Celie answered with a mocking laugh. “I only wish. My mother was a striking woman.”
“You don’t think you are?”
The slight roll of her eyes indicated she was convinced her looks weren’t an advantage.
“Unfortunately, other than the color of my hair and eyes, I inherited far too many of my father’s traits.”
“I remember your mother and father well,” Jonah said.
“I had just celebrated my twelfth birthday when they died. I remember Hadleigh waking me from my sleep to tell me there’d been a carriage accident and Mother and Father wouldn’t be returning home.
“Hadleigh tried so hard to be brave, but I knew he hurt as much as I did. I couldn’t seem to stop crying, and he told me not to worry, that he’d always take care of me. I told him I knew he would, because he had to. He was the duke now.”
Her voice seemed thicker, and Jonah looked down as she stared at the portrait. He knew without asking that she was remembering another time.
“What did he answer?”
She looked up at him with a smile on her face and the glimmer of tears in her eyes. “He said, ‘No, not because I’m a duke. Because I’m your brother.’”
“Becoming the Duke of Hadleigh was a huge responsibility for someone so young.”
“Yes. Hadleigh was only eighteen when he inherited the title. His personality changed overnight.”
Jonah hesitated. “I remember.”
“Before then, he had such a zest for life.” She laughed. “Do you remember a country party Hadleigh planned for his eighteenth birthday?”
Jonah smiled, knowing the hunting week Celie was talking about.
“Hadleigh informed Mother that he’d invited some friends for a week of hunting. She asked to see the guest list, thinking that by ‘some friends’ Hadleigh meant a half dozen or so. When he handed her the list, she nearly fainted. I remember her asking him if there was anyone in London who hadn’t been included. Hadleigh thought for a moment, then answered he didn’t think so, but he’d check to make sure.”
She laughed. The rich sound of her laughter affected him in ways he couldn’t explain.
“The two of you were inseparable,” she continued. “I wish you still were.”
“Perhaps we will be again someday,” Jonah answered, but knew that was unlikely. “Are you ready to leave? It’s too lovely out to waste being indoors.”
She placed her small hand on his jacket sleeve, and they walked to his open carriage. He helped her up, then gave the reins a gentle flick.
“Has Hadleigh shown interest in anyone since Melisande’s death?” he asked after they’d made their way through the wide gate leading to Hyde Park.
Celie shook her head. “He still idolizes her memory as if she were a paragon of virtue.”
Jonah was shocked by Celie’s comment. “You don’t share his opinion?”
“I’m sorry,” Celie said. Her expression was filled with genuine embarrassment. “I didn’t mean for my comment to give that impression. It does no one good to speak ill of the dead.”
“But you didn’t consider her perfect?”
Lady Cecelia paused to nod a greeting to two young ladies approaching them. “No one is perfect. It’s simply that death seems to erase the imperfections and leave immortalization in its wake.”
Jonah looked at Celie with raised eyebrows. “Has anyone told you how wise you are, Lady Cecelia?”
She gave him a lax shrug and twirled her parasol. “Oh, yes. Hadleigh tells me that constantly. Except he doesn’t call it wisdom. He uses the terms
outspoken
and
ill-mannered
.”
Jonah smiled. “He doesn’t appreciate your directness?”
“Heavens, no. He’s quite stuffy, you know. He was much more understanding before he became a duke. As you know, he was even known to have a sense of humor.”
Jonah laughed. “That’s because he didn’t have such responsibilities then.”
“You’re still his champion, aren’t you?”
“Still?”
She lowered her parasol and lifted her face to the sun. “You always saw the best in Hadleigh and ignored his faults. You even allowed him to blame you for Melisande’s death.”
His breath caught. “You don’t consider that in some way I was responsible?”
“Of course not. No one was responsible except Melisande herself.”
Jonah leaned back against the seat and allowed himself the first relaxed breath he’d taken in longer than he could remember. She was good for him, like a soothing balm that took away the stiff shards of guilt and regret that plagued him.
“What a remarkable woman you’ve grown into.”
