unfortunate accident, the party was anything but bleak. The parlor in the little blue house across from Pettyfort Park was bright with a fire and friends gathered to celebrate the recent union of Owen Gregory and Celeste Hendricks no more and Montgomery never quite. But now she was Celeste Gregory, and that was more than enough.
Celeste smiled at Harriet and Lena, already a welcome addition to her circle of friends, fellow wives. Abigail stood with them, chatting intently.
The Duke of Gilmore lingered to the side of the group with Lord Leighton. The two old friends were deep in conversation, as well, though Celeste wasn’t certain the topic was as light as whatever the women were engaged in.
Pippa was by herself at the fire, staring into the flames. As Celeste approached her, Pippa jumped. “I’m sorry,” she said with a laugh that didn’t quite meet those bright green eyes of hers. “I was miles away.”
“Understandably,” Celeste said, taking her arm.
“It was a beautiful wedding,” Pippa said with a sigh. “And you will be truly happy, as you have been these last two weeks while the special license was rushed through. You could not wait a moment more, could you?”
“I couldn’t,” Celeste said with a laugh. “Both because I am so deliriously in love and also because the longer I waited, the more likely it was that my parents would show up here to put their noses in my future. The rush kept them in Twiddleport, where I hope they will stay.”
“I understand that completely.” Pippa bent her head.
Celeste wrinkled her brow. “How are you?”
“It’s lonely at the Montgomery residence now that you are gone,” Pippa admitted. “Abigail and I have each other, of course, but things are still strained. I wish she had told me the truth sooner, and she wishes the same. It’s a small wall between us, but a wall nonetheless.”
“One you will overcome, I’m sure,” Celeste assured her.
Pippa frowned. “It will be harder soon. Though Rosie Stanton has not reappeared, both Leighton and I have concerns about her son’s future. We depart for Bath shortly, and I have no idea how long we will remain there, making arrangements for the boy.”
Celeste glanced toward Leighton again and found he was watching Pippa, though his eyes darted away when he was caught at it. She had her own questions about those two and what their connection was and could be.
But she kept them to herself. It was a complicated thing, after all, and not one she was ready to push. “You will be of great help to him, I know,” Celeste said. “Have Leighton and Gilmore had any information of where Rosie could have gone?”
“There is some indication she might have fled to America. They said something about a ship to Maryland or Lower Canada,” Pippa said. “But I do not know whether or not to trust in that.” She caught her breath as if to say more, but then she smiled over Celeste’s shoulder. “But now here comes your husband. Mr. Gregory, you have yourself a treasure.”
Celeste looked back, and her heart skipped as Owen joined them. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and for a moment there was only peace in the world. What a rapturous thing it was, to have a person who could bring such a feeling and with such ease.
“I do, indeed,” he said as he pressed a kiss to Celeste’s cheek. “A treasure worth more than rubies.”
Pippa smiled, though a flicker of sadness sparkled in her eyes. Then she nodded. “I see that Abigail has finished her conversation with Lena and Harriet. I will join her.”
She slipped away, and Owen watched her before he glanced at Celeste. “She told you of her and Leighton’s plans?”
“Yes. There is a certain longing there, I think.”
He was quiet a moment. “I don’t think you’re wrong. I recognize it as very much like the longing I once felt for you. Do you worry?”
“Only that they are in such a difficult position. I fear they will not let themselves comfort one another, even if that is their mutual desire.” She frowned. “I would like them to be happy. Pippa and Abigail deserve the same joy I’ve found with you.”
“Your concern for your friends does you credit.” He smiled. “But no one could be as happy as we are.”
She laughed. “That may be true. I do love you, you know. With all my heart.”
“Then I am truly the luckiest man in the world.”
“No, I am the luckiest,” she corrected him. “Because I now have a husband in truth and you are well worth anything I went through on the road to you.”
Also by Jess Michaels
The Duke’s By-Blows
The Love of a Libertine
The Heart of a Hellion
The Matter of a Marquess
The Redemption of a Rogue
* * *
The 1797 Club
The Daring Duke
Her Favorite Duke
The Broken Duke
The Silent Duke
The Duke of Nothing
The Undercover Duke
The Duke of Hearts
The Duke Who Lied
The Duke of Desire
The Last Duke
* * *
The Scandal Sheet
The Return of Lady Jane
Stealing the Duke
Lady No Says Yes
My Fair Viscount
Guarding the Countess
The House of Pleasure
Seasons
An Affair in Winter
A Spring Deception
One Summer of Surrender
Adored in Autumn
* * *
The Wicked Woodleys
Forbidden
Deceived
Tempted
Ruined
Seduced
Fascinated
* * *
The Notorious Flynns
The Other Duke
The Scoundrel’s Lover
The Widow Wager
No Gentleman for Georgina
A Marquis for Mary
To see a complete listing of Jess Michaels’ titles, please visit:
http://www.authorjessmichaels.com/books
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Jess Michaels likes geeky stuff, Vanilla Coke Zero, anything coconut, cheese, fluffy cats, smooth cats, any cats, many dogs and people who care about the welfare of their fellow humans. She is lucky enough to be married to her favorite person in the world and lives in the heart of Dallas, TX where she's trying to eat all the amazing food in the city.
When she’s not obsessively checking her steps on Fitbit or trying out new flavors of Greek yogurt, she writes historical romances with smoking hot alpha males and sassy ladies who do anything but wait to get what they want. She has written for numerous publishers and is now fully indie and loving every moment of it (well, almost every moment).
Jess loves to hear from fans! So please feel free to contact her at Jess@AuthorJessMichaels.com.
Jess Michaels raffles a gift certificate EVERY month to members of her newsletter, so sign up on her website:
http://www.AuthorJessMichaels.com/