Read Online When You're Desired by Tamara Lejeune - Free Book Online

men?”
    â€œNo, my lord,” replied the craven Fitzclarence. “I’ve never seen him before. You will excuse me, Lord Simon,” he added, bowing quickly. “I must fetch more champagne.”
    Simon let him go; he had not come to quarrel with young Fitzclarence, after all.
    Celia was vexed, but said nothing. She had expected Fitzclarence to abandon her. Indeed, everyone seemed to have abandoned her. A moment before, she had been surrounded by a warm wall of friends. Now she could feel a cold draft at her back. He stood next to her.
    Now that the danger was actually upon her, she felt quite calm, as she did when she stepped onto the stage. She was Celia St. Lys, and people were watching. She would not, on any account, allow Lord Simon to get the better of her—certainly not in public.
    â€œGood evening, Miss St. Lys.”
    She took her cue from him—he wished to be civil; therefore, she would be rude. She waved her hand twice, as if to brush away a gnat, but did not otherwise respond.
    â€œMadam, I would speak to you,” he said, an edge to his voice.
    This time Celia favored him with a sidelong glance that did not rise above his waist. “Move along, young man!” she said crisply. “The great and powerful Lord Simon has declared this place off limits to the little children of the Royal Horse Guards. You may not fear your colonel’s wrath, but I assure you, he quite terrifies me.”
    No one at the table dared to laugh, but there were smiles, especially from her friends in the Life Guards. Simon was all too aware that any public quarrel with St. Lys was likely to attract the notice of the whole room, and probably would find its way into the gossip columns as well. “Don’t let’s play games, madam,” he urged her in a low voice.
    â€œDon’t play games,” she repeated loudly, laughing. “Don’t let Mr. Crockford hear you say that in his establishment! This is a house of games, you know.”
    This time there was laughter, scattered about the room.
    â€œDammit, Celia,” Simon muttered. “Must you—” He bit back his words.
    Celia tilted back her head to see his face. “Why, Lord Simon!” she cried, affecting astonishment. “It is you, after all. Did we not agree, sir, to divide London between us? You were to have the miserable half. It’s not fair of you to try to make my half miserable, you know. You would not want me to make your half happy. Of course, you are never happy unless you are making someone else miserable.”
    He let her babble. “Get up,” he said curtly.
    Her eyes flashed. “You cannot give me orders, Lord Simon. I am not one of your men.”
    â€œI was talking to your—what did you call him? Your garden bench?”
    â€œAre you acquainted with my garden bench?” she asked.
    â€œWhat’s your name, boy?”
    â€œYou may answer,” said Celia sweetly.
    â€œHave you no self-respect, Mr. West?” Simon demanded when the boy had given his name.
    â€œWe’re just having a little fun with him,” said Celia. “Tom is new to the regiment—”
    â€œBreaking him in, are you?”he sneered. “By God, if he were one of mine—”
    â€œBut he’s not.”
    Simon’s lip curled. “No. He’s one of yours .”
    Celia laughed lightly. “Is this true, Tom? Are you one of mine?”
    Tom West did not hesitate. “Yes, Miss St. Lys!” he cried. “Thank you, Miss St. Lys. I’m so happy,” he added in a burst of spontaneity. “I was never so happy in my life.”
    It was now almost necessary for Simon to kick the boy, but he restrained himself.
    Celia smiled sweetly. “There, you see, Lord Simon! He is happy.”
    â€œHe is a bloody fool and a disgrace.”
    â€œThat is your opinion.”
    â€œAnd you, madam, are drunk.”
    Celia looked swiftly around the table.