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Caleb watched as Celeste entered the foyer of the Haven Townhouse with Sebastian Devons and his wife for the ball he and his mother were hosting.

He couldn’t prevent himself from smiling.

She was a vision and pure joy expanded through his chest that she was to be his wife.

They hadn’t discussed dates, but he hoped they would soon.

She wore a cream gown with some type of floral design, and her beautiful blonde hair was swept up in a bun, giving her a sophisticated appearance.

He greeted those in the receiving line, but his gaze always made its way back to her.

Cordell chuckled. “Are you paying attention to anyone but her? She’ll reach us soon enough. ”

He’d told Cordell yesterday that he planned to wed Celeste but was waiting until after the family ball to share the details with their mother and Courtney.

Another couple stopped before the family, and Caleb did his best to focus on them.

Still, his gaze found its way back to Celeste.

Their eyes connected this time, and she gave him a small smile.

Once the couple departed, Courtney whispered, “What are you talking about?”

His mother looked at them all sternly. “More guests are arriving. You can talk after we have received everyone. Our guests will think we don’t have manners.”

He, Cordell, and Courtney all sighed. His mother flushed, but they didn’t have time for any further conversation as another couple arrived. After they left, finally, Celeste and the Devons reached them. Celeste smiled at him, and he couldn’t stop himself from grinning back.

He was in love with this woman, he realized. Caleb always thought that when he fell, he would be terrified, but no, this feeling was different. It was an excited acceptance. He hadn’t told her yet, but he would soon.

His mother said, “I love your gown, Miss Hathaway. Later, you must tell me who your dressmaker is.”

Celeste smiled back at his mother. “That isn’t a problem at all.”

Caleb couldn’t prevent the adoring gaze he sent her. Courtney looked at Celeste and then back at him. Her eyes widened, and Cordell nudged her with his elbow. Her expression became shuttered, but Caleb suspected she knew his secret already.

Devons smiled at him but leaned in and said, “Remember my warning.”

He and Derry filled the role of protective brothers for his love.

Caleb was glad she had them. He nodded solemnly before greeting more guests.

Caleb hoped it would end soon, but he did smile again when Lord Burrows reached him.

He really admired the man. His wife and mother were with him, but Lady Eloise, it seemed, decided to miss the event.

He wished the Dowager Lady Burrows hadn’t attended.

The woman wore a pinched expression that seemed so odd compared to her son’s normal, affable demeanor.

“I’m thrilled to be at your ball,” his wife said.

He nodded. “We are glad you are here.”

“I am sad to see Lady Eloise couldn’t make it,” his mother said.

Caleb could have sworn a snort escaped Courtney, but when he glanced her way, she seemed perfectly composed. Burrows smirked. “She has grown tired of all the events of the Season. She sends her regards.”

“Tell her thank you,” Caleb said.

A few more people entered, and finally, they were free to wander. He made his way to Celeste, needing to see her. She stood with Devons and his wife. As if Celeste could sense his gaze on her, she looked towards him, and the connection that existed between them hummed.

He reached them and said, “I hope you all are enjoying the ball.”

Devons’ wife smiled. “We are, my lord.”

“Please call me Caleb.”

“Then I insist you use my given name Diana.”

He nodded in agreement. The first waltz of the night was about to begin. Caleb held out his arm to Celeste. “Miss Hathaway, may I have this dance?”

She blushed, and it took everything in him not to lean down and kiss her. Celeste nodded and took his arm. Whispers and murmurs traveled through the room. They took their positions, and he said, “Focus on me—on us. That is all that matters.”

Some of the stiffness left her, and Celeste nodded. They slid across the floor, and unable to keep it contained any longer, he whispered, “I love you, Celeste Hathaway.”

Her eyes widened, but she quietly said, “And I, you, Caleb.”

Once, long ago, his father had told him that leaving England to have a life with his mother wasn’t a choice but the only path.

Caleb, at the time, had thought it was an overly romantic sentiment, but now, he knew exactly what he meant.

Marrying Celeste wasn’t a choice. It was something that would make him whole.

The song ended, and he escorted her off the dance floor.

The room was filled with so many people that they had to weave their way through the crowd to find a place to stop.

Once they did, Celeste’s eyes widened in alarm.

He followed her stare and saw she was looking at Lord Burrows, his wife, and his mother. “Is something amiss, Celeste?”

She shook her head and smiled, but Caleb sensed something was off. He frowned at where she was looking, and Burrows and his family were no longer there. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

***

Later that evening, after Celeste returned to her apartment, she contemplated the ball. It had gone rather well. She suspected that all of London was gossiping about her dance with Caleb, but that was inevitable.

