“How long have you known him, dear?”
“I—” She tilted her head to the side and stared off into the black garden before them. “I don’t.” But she would. She stared at the intricate curls on top of Grandmum’s head. He had been on the beach. She would find out his name and pay him a visit tomorrow.
“He is Jordan.” The voice echoed through her mind. “Jordan, of the water.”
“Water?” Jordan…
“Indeed, dear. You require water. I, on the other hand, require a glass of brandy. I don’t have a husband to please or a mysterious gentleman to haunt my thoughts and keep me warm this night.”
Celeste snapped her head toward her. “Grandmum! You are not supposed to say such things aloud.” That kind of thought had put Grandmum in ruin. Back in her day, Grandmum had a secret life, one that involved a man other than Celeste’s grandfather. Or so went the rumors. It was a topic the family refused to talk about.
“Oh pfft.” Grandmum stood, and Celeste took her gloved hand once again. “When you are my age, dear, people think your brain is soft. No one pays you any mind.” They stepped back into the house, and the heat swirled around them, stinking of sweat and breath clouded with liquor. “I suppose it is an advantage I enjoy.” Grandmum smiled.
“Water.” The voice in her mind came again. “Calm, deep, dangerous and soothing. All contained in a man. I never knew what they turned out to be.” The voice rang with pride.
Celeste paused as she and Grandmum stepped past a group of women Celeste’s age. All of them had hoped to be duchess. All of them would tell Hudson in the flick of the fan if Celeste were in any way indiscreet. Only they would embellish what they saw with more wanton, naughty, not-fit-for-society words.
“All well, dear?”
“Yes. I will be, Grandmum.” I never knew what they turned out to be. The voice in her head was obviously not simply a voice in her head!
“I am Carmen. I am delighted you can hear me. I have waited a long time for you…for one of you to hear me.”
Carmen. Now she had a name for her lunacy.
They turned the corner into the dining hall, where Hudson chatted with another tall, unusual man. This gentleman stood a good head above Hudson with ink-black hair. He wore a lacy, ruffled shirt and long blue waistcoat, a style she had seen only in paintings of peers from the past. On his left cheek, a small red crescent moon was drawn.
Who were these people Hudson associated with? They were not typical of the crowd at the balls she had attended through the years.
Hudson turned. A smile curved his lips, and his green eyes sparkled as he met her gaze.
Grandmum patted her arm and then stepped away toward a footman with drinks. Celeste slowly walked to Hudson. Her face prickled with heat, and her earlobes burned. Imaginary narrowed eyes scorned her from every person in the room. Fortitude, Celeste. She fought the urge to glance around and flee, and instead pulled her fear to the pit of her gut.
Reaching Hudson, she raised her hand and forced her lips up into her best greeting smile. Be good to him…show him you care. He has given you and Grandmum an escape from the past year’s reality. His gloved fingers wrapped about hers, and he raised her knuckles to his lips. Her heart jumped. Maybe there would be a pleasurable reaction.
His lips touched her hand in a light press.
Nothing. No tingles, no rush of heat, no fast-beating heart. Nothing like she had just experienced with Jordan.
Slowly lowering her hand, Hudson rubbed his thumb over her knuckles reassuringly, then turned. “Madoc, this is the Duchess of Hudson.”
The tall, lean man turned his plush lips up at her and bowed his head. “Your Grace.”
“Madoc and I have gone on several adventures together, as well as collaborated on small inventions. His brother was the buffoon that fell in front of you tonight.” He shook his head in disapproval. “You will see all the brothers with me on occasion.”
Lord. This became more complicated with each breath. Her brows pinched together.
“I need to apologize for my brother, Your Grace.” Madoc’s deep voice pulled her mind back to the conversation. “It is not like Jordan to drink so at any event. His feathers are ruffled, I am certain.” Madoc’s reddish-brown gaze settled on her and then dropped to the side of her neck, as if he could see the small oblong scabs hidden beneath her lace collar.
Her hand nervously fidgeted and then rose to ensure that her collar really was in place. “Such a pleasure to meet you—”
“Please call me Madoc.”
Celeste forced a polite smile. “Madoc.”
Hudson and Madoc were good friends. The brothers would be around often. Her head spun, and the room swayed. She stared into Madoc’s eyes, and the black circle of his pupils elongated into crescents. The room stilled. Her heartbeat controlled her shaking breath. She snapped her gaze away from his and back to her husband.