The Most to Lose by Laura Landon Page A

surroundings in England.”
    She smiled at him, but her eyes spoke volumes. “And that, my lord,” she said as she snapped her parasol open in a queenly manner and rested it against her shoulder, “is the third lie you’ve told in less than one day’s time.”
    She’d tipped her chin upward and let the sun shine on her face. No wonder her face had a hint of bronze to it. She didn’t practice the same abhorrence to the effects of the sun as the rest of society.
    “Perhaps my statement was a slight exaggeration. But not intended as a lie.”
    “I’m sure it wasn’t. It was probably only intended to be a statement to keep people from knowing how deeply you were affected by the tragedies of war. So far, all your lies have been barriers you erect to keep people from getting too close.”
    For a few seconds, they drove on in silence; then, in a soft voice that held a great deal of strength, she said, “I can’t pretend to ever understand what you went through during the war, but if you ever feel the need to talk to someone, I would be more than willing to listen. Even Hadleigh admits I’m passable as an adequate listener.”
    Jonah couldn’t believe the effect of her words. The moment she finished speaking, he felt as if an unbearable pressure had been lifted from his chest.
    A gentle hand wrapped around his heart, easing the raw pain that had been his constant companion since he’d returned. So few understood what everyone who’d fought in the war had endured. Even fewer cared.
    But Lady Cecelia did. She cared how he felt, both physically and emotionally.
    He couldn’t explain what that meant to him.
    He looked ahead as another carriage approached them. He and Celie nodded in greeting, but he didn’t pull up to talk to them.
    “You should have stopped,” Celie said, glancing at him. “That was the Marchioness of Portwood and her daughter Lady Felicity. Lady Felicity is extremely eligible and quite sought after.”
    Jonah looked down on her and smiled. “Why would I want to waste time talking to the marchioness and her daughter when I have the perfect companion sitting next to me?”
    He couldn’t stop the laughter that wanted to erupt from him. The surprised expression on her face was priceless.
    He turned his attention to the horses and gave them a gentle nudging to pick up their step. They had been traveling one of the paths frequented by the members of the ton who wanted to avoid being seen. Suddenly, he wanted to be where everyone would see him. He turned onto the main thoroughfare.
    He wanted to let everyone know that Lady Cecelia Randolph had agreed to accompany him…
    And that he considered himself the luckiest man in London.

Chapter 4

    C elie squeezed through the crowd milling around Lady Cushing’s music room and made her way to the empty chair Amanda had saved for her. There was still time before the musicale began, but she’d wanted to arrive early to get a seat near the front. Tonight’s entertainment promised to be superb, and everyone would want to be as close to the performer as possible.
    “Have you ever heard Miss Zunderman sing?” Celie asked when she took her seat next to Amanda. She scanned the crowd and saw that almost everyone who was anyone was here.
    “No. I can’t believe the famous Miss Zunderman agreed to sing for Lady Cushing in such an intimate setting. Rumor has it she only agrees to stage performances.”
    “Hadleigh said Lady Cushing and Miss Zunderman were acquaintances in their youth. He said that—”
    Amanda turned toward Celie and grabbed her hand. “Enough of this trivia, Celie. Tell me about your drive with Lord Haywood yesterday afternoon while we still have some privacy to talk.”
    Celie took note of the empty chairs surrounding them and scanned the area to make sure they couldn’t be overheard. “It was very pleasant. I had a wonderful time.”
    Amanda’s eyes opened wide and her mouth dropped a few inches. “That’s all you have to say? It was