He lowered his gaze and enjoyed watching her cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink. He had a feeling she wasn’t overly used to receiving compliments and wondered why.
She turned back to study the path in front of them. A frown deepened on her forehead. “Lady Cushman and her daughter Charlene are coming this way. I’m sorry, but by this evening, all of society will know you asked me for a drive.”
“Does that bother you?”
“No, except I’m afraid they will read more into your invitation than you intended.”
“I won’t let that bother me if you promise not to, either.”
He knew she intended to say something but didn’t have an opportunity. He brought the carriage to a halt as the approaching carriage came even with theirs and stopped. Lady Cushman was the first to speak.
“Cecelia, my dear. What a pleasant surprise.”
“Lady Cushman. Charlene. Have you come out to enjoy this beautiful day?”
“Yes,” Charlene answered. “I told Mother it was simply too lovely to stay indoors.”
“I agree,” Celie answered. “Have you been introduced to the Earl of Haywood, Lady Cushman? Charlene?”
“Not since he’s assumed the title,” Lady Cushman acknowledged. “I was acquainted with him before he went to serve so gallantly in Her Majesty’s service.”
Celie did the honors. When she introduced Miss Charlene, the young lady fluttered her lashes in a demure yet blatant form of flirtation.
Celie stiffened in the seat beside him.
Jonah smiled, unable to keep the humor from his face. “Lady Cushman,” he greeted. “Miss Charlene. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you,” both ladies answered.
“I heard that you returned to us injured,” Lady Cushman said. “Have you fully recovered?”
“Yes. I have received excellent care since my return.”
“Oh, I’m so glad.” Miss Charlene followed her enthusiastic response with a shy look of embarrassment. “I would hate to think of you enduring even the slightest pain.”
“Then you have nothing to worry over. I am completely healed.”
The young lady lowered her gaze in the practiced art of flirtation and sighed softly.
On his left, Cecelia’s grip tightened on her parasol until he feared the handle might break.
He nearly laughed out loud. She was obviously unimpressed by Miss Charlene’s concern over him.
They conversed with Lady Cushman and her daughter a few more minutes, then took their leave, each heading in opposite directions.
“Miss Charlene seems a charming young lady. Is she spoken for?”
“Obviously not, or she wouldn’t have flirted so shamelessly with her mother seated only inches from her.”
Jonah tilted back his head and laughed harder than he’d laughed in years. His sudden movement caused a sharp pain to slice through his side. He stiffened and pressed his arm tight against his ribs and waited until the pain subsided.
“Why, Lady Cecelia,” he said when he could speak, “one would almost think you were jealous.”
Cecelia looked at him for a second or two, then lowered her gaze to her lap.
He wished he could take back his comment as soon as the words left his mouth. From the expression on her face, he’d said the worst possible thing he could say. Her words confirmed it.
“I’m sorry, Lord Haywood. My comment was totally uncalled for. I don’t have the right to give the impression I am jealous.”
She was nervous, and Jonah hated that he’d made her so uncomfortable.
“Charlene Cushman is the epitome of grace and refinement,” she continued in a rush. “She comes from one of the best families in society and will bring with her a very handsome dowry. She will make some fortunate man the perfect wife.”
Jonah leaned back and let the horses move at a slow, steady pace. “Is that what you think I am doing?”
He glanced down and noticed that she was rubbing the material of her gown between the thumb and first two fingers of her free hand. He smiled at the nervous habit.
“You are the Earl of Haywood now. It is your duty to secure your title.”
A thought struck him that sent a wave of unease down his spine. “Is that why you think I invited you today? Did you think my purpose was to use your name and position to gain an introduction to society’s eligible young females?”
Her slight hesitation was answer enough for him.
“It is a wonder you agreed to accompany me,” he interjected before she could come up with an answer to give him. “Why did you?”
She turned her head and lifted her chin. The expression in her eyes was filled with steely courage, and Jonah admired her more in that instance than he thought possible.
