The Most to Lose (24 page)

Celie had never met two people more destined to hate each other than her best friend and her brother. If the two of them survived the evening, their success threatened to rival one of the seven wonders of the universe. Amanda obviously didn’t realize how her comments affected Hadleigh or how they threw him off balance. He was a duke, for heaven’s sake. He was used to the respect and deference that accompanied his position. People guarded their words when they spoke to him. Instead, Amanda seemed to go out of her way to shock him with her outspokenness.

Jonah, at least, attempted to ease the tension as they made their way to the village assembly room where the dance was to be held. He and Amanda carried on a pleasant conversation. Her brother, however, wasn’t helpful. The sullen expression on his face prevented either Jonah or Amanda from trying to include him in their discussions.

Not that either of them tried. There were times when she thought Jonah was as bent on fueling their ongoing feud as Hadleigh was.

Celie’s gaze rested on Jonah as he conversed with Amanda. Every time she saw him, or thought of him, or stood close to him, her heart swelled inside her breast. She remembered what they’d shared the past week and the love she felt for him intensified.

“Do you anticipate a crush at the event?” Amanda asked Celie. “I know if the locals at home held an event like this, everyone for miles around would attend.”

“It will be the same here. I think we’ll be fortunate to find each other if we venture too far apart.”

Amanda’s smile brightened. “Tonight sounds more enjoyable all the time. Don’t you think so, Your Grace?”

Hadleigh answered her with a grimace. Celie noticed, however, his gesture couldn’t be called a smile. Every time he was forced to speak to Amanda, he wore a glowering frown that refused to go away.

“If you say so, Lady Amanda. You’re about to find out. We’ve arrived.”

The carriage stopped, and a footman rushed to open the door. As soon as the steps were lowered, Jonah stepped out and turned to assist Amanda to exit. Celie followed, and Hadleigh disembarked last. Celie knew it was cruel of her, but she stepped toward Jonah and took the arm he offered. That left Hadleigh to escort Amanda into the assembly hall.

The furious glare on his face told her he didn’t appreciate her maneuver, but Celie didn’t care. She wanted to walk in with Jonah.

The street in front of the assembly hall was crowded with wagons and carriages and horses tied to posts. The line of partygoers stretched from the entrance of the building, down the walk that led to the building, and around the corner. The guests included elderly matrons who needed canes for assistance, middle-aged married couples, and several young adults who came in groups of four and more. The laughter that rang out put everyone in a festive mood.

Excitement built inside her until she felt giddy with joy. She felt like she was attending the opera or the theater on opening night of a new performance. “Look, Hadleigh,” she said, watching the growing crowd make its way toward the building. “Everyone is here. And more are coming.”

In unison, they turned to watch as more carriages unloaded their passengers.

Celie wasn’t sure who noticed whom first, but her gaze stopped when she saw one particular couple coming toward them.

The rage in the woman’s eyes was frightening, the fury in her steps a warning. She marched in agitated steps with her husband in tow. Celie experienced a dread she wasn’t prepared to handle.

“Step behind me,” Jonah said, extending his arm to push her back.

“No, Jonah—”

“Yes.”

Celie cast a second startled glance at Melisande’s mother and realized that Lady Kendall was going to cause a scene. Even after all these years, Melisande’s parents hadn’t recovered from her death. At least Lady Kendall hadn’t. The fiery hatred in her eyes intensified as she stopped in front of Jonah and glared at him.

“How dare you show your face in polite society,” Lady Kendall said. Her voice was loud enough that everyone near them stopped to listen. “You should have been hanged for murder.”

“Margaret,” Lord Kendall said in a soothing voice, “let’s return home.”

“I prayed each night you were at war that you wouldn’t come back alive. I asked that God would just give me that. But He didn’t. He let you survive.”

“Come home with me, Margaret,” Lord Kendall said again. “You’re only upsetting yourself. There’s nothing you can do.” This time he placed his arm around his wife’s shoulder and turned her away from them.

“You deserve to die,” she hollered over her shoulder as her husband escorted her to their carriage.

Her hateful words echoed in Celie’s head even after the couple disappeared and the Marquess of Kendall’s carriage was out of sight.

“Are you all right?” she heard Jonah ask.

She looked up and saw the deep frown on his face. She tried to answer him, knew she should be worried about him instead of him worrying about her—but she couldn’t. She was trembling too badly to find her voice. And if she could find her voice, she wouldn’t be able to form the words. Her teeth chattered too violently.

“Do you want to go home, Celie?”

“Do you?” she finally managed.

He shook his head. “I have to face this. Running will only fuel the gossip.”

“Then I will stand at your side and face it with you.”

He tightened his arm around her shoulder, and his strength traveled through her.

Jonah turned to Amanda. “Would you like to return to Hadleigh Manor, Lady Amanda?”

She laughed. “I should hope not. The evening has just begun. I’ve come to dance, and I can hear the orchestra from out here. They sound more than passable. It should be quite enjoyable.”

That left only her brother, and they all seemed to focus on him at the same time.

“Well, Your Grace, have you decided with which camp you will toss your lot?” Amanda asked.

Hadleigh bristled visibly. His eyes narrowed when he lowered his gaze to meet Amanda’s and his shoulders stiffened in determination. “Yes, Lady Amanda. I have decided what I am going to do.”

