A Spring Deception (Seasons Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

all, the attention heaped on you tonight is something that might hold us back. But if you were to begin to show interest in one person in particular…”
    He trailed off, and Clairemont blinked. “What are you asking of me?”
    “The girl, Celia, she is just returning to Society after a broken engagement. Oh, the scandal was minor at best, but she is not in a perfect position. If a duke were to pay attention to her, I don’t think her brother-in-law would be unhappy about such a match. Especially since he already feels he knows the Duke of Clairemont, at least on some level.”
    “Are you saying I should pursue an interest in Celia Fitzgilbert?” Clairemont asked blankly, his traitorous mind taking him back to the moment when he’d held her hand in his, looked into her face. He’d wanted very much to draw her into his arms, to kiss more than her gloved hand.
    It had been a shocking desire, and one he had used all his strength and training to bury.
    “Did you flirt with her on the terrace?” Stalwood asked benignly.
    Clairemont froze. His mentor knew him well. He knew Clairemont was no monk. He liked his pleasure as well as the next man, as long as it didn’t interfere in his work.
    “I suppose I did,” he admitted. “Before I knew who she was.”
    “I’m not saying you should get engaged to the girl,” Stalwood said with a shrug.
    “I would hope not,” Clairemont said, and a great shudder worked through him at the thought of even a pretended engagement or marriage. That was not in his future. Better for everyone.
    “But what harm could come in showing her a little extra attention?” Stalwood pressed. “In the interest of getting closer to Danford and in the interest of fitting into Society a bit more smoothly?”
    Clairemont considered it. Talking to Celia had been very easy, comfortable even, unlike every other tedious conversation he’d been forced to have earlier in the evening.
    “You can do this can’t you?” Stalwood asked. “You have no gentlemanly objections?”
    Clairemont straightened and met the earl’s gaze evenly. “I am no gentleman,” he said, hardening himself to any objections he might, indeed, have on his own behalf or on Celia’s. This was for king and country. “I know my duty.”
    “Good,” Stalwood said with a slight smile. “Then we should return to the ballroom.”
    His mentor led the way from the parlor and Clairemont followed, trying to tamp down all his reasons not to do exactly as Stalwood said. Trying not to relive every moment on the terrace with Celia Fitzgilbert. She was a means to an end now. He could not make her any more than that.
     

     
    “What is wrong?”
    Celia flinched as she slid up next to her sister. Damn Rosalinde for knowing her so well. She forced a smile. “Wrong? Nothing at all. I just needed a bit of air,” she lied.
    Rosalinde sent Gray a look and then examined Celia more closely. “You look upset, Celia. Are you certain nothing is wrong? We saw the Duke of Clairemont go out onto the terrace after you did.”
    Celia felt the blood drain from her face. “You did?”
    Rosalinde nodded. “Perhaps I should have followed. He wasn’t untoward with you, was he?”
    Celia’s lips pinched as she recalled her few moments with the duke on the terrace. Untoward? Not exactly. Perhaps a bit flirtatious, at least until he realized who she was.
    “No, he was… fine . We—we talked, actually,” she said, again casting a glance at Gray. Although they were finding a better relationship now, it still felt odd to talk about something so personal in front of him.
    As if he sensed her discomfort, he turned away slightly, to give Rosalinde and her at least the illusion of a moment of privacy.
    “You talked,” Rosalinde repeated softly. “And it didn’t go well?”
    Celia shrugged. “At first it was fine. He was charming and I was…I suppose I tried to be charming—”
    “You are always charming, go on,” Rosalinde encouraged.
    “And then I