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Courtney beamed at him from across the breakfast table, the next day after the ball. “You are the talk of London. The title of the article is American Marquess wooing club owner. Will you deny it?”

Their mother frowned at him as she took the paper from Courtney. Cordell rolled his eyes. Finally, their mother asked, “Is this true, Caleb?”

“It is.”

Her eyes widened. “She is not on the marriage mart. What will people think?”

His brother groaned. Caleb sighed. “Mother, I’m marrying Celeste Hathaway. I’ve made my choice.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but he interrupted her, “She is the only woman I want to wed. I love her.”

The room grew quiet as his whole family stared at him in shock. Finally, Courtney grinned. “You are in love.”

“What is her background?” his mother questioned.

He shrugged. “I don’t care. I don’t love her ancestors or her family lineage. I love her, and I think you will grow to care for her as well.”

“I spoke with her a great deal at the ball last night. She is lovely,” his mother said begrudgingly.

He nodded, happy she seemed to be accepting it, but then she said, “If you marry a lady, your father’s line will be restored.”

Courtney slapped her hand on the table. “Enough, Mother. Since arriving here, you’ve made yourself so small and turned into an etiquette enforcer.

There is no shame in the life you and Father chose.

I’m sick of you acting as if there was. You owe no one here anything. I miss my confident, fearless mother.”

Caleb stared at his sister in shock, and Cordell frowned at her in disapproval. His mother’s lips trembled, and then she burst into tears. He shot to his feet. “Mother, Courtney isn’t trying to be cruel.”

“You all don’t understand. Your father may have never said it, but I know he missed England.”

Caleb took the seat next to her. “He may have missed England, but not once did he ever express regret about our lives. He would have loved to see the Haven land again, but the rest of it wouldn’t have mattered to him.

I know this is hard for you. You still haven’t been to the family country estate.

I think you need to go and make peace with the past. I suspect Father did long ago. ”

She nodded. “I will, and I’m sorry I tried to convince you that Miss Hathaway wasn’t the right choice.”

He squeezed her hand. “I love her. She makes me whole.”

Cordell snickered, and Caleb smirked at him. “Someday you will fall, Brother.”

Courtney giggled. “When will you announce your betrothal?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I hope soon. There may be a scandal as she isn’t a lady. I need to know you all stand with us.”

Cordell and Courtney both nodded right away. His mother patted his cheek and sighed. “Who am I to deny love? When I was so lucky to have it myself.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

***

Celeste’s heart pounded, hating what she was about to do.

She’d just told Caleb she loved him, and now she was going to break his heart.

She pressed her lips together, insisting to herself it had to be done.

She could not let his family be ruined. Celeste stared down at the letter that would devastate him and read.

Caleb,

After the ball, I realized that this is all too much.

While I will always appreciate our time together, I’m sending you this letter to decline any further courtship.

I want to focus on the Den and other businesses in which I’m invested.

I have no doubt you will find an appropriate woman to fulfill the role of Lady Haven.

Sincerely,

Celeste

She bit her lip, refusing to allow herself to cry anymore. Celeste spent most of last night wiping away tears. She wouldn’t shed another. Caleb would try to speak with her, so she needed to find somewhere she could go that he couldn’t find her.

Stepping out, she handed her letter to Donahue. “Please make sure this is sent to Lord Haven tomorrow, but no sooner.”

The butler nodded. “Yes, Miss Hathaway.”

Celeste walked to Devons and Derry’s office, entering without knocking. They both looked up from their ledgers and grinned. Derry said, “You and Haven are the talk of London.”

She sat in a wingback chair in the sitting area, and they joined her. Celeste swallowed, suddenly nervous to speak with them. “I’ve written to Haven and told him that I don’t want him to pursue a courtship any further.”

Devons frowned at her. “What happened?”

“After the ball, I realized that I wanted to stay focused on the club.”

“You need more than this club,” Derry said with a frown.

Annoyance flared in her. “Not all people want to fall in love like the two of you.”

“Does it have something to do with your visitor last night?” Devons asked quietly.

Derry looked between them. “Who was here?”

She scowled at him. “It doesn’t matter; this is my choice.”

“If he loves you, no matter what is revealed, he won’t care.”

Her heart ached because she knew what Devons said was true. Caleb would stand with her no matter what. She couldn’t allow him to do that. Celeste didn’t doubt that the Dowager Lady Burrows would follow through with her threat. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What are we to tell him if he shows up?” Derry asked.

“That I don’t want to be disturbed.”

Devons’ eyes widened. “Where will you go?”

Celeste turned to Derry and said, “I was hoping I could go to Derry Hall.”

He nodded. “Sophia is there. She will make sure you are settled.”

“My letter will be sent to Haven tomorrow. He will likely come here right away.”

“Celeste, tell Haven.”

She shook her head and stood. “It is best this way. I plan to depart today.”