Free A Spring Deception (Seasons Book 2) by Jess Michaels Page B

being influenced by Mr. Danford and Rosalinde?”
    Celia’s cheeks filled with heat at her friends’ teasing. “I’m not. I was simply saying to Tabitha that perhaps you wished to hold out for love in a match rather than settle for someone who sees you as a moneybag.”
    Honora sighed. “It’s a nice thought, but life doesn’t work that way very often, does it? My father expects a good match and eventually he’ll find one for me. I can only hope the gentleman won’t have warts and he’ll possess all his teeth and be able to string two sentences together. If he can’t, I may be forced to bludgeon him to death the first night we’re stuck together due to inclement weather.”
    Celia laughed at Honora’s teasing, but inside she drew back from the truth beneath the playfulness. The kind of surrender Honora described didn’t sound like a pleasant scenario at all, yet her friend seemed resigned. But then again, just six short months ago, Celia had also been resigned to marrying someone she wasn’t connected to.
    With a sigh, she found her former intended in the crowd. Stenfax wasn’t dancing, but then he never danced anymore. He looked very serious and undeniably handsome.
    And yet despite all his good qualities, she hadn’t cared for him, no matter how much time she spent trying to do just that.
    But with Aiden it was different. One moment with him and she felt like he’d taken a small piece of her with him. One kiss and she dreamed of him ever since.
    “Ah, she’s floating off,” Tabitha said with a laugh. “Thinking of true love, no doubt.”
    “She should . I heard the Duke of Clairemont sent her flowers,” Honora said, arching a brow in Celia’s direction as if daring her to deny the charge.
    “The duke came to my brother-in-law’s house to see to some business with Gray,” Celia corrected quickly. “He sent flowers to thank all of us for the evening.”
    Only she had commandeered those flowers for her own room, along with his note, which had specifically mentioned her. How many times had she read the way he wrote her name? Ten? Twenty? One hundred and twenty?
    Well, who was counting?
    “He may be thanking you for another evening soon,” Honora said, now lowering her voice to a whisper. “He’s coming this way.”
    Celia moved to look over her shoulder, but Tabitha grabbed her arm with both hands. “Don’t look at him,” she hissed. “Great Lord, you have to make him work a little for your attention. Men love the struggle, the battle. You must give them one.”
    Celia pursed her lips. She’d always despised these little games. She wondered what her friends would think if they knew she’d forgone them in exchange for a passionate kiss just two nights before.
    “Good evening, ladies.”
    Her entire body clenched at the sound of Aiden’s voice, and a thrill went down her spine. Slowly, she turned and smiled. “Your Grace,” she said. “How nice to see you again.”
    “Miss Fitzgilbert,” he said, holding her stare a fraction too long.
    She blushed to her toes before she stammered, “H-have you met my friends, Your Grace?”
    He nodded. “Yes, I was introduced to both at the Harrington ball. A pleasure to see you again Lady Honora, Miss Thornton.”
    “Your Grace,” the girls said in unison, and curtseyed slightly.
    “You’ll have to excuse us, my lord,” Tabitha said. “Honora and I were about to go find her mother for an important discussion.”
    Honora blinked a moment, then nodded. “Oh, yes. Very important. Good evening.”
    Celia barely kept herself from rolling her eyes as her friends abandoned her to the company of the man at her side. But in truth, she was pleased to be alone with him. Her heart began to race as she faced him fully.
    “They aren’t very artful, I’m afraid,” she said with a laugh.
    He smiled. “In leaving us alone, you mean?”
    “Yes.”
    “Does that mean that they believe you might wish to be alone with me?” he asked, leaning in just a