The Unexpected Wife - Jess Michaels Page 0,28

faded away to something more purposeful when the Duke of Gilmore said, “We cannot avoid discussing the murder of Mr. Montgomery, can we?”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “Trust in you to make things unpleasant.”

“What is unpleasant, madam, is ignoring a difficulty just because it’s not easy,” he snapped in return.

For a moment the two of them glared at each other, then Abigail folded her arms. “I don’t think anyone believes we can ignore anything, Your Grace,” she said. “Though in truth, I don’t know what part you have to play here. Pippa, Celeste and I are affected by Ras’s lies because we are the victims of them. Lord Leighton, as well, will be directly damaged by the scandal that will come.”

“Has already come,” the earl said.

Abigail ignored him. “But why, exactly, do you insist on remaining part of this tale of woe and ruin? Is it only the enjoyment you receive from watching us all fall?”

Celeste nearly choked at the pointed accusation and the fact that the duke’s cheeks were flaring a dark red. But Abigail seemed unafraid, despite the fact that the man had power and could likely squash her like a bug if he desired. Celeste couldn’t help feeling envious of how certain Abigail was in that moment. How unaffected.

“I involve myself because the man was trying to make a victim out of my sister,” he said through what sounded like clenched teeth. “And because I know I set in motion a series of events that will cause pain and ruin both to my friend, the Earl of Leighton, and to you ladies. So I feel a responsibility to help resolve the issue in whatever way I can.”

Abigail drew back at that statement. “Oh,” she said.

Leighton raised a hand. “You two can argue about how little you think of each other later. We have a limited amount of time to spend as a group, and I think we’d better use it by discussing the very scandal you are debating.”

Celeste glanced at him. “How bad is it?” she asked softly.

Leighton exchanged a look with Gilmore and then sighed. “I brought this morning’s paper.” He pulled it from his inner pocket and smoothed it on the table between them. “The story is on the second page. Not on a gossip sheet, not a blind item…it is listed as fact and details are given.”

Celeste leaned in and read aloud where he indicated. “The Honorable Erasmus Montgomery, brother to the Earl of Leighton, was recently murdered. Speculation is that the nature of his untimely death could be due to his questionable actions. Montgomery was discovered to be a bigamist.”

She lifted her gaze and stared at Owen. “It lists our names. It lists the names of our families and where they live.”

“Names? Let me see,” Pippa gasped, and edged in a little. The way she snatched the paper to read the horrible black-and-white truth herself made Celeste look a little closer.

But her own emotions overwhelmed her before she could glean much about Pippa’s thoughts. Celeste got up and paced away to the window. She stared outside as the group behind her began to talk all at once. The words faded into a mindless noise behind her, and that left her with only her thoughts buzzing in her mind.

Erasmus’s death had given her…hope, as morbid as that was. Coming to London, she had pictured that she might be able to make a life here. A small life, perhaps, but a life of her own at last.

But the whispers that had likely been filtering through higher society since Erasmus’s murder would now become screams in all corners of London thanks to the news going public. Her name was now associated, maiden or married. And she might never be accepted in any way, not in high company nor low.

She realized someone was saying her name. It pierced through her desperate fog. She turned and found the group staring at her. Owen had stood and moved a step in her direction, but it was Abigail who was saying her name.

“Celeste?” she repeated, and this time it didn’t sound like it was coming from under water.

“I-I need a moment—” she stammered, and stumbled for the door. Abigail said her name again, but she ignored it. After all, there was nothing anyone could say now that could change the truth…or the future.

Owen watched Celeste stagger from the room, and his heart ached in his chest to see her in such pain. To not be able to soothe it, even though