, she was a—” He lowered his voice and looked around the room, not wanting to air the woman’s personal information in a room full of men. “She was a virgin until last night,” he whispered.

Gray snorted. “Oh, I’m certain she was. She’ll no doubt be a virgin at the next party and the one after that.”

“No. One knows such things.”

A cloud came over Gray’s face, one Kit had seen only a few times. When Gray was forced to discuss things like love. And now as they discussed taking a lady’s virtue.

Kit often wondered what memories haunted him, but Gray refused to discuss it, even at times when he was drunk when most men opened up and allowed their worries to pour out of them.

But something had happened. If Kit was a betting man, he would have wagered his friend had been in love at one point. Perhaps with a lady who’d given him her virtue.

Gray’s face cleared and he gave an abrupt nod.

“Very well. But why would a virgin take a stranger to her bed at Lady Harrington’s masquerade? How did she even get invited?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps we can ask her when we find her.”

Gray frowned. “Let me ponder how best to do that. For now, I must get back to my bed before Celia realizes I’ve snuck out.”

Kit laughed at the idea of a grown man sneaking out of his house to get away from his sister. Their antics made him grateful he was an only child and long for a sibling at the same time.

*

Celia had waitedfor Gray to sneak off to his club before calling Nettie in to help her dress for the Compton Ball. It wasn’t that Gray would forbid her to attend. How could he when she was a grown woman?

It wasn’t his approval she was concerned with as much as the teasing he would inflict if he found out she was attending a ball. He rarely attended ton functions himself, calling them frivolous. If he found out, he would be relentless.

She smiled at the thought of telling him the truth of why she was attending. To find a lover. Wouldn’t that bit of news shut him up quickly?

Nettie selected one of the new gowns Celia had purchased recently to assist in fulfilling her plans. Like the sapphire gown from the night before, this one was cut lower in the bosom than the pastel gowns she usually wore. The deep emerald told everyone in attendance that she was not a blushing debutante, but an experienced woman.

She found the situation to be paradoxical. She wanted the world to know she was available for a liaison while also appearing respectable and guarding her reputation. But she couldn’t guard it so stingily, observers might think her a virgin and agree with Edward’s claims.

A smile pulled up on her lips. She was no longer a virgin. Even if the Lords came to the vulgar decision to request an examination, it would only prove her rights to her settlement.

She didn’t feel the least bit guilty for knowing the truth of the matter. Arthur had set up her funds months after they’d wed when he’d had no plans to consummate their vows. He assured her he didn’t care about the lack in their marriage for he enjoyed her company. He’d told her numerous times that he wanted to provide for her after he was gone because she’d brought happiness into his life for his final days. Therefore, in his eyes, the settlement was not contingent on sex or fulfilling her wifely duties. The funds were proof of a generous man who wanted to show his appreciation for a kindness.

She knew if he was here, he would have something to say to his ruthless grandson.

As she had the night before, Celia had Nettie secure a hackney so she wouldn’t need to use her brother’s carriage. She arrived at the Compton home at the appropriate time and was announced as she entered the ballroom.

“The Countess of Hamlin,” the majordomo said in a bold voice.

The title still sounded odd to her. She was a countess. And a woman who had taken a complete stranger to her bed. She was alluring and powerful. She was unstoppable.

“What is that upon her face?” a woman whispered to another as Celia passed by the group, causing Celia’s resolve to waver.

Perhaps it would have been better to see if someone else she knew was in attendance so she wouldn’t be alone.

Had she truly thought she would walk into the ballroom and choose a gentleman to be her lover straightaway without having to interact with the other people present?

The Comptons would be fortunate to have Lady Harrington assist with their balls. While scandalous, at least the woman knew how to get to the point of things in a timely manner without all the frivolity.

Celia found she much preferred guests who were engaged in lewd acts to the people in attendance tonight who gawked at her rudely.

Feeling the weight of their scrutiny, her heartrate picked up and she felt the air thin under the weight of perfumes and people. Would she faint? She’d never done so before, so she wasn’t able to tell what it felt like when it came on, but surely the way her chest had tightened was not a good sign.

She needed to leave.