The Most to Lose (17 page)

Their gazes met and held in the moonlight, and she saw a look she’d only dreamed of seeing in a man’s eyes.

Even though she only had a cloudless sky and Lady Writhington’s garden lanterns to go by, she saw it plain as if it were daytime. There was a glimmer in his eyes that mirrored the smile on his face and…she’d never seen anything so wonderful in her life.

“I’ll expect your visit in the morning,” the Duke of Hadleigh replied, then turned to go back to the Writhington ball.

“Don’t worry,” Jonah whispered to Celie when Hadleigh had walked through the small group of onlookers on the terrace. “Everything will be all right.”

It was only when Jonah loosened her rigid fingers that Celie realized her fingers were digging into his arm. “I think they will, too, but I won’t feel better until after you’ve talked to my brother.”

Jonah turned to her and held her gently by the shoulders. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Celie couldn’t help but smile. In fact, she was nearly giddy just knowing there was a possibility she would be marrying the man with whom she’d been in love her whole life. “I’m sure. And I’d show you exactly how sure I am if we still didn’t have an audience straining to get a glimpse of us in the darkness.”

Jonah laughed, then lowered his head and whispered in her ear. “As long as they’re watching so intently, it would be a shame to disappoint them.”

And he leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek.

Chapter 10

S
terling Randolph, Duke of Hadleigh, watched the Earl of Haywood mount his horse and ride away. He’d given him a complete list of all the debts he’d paid for him. The amount was staggering, but well worth any dent to his coffers. No amount was too much when it came to exacting revenge on the man who’d killed his Melisande.

He wanted to declare victory, but it was too early to celebrate. He couldn’t count on anything until Cecelia came to her senses, until she realized what a blackguard Haywood truly was and broke off any association with him. Only then would it be too late for Haywood to escape the trap he’d set for him.

Hadleigh returned to his study and poured himself a glass of the special brandy he’d had brought up from his cellar. He at least intended to toast the progress so far.

Haywood was well on his way to losing it all.

Hadleigh anticipated a few moments of privacy in which to celebrate, but the knock on his door stopped him. He looked up to see Cecelia enter the room.

“Fitzhugh said Jonah was here a short while ago.” She rushed across the thick Turkish carpet and stopped a few feet from his chair. There was something different about her. A certain glow he’d never noticed before.

“Yes, he was here.”

Hadleigh watched the smile on her face reach her eyes. She wasn’t a beauty like Melisande had been, but for the first time, he noticed there was something quite attractive about her.

He tried to remember when his sister’s looks had changed but couldn’t. Now, though, she had the look of a woman who was…happy.

Surely her feelings for Haywood weren’t serious enough to be unalterable?

“Well, are you going to tell me what he came to discuss? Or am I going to have to go ask Jonah?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Come, sit down, Cecelia.”

A frown covered his sister’s forehead. “You didn’t refuse him, did you?”

He’d seen that expression before: the firm set of Cecelia’s mouth, the hard glare in her eyes, the pout of her lips. Everything about her was the same as it always was when she was determined to get her way.

“No, I didn’t refuse, exactly.”

“What do you mean…exactly?”

“Sit down.”

He waited until she sat, then rose to close the door. He didn’t want any of the servants to overhear their conversation.

“Haywood asked my permission to court you,” he said after he sat in his chair. “With intentions of marrying you.”

“What did you say?”

“I listened to his offer and tried to keep an open mind. He made some remarks that caused me concern.”

“What kind of remarks?”

“Remarks about his intentions concerning the money he will receive upon marrying you.”

“Is that all?” The frown dropped from her face and was replaced by a smile. “He needs my dowry to make improvements to his estate. He’s told me about them.” She paused. “Are you worried he might not use my money wisely?”

“You know his father’s and brother’s reputations.”

“Jonah’s not at all like either one of them.”

“How do you know? You just met him a month ago.”

“Hadleigh, how ridiculous. We’ve known Jonah our whole lives.”

“Yes,” he said in a louder voice than he’d intended. “Which is exactly why I’m warning you about him.”

“Then you can save your breath. I know all I need to know.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Cecelia rose from her chair and walked to the window that looked out onto their mother’s garden. “We might as well quit this bantering of words. It’s getting us nowhere. Why don’t you tell me what it is that you think I need to know about Jonah?”

“I have a question for you first,” Hadleigh said. He had to handle this right. He wanted to cast a few doubts in Haywood’s direction. Overdoing it would ruin everything.

“Yes?”

“What are your feelings for Haywood?”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Do you imagine yourself in love with him?”

She laughed and he took great relief in that reaction. Of course she hadn’t fallen in love with him. How could she have? She didn’t know anything about him. She didn’t know how deceitful he could be. How he couldn’t be trusted. What little regard he had for anyone.

It was his fault Melisande was dead, and he’d never forgive him for that.

“I knew you couldn’t be in love with him,” he said, feeling more sure of himself. “You are far too intelligent for that. It’s just that it’s so easy for people to give him more regard than he deserves.”

“Do you think people regard him too highly?”

Bile rose in Hadleigh’s throat and he thought he might choke. “Of course people think too highly of him. He’s not a bloody hero, you know. He wasn’t wounded in a battle, exactly.”

