Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The ballroom was as crowded as Edward had ever seen. From the moment he and Millicent arrived, it was nothing but throngs of guests crammed together in a space that appeared far too small for their number.
Edward was a tall man, so he stood above most. This allowed him to scan the heads of the guests, searching immediately for Celestine. She was all he cared about that night, and until he spoke to her, nothing else mattered.
“Can you see her?” Millicent was with him and while she tried to look, it was impossible for someone as short as she was.
“I…” He groaned. “She must be here. She has to be.”
“She will be,” Millicent said. “I know it.” She took Edward’s hand once more and gave it a comforting squeeze, a way to show him that she was there and by his side.
Edward’s throat tightened at the gesture. It was the last ball of the Season, one that should have been all about Millicent. She had gone the entire Season without finding the interest of even a single suitor, and should she not tonight, then the Season would be a waste.
But she did not care. What she cared about was her uncle, his future, his happiness. She was far too kind, far too loving, and far too good for someone like Edward. He looked at her, his chin wobbled, and he wondered how he was so lucky to have someone like her in his life.
Most of all, as he looked at her, it inspired him. She truly believed that Celestine still loved him, and he knew that if this was proven true, then it would make her even happier than if she found love of her own. To care so much about somebody else… that was who Edward wanted to be.
No, that is who I am. I care… not about me, but Millicent, and about Celestine. This is for them, as much as it is for me.
“Come.” Keeping his niece close, Edward waded through the crowd. “And keep your eyes open for her.”
There were just so many guests. The lords all blended into one, the suits they wore of similar colors, the style of their hair, even their faces were indistinguishable as Edward searched.
While the colorful gowns of the women were blinding, a kaleidoscope that blurred and blocked and made it impossible to distinguish one person from the next.
As Edward walked, he noticed many of the guests looking at him. They frowned. They shook their heads. Most even turned away, as if worried he would approach them.
His name was still poison in the ton, as he had not bothered to enact his revenge on Lord Grundon. In truth, it made little difference to him. Let the people judge. Let them shy away. Let them hate. Celestine was who he cared about, and until he told her how he felt, nothing else mattered.
“Is that…” Millicent pointed through the crowd. “It’s Marigold! Look.”
Edward turned sharply and exhaled with relief when he saw one of Celestine’s sisters. He pulled Millicent with him, a struggle to do, but he wasn’t going to leave her behind.
“Marigold!” Edward swept into the young lady.
“Oh, Your Grace…” Marigold did not appear nearly so elated to see him. “You’re here.”
“Celestine,” he asked without preamble. “Is she here tonight? Did she come?”
“She…” Marigold hesitated. “Yes, she is here.”
Edward exhaled again. “Where is she? I need to speak with her.” Again, Marigold hesitated.
“Please, Marigold. I have made a terrible mistake and Celestine must know it. I am not here to hurt her. I do not wish to upset your sister. All I want is a chance to explain to her that I –” He caught his tongue. “Please…”
Marigold considered further and it looked as if she might still deny his request. But then her eyes fell on Millicent, a frown passed her brow, and she sighed deeply as if in defeat.
“I saw her five minutes ago,” Marigold explained. “She said that she needed air, so I assume that she is headed into the back garden.”
Edward nodded and turned, searching above the crowds until he found the back door which led into the garden. There were no lights outside, as it was not a part of the ball. But he pictured Celestine there, alone, likely wondering why she had come.
And maybe praying that I would come for her…
“The garden?” A woman’s voice spoke up from just over Marigold’s shoulder. “I was just there.”
Edward looked past Marigold to who had spoken. He did not recognize the woman, but that made little difference. “Did you see my wife? Her Grace?”
“No…” The woman pursed her lips. “I did pas Lord Grundon on the way back inside, however. Perhaps he knows where she is?”
Edward’s face paled and his stomach dropped through the floor.
He had been so concerned about Lord Grundon’s vendetta against him as it concerned Millicent that he had not once considered that Celestine might be in danger. A foolish mistake, because Lord Grundon did not care who he hurt or who he used, so long as the final blow was felt by Edward.
And if Celestine was outside… if Lord Grundon found her alone…
“Go,” Millicent said and let go of his hand. “I will only slow you down.”
“Are you sure?”