The only disconcerting part of the night was the fact that Burrows had been there. She needed to tell Caleb who he was to her. He seemed to like the man, which shocked her. Still, she wasn’t concerned about telling him the truth. Caleb loved her for who she was, no matter her past.

A knock on the door took her away from her thoughts. She said, “Enter.”

The butler of the Den, Donahue, stepped in. “Miss Hathaway, a woman is requesting to speak with you. She is in a carriage. I can send her away.”

It was late, but Celeste didn’t want to ignore someone if they needed help. She shook her head. “I will see what they need.”

The Den was closed tonight, so the building was eerily quiet, except for the guards positioned everywhere.

She stepped out the front door and frowned.

An elegant carriage sat there. A Den staff member opened the carriage door, and the Dowager Lady Burrows peered out at her. Her face filled with contempt.

“If possible, Miss Hathaway, I would like a moment of your time for a carriage ride.”

The Den staff member frowned at the exchange, but Celeste held her hand out to him for assistance getting into the vehicle. She should have probably refused, but not once in her entire life had this woman ever spoken to her. The lady tapped on the roof of the carriage, and it ambled on.

“What is it you need, Lady Burrows?”

The woman’s expression became pinched. “Lord Haven was interested in wooing my granddaughter until recently.”

Celeste flushed. She wondered if Lady Burrows knew who she was. The woman's expression became more severe. “He seems rather enamored with you.”

What was this woman after? “Lady Burrows, I’m not sure what you want, but I don’t have any information to provide you.”

The woman smoothed out the skirts of her gown. “Lord Haven wouldn’t be my first pick. His mother was a maid after all, but I’ve recently decided I can accept it. He is the only person Lady Eloise has allowed to escort her around so much.

Uncertainty filled Celeste. “My lady, what does this have to do with me?”

“I suspect Lord Haven is interested in making a foolish choice like his father and my son.”

She did know who she was. The woman smirked at her coldly, and any hope of this woman wanting a relationship with Celeste disappeared. She refused to allow the pain to show on her face. The carriage slowed to a stop. The woman sighed. “I’m here to fix the problem for both families involved.”

Fear filled Celeste. “Does my father know you are here?”

“He is not your father. You're his by-blow.”

Celeste felt as if she’d been slapped. The woman pulled back the curtain, and she realized they were in Devil’s Acre.

Her stomach clenched. This area of London had been her home before she’d found refuge at the Den.

She looked closer and realized they were outside the building where she and her mother lived.

She shuddered, hating that Lady Burrows had brought her here. It reminded her of all she’d lost and how closely she’d come to following her mother’s path. While the brothel they lived in was no longer there, a new one had sprung up. It didn’t look any better.

“Did you work there as well?”

She shook her head. Lady Burrows seemed to ponder that. “I wonder what London society would say if they knew Lord Haven’s potential wife lived in a brothel as a young woman. I imagine they would make assumptions even if they weren’t true.”

The older woman released the curtain and tapped on the carriage roof again. Anger welled in Celeste. “Why have you brought me here?”

“You are in the way of a match between my granddaughter and Lord Haven. Society will celebrate their union. I insist you stop seeing him.”

Her heart pounded and her eyes burned. “Are you threatening me?”

The cold woman said, “I’m simply sharing what the newspapers may report if Lord Haven continues to court you.”

“I’m your granddaughter as well,” she said quietly.

“You are not.”

The carriage came to a halt, and Celeste suspected they were back at the Den. Devil’s Acre wasn’t very far from the club. In all the years she’d been gone, Celeste had never returned, not wanting to remember her mother’s last year of life.

“Are we in agreement, Miss Hathaway? You will cease to spend time with Lord Haven.”

Celeste wanted to scream no, but she didn’t.

What could she do? Being the by-blow of a lord was a scandal, but if London discovered that Caleb was betrothed to someone who lived in a brothel in Devil’s Acre, it would ruin his family.

She nodded jerkily and stepped out of the vehicle, saying nothing else.

Donahue opened the door for her while glancing at Lady Burrows in the carriage. “Is everything fine, Miss Hathaway?”

“Yes, I’m just tired.”

She quickly made her way to her apartment and burst into tears.

Celeste couldn’t be with Caleb. She would have to find a way to end it.

Her mind flashed to the streets of Devil’s Acre and all that she’d endured.

Until now, she’d held out hope that her father, at one point, had cared for her mother.

However, the fact that the Burrows family knew where she and her mother resided during their last year together made it evident that such a thought was foolish.