Free Celine by Kathleen Bittner Roth Page A

walkway, a slight twitch in his jaw the only indication of his distress.
    She wished he would say something—anything.
    The silence wore on her. The cloying scent of the flowers grew heavier by the moment until she wondered if she could manage another breath. “Justin, please—”
    A deep frown hooded his brow. “Why now, Celine? I hoped you might wait a year, if you went at all. Now I realize when the discussion came up over dinner that you meant sooner. Does Trevor have anything to do with your sudden decision?”
    â€œYes, and no.” Celine decided to be as honest with Justin as she could. He deserved that much. “Elizabeth, Miles, Cameron, Trevor—what does it matter who is involved in my decision? The point is, I’ve lived quietly, mending slowly. I’ll be forever grateful to you for giving me the time to do so in such peaceful surroundings. But I cannot carry on this way. Perhaps your family’s arrival hastened my awakening, I don’t know, but we both knew from the outset I would leave.”
    She placed her hand on his arm. “I must find my place in the world, Justin. Staying here would merely continue my . . . my hibernation. I’d be hiding. Stagnating. Something deep within tells me the time to leave here has come.”
    She squeezed his arm. “Please try to understand. Don’t make things harder for me.”
    He tucked his hand under her chin and raised her face to his. “I do understand, my dear. More than you probably realize. It’s just that ... this selfish old man doesn’t want to lose you. I have come to think of you as family. You’ve filled the gaping hole in my life that opened when I lost my eldest daughter to influenza.”
    â€œI must leave.”
    â€œI know.”
    Tears glistened in both their eyes as, arm in arm, they made their way back through the garden.
    Suddenly, her senses alerted her that someone watched them. She glanced up to the second-floor gallery. Trevor stood in the afternoon shadows, leaning against the wall in silent observation.
    A chill ran through her. “Do you mind if we go inside?”
    Justin gave her arm a pat. “Not at all. In fact, come to my office. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
    They exchanged small talk as they made their way to his office. He retrieved a thick journal from the bookcase behind him and nodded to the leather chair in front of the desk. “Please, sit.”
    The clock on a shelf ticked the silent moments by as Justin thumbed through the book. “Our company has a ship sailing for San Francisco from New Orleans in six weeks. Do an old man one last favor and take passage on it?” He smiled tenderly. “I’ll see you to town myself when the time comes.”
    Dear Lord, six long weeks? “Of course,” Celine responded, wondering how in the world she would be able to put up with Trevor’s advances. How the devil long were those two cousins planning to extend their stay at Carlton Oaks? She dared not ask. Not at the moment, anyway.
    She thought of suggesting they leave for New Orleans at once, telling Justin she would like to spend a bit of time in the city where she’d grown up before leaving forever. But then, Trevor and Cameron would soon return there on business, and wouldn’t they reside in the family townhouse? Which was where Justin would expect her to stay. Oh, dear, what a predicament.

Chapter Six
    Despite the formidable gray skies that moved in before sunset, spirits ran high, for the family would soon travel upriver to attend the soirée at the Verrette plantation . Celine couldn’t remember when she’d tasted such delicious excitement.
    She sat at the dressing table fidgeting while Marie put the finishing touches on her hair. She tried for as much nonchalance as she could muster. “Tell me about the Widow Beaudrée.”
    Marie grunted and spoke through the pins in her