“Go!” she cried and pointed across the ballroom. “Hurry!”
“Is something wrong with Celestine?” Marigold asked. “What is going on?”
Edward did not remain to explain to Marigold what was happening. Rather, he turned and he rushed across the ballroom as if his life depended on it… no, as if Celestine’s life did, because that was far more important.
“Move… out of the way…” He growled as he dodged through the masses. “Move!”
It was slow going, Edward was forced to push and shove. He caused a scene, in fact, happily knocking people to the ground as he raced forward. This had some crying out, many calling his name, but he did not slow down or look back. Nothing would stop him.
Edward stumbled into the back garden and came to a stop.
It was a moonless night, casting the garden in near darkness. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the bushes, the hedges, down the winding pathways. The garden was twice the size of the one on his estate, dozens of places that Celestine might be.
Heart racing, panic rising, Edward was about to call her name when he heard something… voices… spoken in hushed whispers.
He couldn’t hear what was being said but it made no difference. Those voices could only belong to two people, so he turned toward them and ran.
As he ran, the voices grew louder, and a second later saw him burst around a large hedge where he found exactly what he had been looking for. A moment of joy when he saw Celestine… turned to fear and then rage when he spotted Lord Grundon.
Celestine had her back against a stone balustrade while Lord Grundon stood in front of her, close, cutting her off and penning her in so that she had nowhere to run. Edward started in surprise, he saw the terror in his wife’s eyes, and he heard the fury in Lord Grundon’s voice.
“… I am done playing games,” Lord Grundon seethed. “And if you will not do as I ask, you will rue the day that –”
“Lord Grundon!” Edward roared and strode ahead. “Step away from my wife!”
Celestine’s eyes widened when she saw Edward coming.
For a brief moment, Edward held his breath as if he expected her to glare at him.
They had not spoken for over a week, and there was still a chance that she hated him.
However, as soon as their eyes met, he realized that his fears were unfounded.
Never before had he seen such relief, such utter gratefulness… and such love.
Lord Grundon turned and his visage was of a different nature entirely. He sneered and spat and seethed and the darkness was such that the fire behind his eyes burned hot and unmistakable.
“Oh, well, this is wonderful!” Lord Grundon chuckled darkly. “Your Grace, so good of you to join us. Much time will be saved.”
“I said, step away from my wife!” He charged ahead and his first thought was to take Lord Grundon by the throat and out an end to him.
What stopped him from doing so was a dim memory… a need to be better… a promise he had once made to Celestine that he would not make a fool of himself and embarrass him or her.
So, he stepped past Lord Grundon and put himself beside Celestine. She clutched to his arm immediately, and it sent a wave of undulating hope through his body. She did not hate him…
“Edward, I did not know… Lord Grundon, he followed me –”
“Quiet!” Lord Grundon snapped. “You… both of you! You are like black mold, Your Grace. Try as I might to scrub you clean, you refuse to take the hint!”
“What is it that you want, Lord Grundon?” Edward shook with fury, but he forced calm. Likely, Lord Grundon wanted him to rise to anger and do something foolish. He would not give the man the pleasure.
“I want you gone!” Lord Grundon hissed. “I want you – No! I want everyone to see you for what you are. You are a stain on the ton. You act with impunity, you befoul us all! And nobody gives a damn!”
“You clearly do.”
“I see you for what you are,” he continued, his temper rising. “And soon, everyone will see it too. Your gaming hell is just the beginning. Oh, yes,” he chuckled wickedly. “You niece is next, then your dear wife. By the time I am done, your name will be worth less than the mud on my boot!”
“Celestine, did he hurt you?” he asked his wife.
“No,” she said. “I am fine.”
“As if you care!” Lord Grundon cried. “Oh, how rich! We all know that you only care about yourself, Your Grace. But is that not the point? That is why I will break you. That is why I will make you hurt.”
Again, the urge to drive his fist into Lord Grundon’s face took hold of Edward. Oh, how he wanted to punish the man like nothing else. And he might have done it too. He was not just threatening Edward, but his family. A family who Edward cared deeply for.
Only then, a scuffling sound echoed from behind Lord Grundon, followed by the appearance of several people. Too dark to make them out clearly, it mattered not who they were. Having made such a scene in the ballroom, a collection of guests had followed Edward outside.