Chapter 1 #3
Celestine did not look back. With the list clutched in her hand, she hurried through the ballroom, her eyes scanning in search of the Duke.
She did not want to speak to him. Better that she never saw the man again.
But she doubted that her warning would be enough to divert his attention from her sister, just as she knew another would be needed… and likely more than that!
Luckily, the Duke was an easy man to find; just follow the trail of destruction and fear left in his wake. Celestine noted the path the man had left, and she tracked it toward the outside balcony.
She swallowed the lump in her throat as she made for the balcony. It was dark outside, an isolated space where one could hide. But in the darkness, she saw the outline of the Duke; his back to the ballroom, his attention fixed on the night sky.
With no choice, her entire body trembling, Celestine firmed herself and stepped onto the balcony.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded… or she tried to. But her voice cracked as she spoke.
The Duke turned, almost as if he was expecting her. “Miss Celestine, I took it from our last conversation that you would move the heavens and the earth not to see me again.”
“After tonight, I hope that is the case.” She approached him, but with nowhere near the confidence she might have liked.
He was just so calm and unaffected by her.
She felt completely powerless, as if she was walking into a den of wolves.
“But I found this and thought you might be needing it.” She held out the piece of parchment.
He eyed it. “Going through my pockets, are we?”
“What is this?” She stopped short of him, aware of the fact that she was alone and this was not a man she ought to be as such with. “Why are you making a catalogue of women?”
“Is that what I am doing?”
“You know that you are,” she said. “Women who you…” She swallowed back her fear. “Whose lives you plan on ruining. Admit it.”
“Who is to say that they aren’t the ones who are going to ruin my life?”
“That is not…” Celestine forced herself to stop shaking.
Just as she forced herself to meet the Duke’s eyes.
It was dark on the balcony, she could hardly make out his face, but his eyes were intense and she sensed he knew exactly what they did to her.
“I do not care what you mean to do, or who you mean to do it with. All I care for is that you leave my sister out of it.”
“Is that a demand?”
“Yes,” she said. “Cross her name off and forget that you have ever heard of her.”
“And if I refuse?”
Despite the darkness of night, Celestine saw the smirk on the Duke’s lips. She got the distinct impression that he was teasing her. What was more, that he enjoyed doing do.
This was not a situation that Celestine was used to. Since she had started acting in a way that had her being called ‘mad,’ most men of the ton tried to avoid her. She was bad news, the type who brought trouble, and all knew it was better to not waste time with someone like her.
She liked it this way, too. It saved her having to worry about men pursuing her, lying to her about their intent, and then breaking her… once was enough, and I will never allow that to happen again.
“Leave my sister alone.” She brought herself up, pushed back any intrepid thoughts, and held the piece of parchment out for the Duke to take. “She is a good person, and she does not deserve to have her life ruined because of your games.”
Slowly, he took the piece of parchment. “You seem to have a rather negative opinion of me.”
“Should I not?”
He shrugged. “I would have thought that you of all people would know that not all rumors are true.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Even if one is so desperate to make it seem as if they are.”
“I…” She swallowed back the lump in her throat. “We are not speaking of me.”
“Ah yes, your sister,” he sighed and tucked the parchment away. “Very well, I shall remove her from my mind and my ambitions. I would so hate to find myself on the other end of your wrath.” He chuckled. “Although, such a generous act does come with a cost.”
She started. “Wh – what do you…”
“I respect how much you care for your sister,” he said as if he meant it. “Truly, it is honorable and to be lauded. Alas, where my attention has been forced away from her, it has now found its way onto another…” He raised an eyebrow at her. “And my list is missing a name that needs to be replaced.”
Celestine’s eyes widened. “No! I do not… it does not matter if you write my name down or not. I want nothing to do with you. Nor will I ever.”
“As you say.” He stepped forward. She froze. Then, he walked around her, shaking his head and smiling. “Regardless, I have a feeling that I will be seeing you again, Miss Celestine. In fact, I count on it.”
She spun about and watched as the Duke sauntered inside.
He did not look back. He did not say anything else. But Celestine knew as she knew anything that he was thinking of her, just as she knew that he wasn’t about to forget her anytime soon.
That was the problem with being so well known, always making a scene so that she was on the lips of more people than what was reasonable. Every now and then, one found themselves in the sights of the worst of people. In this case, the Duke of Blackthorne.
What have I done…