Hadleigh didn’t exactly step closer to where Amanda was on the narrow walkway, but it seemed as if he had. He raised himself up to his full height and towered over her like Celie had seen a vulture hover over its prey. “Someone is required to take responsibility for my sister, and if I leave, you would be that person. I shudder at the thought.”

For the first time since Celie had known Amanda, her friend seemed at a loss for words. She recovered quickly, but not before Celie noticed a look of satisfaction on her brother’s face.

“Your kindness never ceases to amaze me,” Amanda said, fluttering her fan as if Hadleigh’s words were a compliment instead of an insult. “Shall we go inside, then? The night is getting away from us.”

Celie gave Jonah’s arm a reassuring squeeze, then entered the assembly room with a smile on her face. This was the same as it was three years ago when Hadleigh had turned his back on Jonah, and society had followed suit. Except this time the outcome would be different. This time Jonah wasn’t alone. This time she was with him.

Jonah escorted her through the room, and Celie recognized some childhood friends she’d grown up with. With her arm linked with Jonah’s, they made their way to speak with them.

At first the tension in the room was uncomfortable. Conversations seemed stilted; people stared. But as the evening progressed, the scene outside lost importance.

Celie danced one dance with Jonah; then Squire James asked for the next set, and Robbie Benson, whose father owned the Keg and Ale, asked for the next. Amanda didn’t lack for partners, either, although Celie noted that Hadleigh wasn’t one of them. Jonah was monopolized the entire evening by several groups of townsmen who were interested in the improvements he was making to Haywood Abbey.

The evening was progressing much better than it had started.

“I haven’t had a chance to be with you all night,” Jonah said from behind her. “Would you care to step outside?”

Celie turned. The second she saw Jonah’s captivating smile, a surge of warmth radiated through her. “I’d love to. I was afraid you weren’t going to escape Vicar Redling and Mr. Hawthorton until the party was over.”

“The thought crossed my mind, too, but Mrs. Hawthorton complained that her husband had only danced with her once, so to keep peace at home, he led her to the dance floor.”

“Wise man,” Celie said as they made their way out a side door and down the stairs that led to the lawn. Several other couples had the same idea and were walking through the little park the town had made surrounding the assembly hall.

Jonah led her to one of the few vacant benches placed inside the fenced-in park and they sat.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight. I’m sure all the other females are green with envy.”

“I doubt it,” she said with a smile on her face, “but I thank you for saying so. Have you noticed that Amanda hasn’t lacked for admirers tonight?”

“Yes, I noticed. She was talking to the Conroy brothers when we left. Bertie Franklin was with them. All the young bucks here tonight are trying their hardest to make a favorable impression on her.”

“Everyone except Hadleigh.” Celie sighed. “Have you ever seen two people so opposite each other in your life?”

“They do seem to inspire the worst in each other. I’ll say that for them.”

Celie paused. “Have you recovered from the confrontation with Lady Kendall?”

“Yes, have you?”

“Me?” Celie placed her hand atop Jonah’s. “I wasn’t the focus of her tirade. You were.”

“Yes, but she reminded everyone of Melisande’s death three years ago. That couldn’t have been pleasant for you.”

She gently squeezed his fingers. “Nor for you.”

His eyes closed briefly and he shook his head. “It’s as if what happened that night will never go away. No matter how many years pass or how hard I try to distance myself from the events of that night, something or someone resurrects Melisande’s death.”

“Rumors have circulated about Lady Kendall’s mental stability for quite some time. But I didn’t realize she was so ill.” Celie was suddenly struck by a frightening thought. “Jonah, you don’t suppose Lord Kendall was responsible for shooting at us the day we arrived?”

He shook his head. “That thought occurred to me. I asked around about Kendall tonight, but Brandon Ransdell told me Lord Kendall didn’t arrive at Kendall Park until the day before yesterday. He would know. His nephew is in charge of the stables at Kendall Park.”

Celie experienced a sinking feeling. “If it wasn’t Lord Kendall, who do you think it might have been? Are you sure there’s no one else who might want to harm you?”

Jonah placed his other hand atop hers. “I don’t know. Maybe what happened was an accident. Perhaps there was a hunter nearby and his shot went wild.”

“You don’t believe that, and I know it.”

He smiled at her, but his smile wasn’t sincere. “No, but it does no good to concentrate on the questions I can’t answer.” He gathered her hands in his. “I’d rather talk about us. Is Hadleigh still determined to leave for London in the morning?”

“Yes. Will you return with us?”

“No. I have too much to oversee here. But I’ll be there in the morning to see you off. As soon as I finish here, I’ll come back. I can’t stay away from you too long, you know.”

Jonah wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer. Celie went willingly. She remained in his arms for several wonderful moments before he spoke.

“We’d better go back inside,” he said, kissing her lightly on the forehead. “I’m surprised your brother hasn’t come for you already.”

Celie rose with Jonah and walked back inside. She wished she could convince her brother to stay a few more days at least, but knew that was unlikely. She was glad he agreed to stay long enough to attend tonight’s affair.

When they stepped inside the assembly room, the musicians were just starting a country dance, and Jonah led her onto the floor. They did the steps, weaving in and out of the line of dancers. Each time they came together, their gazes locked and he looked down on her with a smile that warmed her entire body.

Celie would always remember this night and how deeply she was in love with the Earl of Haywood.