“I thought he was,” Cecelia argued.

“He wasn’t. It was only a minor skirmish. Hardly worth having its own name.”

“I see.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

Hadleigh rose to allow his towering height to place more emphasis on his words. His nearness was bound to make his accusations more effective. He walked to where she stood. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You think Jonah will hurt me?”

“I think you will be hurt if you make the mistake of falling in love with him.”

She seemed to ponder his words. He was glad.

“I see,” she answered, pacing the small area in the front of the room. She stopped and turned to face him. “What else would you like to warn me of concerning Lord Haywood?”

“Like you said, Cecelia, I’ve known Haywood for a very long time, and I’m not sure he’s capable of love.”

“Capable of love?” she asked. “Or capable of loving me?”

“I’m not sure there’s a difference. The man has no heart. I learned that three years ago when he caused Melisande’s death.”

“Did you refuse his request to see me, then?”

“Of course not. That would have been the surest way of inviting you to defy my wishes.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I would give him six months to court you. That I would not entertain talk of marriage until that time was over.”

“Because you think I will come to my senses in that time and realize what a villain he is?”

“Yes. Or that you will at least realize what kind of man he truly is and walk into any connection with him with your eyes wide open as to his faults and the reason he’s determined to marry you.”

“And that is?”

“Your dowry, Cecelia. Haywood is no different than any other suitor who has asked for your hand. He only wants your dowry.”

Cecelia placed her hand on the nearest piece of furniture as if she needed the support it offered. His words had shocked her. His accusations had bothered her.

“You don’t think he can love me?”

“Of course he can’t love you. He’s incapable of the emotion.”

Her voice was small, unsteady, and he wanted to celebrate. He’d planted the seeds of doubt, and they’d already taken root.

Today had turned out better than he’d imagined.

“And yet you gave him six months to court me?”

“Yes. I know it will no doubt take you less than half that long, but I want you to believe beyond question that—”

“I won’t need the six months, Hadleigh.” She faced him with a bravado he hadn’t expected to see on her face. “I doubt that it will take me even one month to discover the kind of man he is.”

“Only one?”

“Yes. But to make sure of his intentions, I’ll accept your six-month stipulation.”

Hadleigh held his breath. Oh, he hoped he hadn’t done too good of a job discouraging her. Her refusal to continue seeing Haywood would ruin his plan. Haywood hadn’t begun work on Haywood Abbey yet.

“Actually, I’m glad you gave Lord Haywood a specified amount of time to court me. You can be assured I will use every moment of that time wisely.”

His sister gave him a reassuring smile, then made her way to the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Hadleigh, I think I’ll take the carriage out to call on Amanda. I told her I would help her decide on the material she selected for a new gown.”

Hadleigh sat back in his chair and took a swallow of the brandy he’d poured before Cecelia had arrived. This was indeed a day to celebrate.

He hoped his sister was correct in the length of time it would take her to discover Haywood’s true nature. He hated to think of her spending too much time with a man who possessed such a black heart.

Chapter 11

C
elie looked across Lady Windemere’s crowded ballroom in search of Amanda. She couldn’t wait to tell her what had transpired over the last few days. The minute she spied her, she left Hadleigh’s side and walked toward her.

“It’s about time you arrived, Celie. I’ve spent the last half hour listening to Lady Ruggers and Lady Coleton explain all their aches and pains and the remedies they’re taking to alleviate them.”

“It serves you right. I told you we wouldn’t be early. Hadleigh was locked in his study all afternoon with his man of business. I was afraid they’d never finish.”

“I had no choice. My brother insisted we leave early, and since I wanted to speak to him, I took advantage of the opportunity I’d have when we were confined in a carriage and he couldn’t escape.”

Celie looked at her friend. “Uh-oh. That sounds serious.”

“It is. I spent the afternoon going over the estate books my brother has neglected for the last few months. The accounts weren’t encouraging.”

“Did you ask him about it?”

“I tried. He always has an excuse as to why things aren’t as good as they could be. Mostly, though, the reason is his lack of responsibility and his overspending.”

Amanda looked concerned. “Father did Stephen a great disservice by giving him such free rein. But enough of Stephen.” Amanda waved her hand in front of her and her frown quickly dissipated. “I want to hear about you. You’ve got that dreamy look in your eyes. What have you been up to for the last few days?”

Celie couldn’t help but smile. “Jonah asked for Hadleigh’s permission to marry me.”

Amanda squealed in delight, then pulled Celie to a secluded corner. “Did your brother say yes?”

Celie nodded.

The look of shock and surprise on Amanda’s face made Celie laugh. “He said yes, but with one stipulation.”

“What?”

“That Jonah court me for six months before he gives his approval.”

“Why six months?”

“Because he’s certain that, in those six months, I’ll realize what a villain he is. That I’ll come to my senses and see him for the blackguard he really is.”

“Then your brother is a fool.”

Celie studied her friend. “You don’t believe Jonah is only courting me to exact revenge on my brother? Or to gain my dowry?”

“The truth?” Amanda asked seriously.

“Yes. The truth.”