“I agreed to accompany you because I wanted to,” she said, her voice containing not a hint of fear. Or intimidation. “I took your invitation as a compliment, partly because you had the courage to ask me, even though you knew what my brother’s reaction would probably be, and partly because there are any number of other females you could have asked, but didn’t.”
Something shifted inside his chest. “Now, would you like to hear the real reason I invited you?”
They paused long enough to nod to a passing carriage that contained two young couples. When they were alone again, he continued.
“I invited you because, after meeting you last night, I wanted to spend an hour or so in your company.”
She didn’t lower her gaze, but the look in her eyes changed.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
She hesitated again, and Jonah realized that even though she was a very strong-willed person, there was a softness to her that wasn’t comfortable with confrontation.
“I don’t lie, Lady Cecelia.”
“Yes, you do,” she said so quietly he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.
Jonah’s heart jolted inside his chest. He maneuvered his carriage to the nearest turnoff, then pulled the horses to a halt. “Would you care to explain that?”
He turned in his seat, placed his index finger beneath her chin, and turned her face enough that she was forced to look him in the eyes.
She breathed a heavy sigh that lifted and lowered her breasts. The movement drew his attention, even though he didn’t want to be attracted by such a movement.
“What lie do you think I have told you?”
She tried to turn her head, but he kept his finger against her cheek, making it impossible for her to look away from him. She breathed another sigh, then gave up her attempt to look away. When she spoke, the tone of her voice was filled with resignation.
“Very well,” she said. “I see you are going to force me to be painfully honest with you.”
“It is the only way it should be between two people who are destined to become friends.”
Her brows furrowed. “Destined?”
“Yes, destined. But I’ll not have you avoid answering my question by asking one of your own. I would first have you explain what lies I have told.”
“Actually, there have been two…that I’ve noticed.”
He couldn’t hide his surprise. “Two?”
“Yes. The first was last night when you asked me to accompany you today because my presence would help ease your way back into society.”
“You consider that a lie?”
“Your presence is already assured, Lord Haywood.”
“Jonah. Please, call me Jonah.”
“Very well. Jonah. The truth is that your place was assured when you arrived at Lady Plimpton’s ball. You are a nobleman, the Earl of Haywood, and a decorated war hero. When my brother didn’t turn his back on you or make a premature departure, as he did three years ago, your entry was assured. The statement his actions made to society was that, even though the two of you may never be on friendly terms, the Duke of Hadleigh will at least tolerate your presence at society’s social affairs.”
Celie moved her gaze to scan the perimeter of Hyde Park. She seemed focused on something in the distance that he’d wager wasn’t there.
“I would also venture,” she continued, “that your butler has been busy all morning answering the door to collect the invitations that are arriving at an alarming rate. None of society’s hostesses will pass up the opportunity to invite to her upcoming event a wounded war hero as well as a most eligible bachelor.”
She lifted her gaze, and Jonah found himself looking into the warmest, yet saddest, smile he’d ever seen on anyone’s face.
“And the second lie?” he asked, unable to argue with anything she’d said thus far.
“The second lie you told just a few moments ago when you told Lady Cushman and Charlene that they had nothing to worry over. That you were completely healed.”
Her expression filled with compassion, and Jonah felt his blood turn warm.
“You’re not healed. In fact, you’re in a great deal of pain right now. The way your breath caught and you pressed your arm to your side earlier evidenced it.”
“You’re very observant,” he commented, leaning back against the leather cushion to relax.
“Hadleigh tells me the same,” she said with a smile on her face, “but he never means it as a compliment.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Surely you know that no man is impressed with a woman who proves that there’s something more than air between her ears.”
Jonah laughed again. “I’ve never considered that. I’ve always admired women who could think for themselves.”
She looked surprised. “Do you know how progressive that makes you sound?”
“Is that a point in my favor or against?”
“That, Lord Haywood, de—”
“Jonah,” he corrected her.
“Jonah. Yes, well, that depends on whom you ask.”
Jonah studied her for a moment and was struck by her thoughtfulness. She was not at all shallow, like most of society’s other females. Like Melisande had been.
The moment she noticed him watching her, she changed.