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Caleb smiled as he saw Hathaway trudging down the road from Derry Hall. So far, there wasn’t a goose in sight. Her determination to walk today made him admire her even more. There was apparently no hiding from her fears—at least if they were geese.

He walked quickly to catch up to her. Caleb didn’t know what it was about Hathaway, but she intrigued him. Honestly, far more than any other lady he had met. She had a confidence that exuded from her being that he liked. It was evident that she was not a woman waiting for a husband.

He’d been shocked to discover she was part-owner of the Den. He hadn’t visited the establishment but planned to attend their next decadent ball. She glanced back and saw him catching up to her. Caleb smiled, and she frowned back at him but stopped, waiting for him.

“Good morning, Lord Haven.”

“Call me Caleb.”

Her frown deepened.

“I hate it when you call me that,” he added. His own words surprised him, but it was true.

When she addressed him formally, she did it in a way that seemed to put distance between them. Christ! He was acting odd. Caleb barely knew her but didn’t want her to hold him at arm's length.

“Anything else wouldn’t be appropriate,” she stated.

He winked at her and held out his arm. “I saved you yesterday. Doesn’t that make us the closest of friends?”

She begrudgingly smiled at him. “I’m not sure that is how it works, Lord Haven.”

Caleb wiggled the arm he was holding out. She sighed and took it.

“Thank you, Hathaway.”

Hathaway rolled her eyes. “You didn’t give me much choice.”

He laughed but didn’t deny it, pulling them toward a smaller path. They walked quietly, but curious about her, Caleb eventually asked, “So how does a woman become part-owner in a gentlemen’s club?”

“Hard work.”

He tilted his head and waited for her to add more. They reached a more wooded area that also contained a few benches. Sighing, she asked, “Why do you want to know? Is it so strange in your world to meet a woman who can provide for herself?”

Caleb was drawn to her directness. No, she wasn’t the first woman he’d met who could hold her own, but she was the first one who intrigued him so much. “I’m simply impressed. Now, how did you come to be part-owner?”

“I started as a hostess for the gaming tables and worked my way up,” she provided.

“Are there other ladies in London who own a gentlemen’s club?”

“Not that I know of.”

“I’m awed by you, Celeste,” he said, using her given name.

Her gaze flew to his face, and he wondered if he should apologize for being so forward. Shocking him, she laughed. “Thank you, Caleb.”

They smiled at each other, and a connection flared between them. What was it about this woman that fascinated him?

He sat next to her on the bench. She turned to him, becoming solemn. “While I think we can be friends. I need you to understand that I will never be your mistress.”

Anger flared in him that she assumed that was his interest. Why would this remarkable woman think that?

Her eyes revealed nothing, but that was more telling than anything else.

Her lack of emotion was a defense mechanism.

He grasped her chin and softly said, “What has happened in your life to make you so guarded?”

She frowned at him. “Nothing. I just don’t associate with lords in that way.”

Caleb shook his head. “I detest that you would assume I wouldn’t want something more.”

A gasp escaped her, shocked by his words. “I’m not some young lady on the marriage mart. Your mother—”

He frowned at her. “My mother doesn’t make decisions for me, Celeste.”

“What are you asking of me?”

“I’m asking you to let me call on you,” he said quietly.

Before meeting her, he’d only played at considering his mother's request that he search for a bride, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Celeste flew up from the bench and laughed. “Caleb, you don’t understand what you are about to face in London. You’ve been in England for only a few weeks. Once immersed in the London Season, you will understand the way of things.”

He stood, stepping close to her. “So, does that mean no?”

She bit her lip, and Caleb wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, but waited for her response. Celeste took a deep breath. “Yes, that is no.”

“Why?”

“I don’t involve myself with lords.”

He shook his head. “You said you won’t become a lord’s mistress.”

She tilted her chin up stubbornly. “I won’t become a lord’s anything.”

Caleb leaned in. His lips grazed her ear. “That seems like a damn shame, Celeste.”

She stepped back. “You don’t understand this world. Trust me. I think it’s best if we return to Derry Hall.”

Disappointment filled him, and he said, “I think I will stay here for a bit.”

Celeste nodded and started to make her way out of the wooded area. Was this connection with her one-sided? Was he confused? Caleb couldn’t let her leave without knowing. He rose. “Celeste.”

She stopped and turned. Their eyes connected, and his body began to hum.

Caleb didn’t believe he was the only one who felt the connection that existed between them.

It seemed to be always present when she was near.

He strode to her, sweeping her up in his arms. Celeste gasped as his lips touched hers.

Their bodies pressed against one another, and moans escaped them as their tongues sparred.

Celeste wrapped her arms around his neck.

They stumbled against a tree, and he pressed into her.

He cupped her face with a hand and kissed her deeper.

No, this wasn’t one-sided, he confirmed.

Their lips mashed together over and over again, hungrily.

She pushed into him. He released her face and slid his hands down her sides.

The movement seemed to shock her out of their haze of passion. She pulled her mouth from his and slid away. Her eyes were wide with shock. “That can’t happen again.”

He ran a hand through his hair. Caleb had only intended to kiss Celeste, but the moment their lips met, he became lost in her. His body demanded he pull her back to him, but he resisted.

