One More Kiss by Blayney Mary

Author:Blayney, Mary [Blayney, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Historical Romance, Fiction
ISBN: 0553593145
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 2013-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

CECILIA HAD A general idea where the art gallery was but she still made three wrong turns and finally had to ask a footman for the easiest way to find it, hoping that Beatrice would really be there.

The gallery was not lit tonight, and the full moon provided the only illumination. Despite the gloom Cecilia could see Beatrice sitting on an upholstered bench across from some gigantic scene of a man at sea. The sailing ship was fighting the elements and it seemed to be losing.

“This painting is exactly how I feel, Ceci.” Beatrice spoke without turning her head as Cecilia sat next to her.

“As though you are struggling against nature?”

“Yes, exactly. I am attracted to the man. There is nothing wrong with that except that he is a gamer and a rake. Perhaps all he needs is the love of a good woman to show him a more righteous path.”

Cecilia bit her lip to keep from laughing. While she had no doubt that her sister was a good woman, she did not think Beatrice would ever be completely happy on a “righteous path” herself, no matter how one defined that vague phrase.

“What is a righteous path, anyway?” Beatrice asked, reading her sister’s thoughts. “Surely it is enough to hurt no one and be loyal to one’s family.”

“I do believe there are events in his past that call that loyalty into question,” Cecilia added with more timidity than she wished.

“What did happen? And how do I find out?” Finally Beatrice turned away from the painting and looked at her twin. “No one will tell me and that is simply ridiculous. You cannot make a decision without knowing all the facts.”

“Papa is trying to protect you, and Darwell will not gossip.” Both of those seemed reasonable explanations for their reticence.

“I asked Lady Olivia and she would not tell me, either.” With a sigh Beatrice went on, “I will have to ask him directly. Sometime.”

“But not tonight.”

Beatrice said nothing for a long moment.

“Ceci, I will drop the subject and not ask tonight, unless Lord Jess brings it up, if you do one thing for me.”

Cecilia did not like the sound of this bargain. Beatrice’s sly smile doubled her worry.

“I think you should be spending more time with Lord Destry.”

“That’s absurd, Beatrice.” Cecilia could not hide her exasperation. “I just spent the evening as his assistant. How much more friendly do you want me to be?” She did not dare admit that acting as his assistant had been “fun,” to use her sister’s favorite word.

“But you barely had any time to converse with each other.”

How wise was it of her to see more of Lord Destry? He made her forget to think about how she looked, or whether she was saying the right words. He made her feel nervous and excited, when she much preferred calm and collected.

“What is the point in knowing him better?” Immediately Cecilia regretted the question. She should have said “no” firmly. Now they were in for a discussion.

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