Page 6 of The Lady’s Great Escape

Kit often wondered what it must be like to have a sibling. Someone to stand beside you no matter what. To have your back when the world was too much, and to lift you up during triumphs.

“Your sister seems to think this spot on her face precludes her from being someone’s wife.”

“Ridiculous. You’re lovely, CeCe. Whoever told you such a thing? I’ll call him out this instant.” He winced and rubbed his forehead. “Perhaps later today would be better.”

“You’ll be spared from dueling, since the man who said I was unfit is already moldering away in his grave and you now hold his title.”

“Father? Why would you ever hold stock in anything that blighter has ever said?”

Celia blinked then looked back to Kit. He felt as if she needed his confirmation and offered a smile.

“I never knew your father to speak the truth often, and I can assure you—not being your brother—you are indeed lovely. The spot is irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant?” she said too loudly, though he assumed this time was not intentional, but out of surprise.

“Truly,” he confirmed since she seemed not to believe him. They spent a fair amount of time teasing one another, but in this case, he wanted her to know he was sincere.

Celia sat stunned for a moment. It did seem odd, given her father’s propensity for exaggerating and skewing the truth, that she’d held this one thing as irrefutable fact.

Kit was well aware of how easy it was to believe such things and use them as an excuse to keep from moving forward. Still, he offered a wink to confirm his words.

Her brother might have offered up easy compliments to make her happy, but Kit was not related to her and therefore had no reason to placate her. He wouldn’t be offended that she’d call his honor into question. He’d just be sure to go out of his way to make it easier for her to believe the truth.

And the truth was he found her beautiful. Spot or no.

She sat a little straighter and smiled, the happiness radiating out from her warmed him from across the table.

The mail was brought in and Celia dealt with separating her invitations from her brother’s. For the most part they were all invited to the same events, though they rarely ever attended ton events.

But Kit was ready to move into society in the hopes of finding a wife and starting a family. He knew as soon as it was known Viscount Stormont had entered the marriage mart, he would be the prime target of title hunters and matchmaking mamas. He would need to be on his toes, so he didn’t find himself in a compromising situation.

Not everyone would consider him eligible. Those who considered his Scottish blood to be unfit, or those who still thought he lacked two farthings would likely avoid him. But he wouldn’t let that stop him from finding the right woman to be his wife.

Now that he wasn’t a worthless sot.

He only hoped he could persuade Graham to attend a few balls with him despite his disdain for such things. Kit surely wouldn’t meet his future viscountess at the clubs and hells they frequented. A ball was the most likely place to meet a proper woman.

After Gray finished his coffee and ate more than Kit could manage, he began working through the pile of invitations.

“No. No. No. Oh!” He held one up toward Kit, a large smile pulling up on his face. “Look at this. An invitation to Lady Harrington’s Exclusive Masquerade.”

Celia flipped through her pile again and frowned. “I didn’t get one.”

Kit cleared his throat and looked away while Gray chuckled. “I would hope not. You’re a proper lady and as such would never attend an event with the demi monde.”

“What is it, a night of gambling and drink? As if you would participate in the first or should do more of the latter.”

Kit shared a look with Gray, but the other man must not have understood that Kit had meant for him to drop it. Instead, he needled his sister further.

“This, dear sister,” he said dramatically while waving the invitation in front of her nose. “Will grant me access to the most notorious of parties. Where one’s every desire is granted.”

“Every desire?” she asked, her brows pinched together adorably. When Gray didn’t answer, Celia turned to Kit for clarification.

Having no siblings, or any family at all anymore, Kit didn’t understand the joy taken in tormenting one another. Rather than continue with the ruse, Kit had out with it. “Pleasure of a physical nature.”

His clarification didn’t remove the crease from Celia’s forehead. He remained still, silently begging her to come up with the answer so he wouldn’t have to utter the word sex in front of her and embarrass them both.

“Oh!” she finally said, and he relaxed with having that over. “I see.”