“Celeste, there is something between us.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head adamantly. “I will not be owned by any lord.”

“I don’t want to own you. I’m not that man.”

She smirked at him. “Not yet.”

He took a deep breath. Someone had hurt this beautiful, fearless woman. If she ever revealed their name, he would take them apart. “I’m not giving up.”

She studied him, and he saw the conflicting emotions swirling in her. Finally, Celeste said, “Then you are a fool.”

He watched her return to the main road before sinking onto a bench. He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. Caleb shouldn’t have kissed her, but now that he had, how was he supposed to forget her?

***

Celeste stood in the ballroom at Derry Hall, watching Caleb move across the dance floor with another young lady. He certainly moved gracefully for a man who exuded such a wild appeal. A blush heated her cheeks as she watched him so intently. She hadn’t seen him since their walk this morning.

Had he already given up? A bit of disappointment flared in her, but she pushed it away. If that were the case, it was for the best. She’d told him he was a fool to pursue her. They were weeks away from the London Season being in full swing. He would understand things better once back in the city.

She sighed and decided she needed fresh air. Celeste stepped out onto the terrace. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, acknowledging to herself that while London would always be her true home, there was something peaceful about the countryside. Maybe someday she would buy a cottage to escape to.

“Good evening,” Caleb said.

She turned to him slightly. “Are you taking a break from all your dancing?”

“Jealous?” he mused.

Celeste snorted. “No. Dance with who you like, Lord Haven.”

He stood next to her. “I kiss you once, and now I’m back to Lord Haven.”

“You should have always been addressed that way.”

Caleb frowned. “Why aren’t lords a possibility for you?”

“How did you grow up, Caleb? Was it some fancy house in New York City? Fancy schools?”

He nodded, but she could tell she’d angered him. His jaw was clenched. She sighed. “Where I began in life is so different from your privileged world. Trust me when I say we don’t suit.”

His eyes connected with hers, and she was startled to see they were filled with anger.

“I’m not judging your life. I would never.

My father fell in love with a maid and had to start his life over again in America because he refused to let her go.

Trust me when I say my parents raised me to understand that a person’s worth is not defined by their bloodlines. ”

Guilt coursed through her that she was judging him so harshly.

Still, he didn’t understand the ton or their sharp tongues.

Celeste placed a hand on one of his arms. “I’m not saying you want to be that type of person.

Still, this new title you have comes with responsibilities you are only beginning to discover. ”

Caleb pulled her hand to his lips, kissing it. Her stomach dipped. She liked him. The realization made her nervous because usually, Celeste took a lover only to sate a physical need, but the connection with him felt different.

“Give me a chance, Celeste.”

She sighed. “Can we just agree to be friends for now? Please.”

He flashed her a grin. “Only if you agree to go back to using my first name.”

Celeste rolled her eyes. “I will.”

They stood there quietly. Celeste was surprised that no one else had wandered out onto the terrace. Intrigued, she asked, “Tell me about your family, please?”

A small smile flitted across Caleb’s face. “My father’s name was Christopher, and my mother’s name is Colleen. They found it amusing that they both had names that began with a C and decided all their children’s names should start the same way.”

Celeste laughed. “How did they meet?”

“They grew up together on the Haven Estate. She was the housekeeper's daughter and was training for a position as a maid. My father loved to say it was love at first sight for him, and he had to work hard to prove to my mother they were meant to be.”

Pain pierced Celeste’s heart, imagining how scary it must have been for his mother to realize she was in love with her employer’s son. “She was probably terrified.”

He nodded. “She had a valid point to be scared. Once they were discovered, my father’s parents and brother expected him to get rid of her. He refused. It was all very dramatic from what I understand.”

“Some might say romantic,” Celeste said, trying to put it in a more positive light.

“They loved each other deeply. I know my mother misses him a great deal. While he didn’t arrive in America with nothing, he worked hard to grow what he had. My brothers, sister, and I are grateful for all the lessons he instilled in us.”

“Did he ever repair his relationship with his brother or parents?”

Caleb shook his head. “No, and now I’m the marquess, inheriting it from the uncle who wouldn’t find me worthy if he were alive.”

Celeste placed a hand on his. “He was a fool.”

A sigh escaped the rugged man standing before her. “Enough melancholy. Tell me more about how we can be friends.”

She laughed. “Friends and only friends.”

“Go for a walk with me tomorrow afternoon. I will protect you from the birds.”

“Caleb—”

He shook his head. “You already agreed that we could be friends. If anything else requires more time, I’m fine with that.”

Celeste rolled her eyes. “Fine. We need to get back inside.”

Nodding, he held the door open for her. The moment they entered, the ladies swarmed the new marquess.

He would be the talk of London this Season.

She was happy he shared his story about his family with her.

A frown marred her face. Unfortunately, her parents’ story didn’t have the ending Caleb’s did.

She shuddered, her mind flashing back to her mother’s last year alive, living in squalor in Devil’s Acre.

Pain sliced her heart as she thought about the difficult choices her mother made to make sure they had something to eat and a roof over their heads.

She closed her eyes as if to shut away the memories.

Why was she thinking about all of this? Celeste did her best not to think about her past. She needed to return to London.

No, she wasn’t running from Caleb. Liar , her mind mocked.