A Midnight Kiss to Seal the Deal

by Sophie Pembroke

  He should have warned her in the car. Shouldn’t have brought her at all. But somehow, when he was away from this place, he always believed that it couldn’t be as bad as he remembered. That he was building it up in his head, somehow.

  It was only once he returned that he realised the truth of it all.

  ‘Come, come. Your father is already in the dining room, Theo, and you know he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.’ Maria turned away and bustled down the passageway to the dining room at the back of the house.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Theo whispered as they followed.

  ‘What for?’ Celeste asked.

  ‘Everything that happens in this house.’ That should probably just about cover it.

  He braced himself, and headed for lunch.

  * * *

  Forty minutes later, Celeste had a new respect for Theo Montgomery, and his ability to keep smiling and stay polite in the face of abject rudeness. She’d thought he’d done a good job at being pleasant to her, even after she’d spent their first meetings arguing about everything.

  Now she knew his secret. He’d been training for this his whole life.

  His father, Francis Montgomery, was easy enough to figure out. Perpetually disappointed by life, as far as she could see, and passing that disappointment onto Theo. He was every historical figure who’d ever lost a kingdom, or power, or influence, and blamed everyone but himself. Even the way Theo passed him the gravy wasn’t satisfactory.

  It was much easier to understand people when you thought of them as historical figures, she decided. Maybe that was the trick she needed, and hadn’t realised until now. Something else Theo had given her.

  ‘He dropped out of university, you know,’ Francis told Celeste, apropos of nothing, over dessert.

  She hadn’t known. It had never come up. She wasn’t entirely sure why it had come up now. And Theo clearly had no intention of telling them about his current studies, so she wouldn’t. ‘Well, it doesn’t seem to have stopped him,’ she said cheerfully.

  Really, a dinner at which she was the cheerful, pleasant, upbeat one was a definite first. And not a good sign.

  She glanced across at Theo, who sat staring sullenly at his syrup sponge pudding and custard. She’d never known him go so long without smiling before.

  ‘I think it was the expectation,’ Maria, his mother, said, almost as a secret aside, as if Theo couldn’t hear them.

  ‘I think he was too stupid,’ Francis interjected. Maria ignored him.

  ‘Oxford does come with certain expectations, don’t you think?’ Maria went on. ‘And really, all that pressure on young minds. Some people just aren’t cut out for that kind of life, are they? But he so wanted to go... I always knew my Theo wasn’t really going to set the world aflame. It takes a special something for that, don’t you think? And we knew early on that Theo didn’t have it. But he’s found his niche, and that’s something,’ she added, sounding doubtful.

  ‘He never wanted to work hard, that was the problem,’ Francis opined, leaning back in his chair, wine glass in hand. ‘That’s what happens when people get everything handed to them on a plate, like Theo has. They don’t know how to work for it. Born lazy.’

  ‘Well, Theo does actually have a job,’ Celeste pointed out. She stared at Theo, waiting for him to say something, to defend himself, but he barely even looked up from his pudding. ‘I’ve seen him do it—that’s how we met, in fact. He works hard.’ She thought of all the meetings and filming he’d had scheduled at odd times that week, all the time spent making sure everything was in place for the New Year’s Eve Spectacular. All the emails and calls. Theo was properly involved in the projects he took on; he did a lot more than show up and smile, whatever people thought.

  Whatever she’d thought, before she got to know him.

  When you added in his studies, plus his fake dating her, Theo was anything but lazy.

  But his parents didn’t look convinced.

  ‘And now, of course, he associates with all these women who are only interested in his name, or his money—no offence, of course,’ Maria went on.

  ‘None taken,’ Celeste lied, her voice mild. That, at least, made Theo look up and give her a tight smile. She wondered when he’d learned to read her so well.

  Maybe around the time she’d learned to read him.

  His mother was a harder read—but Celeste was pretty sure she was toxic, one way or another. She reminded her of Rachel’s stepmother, the few times they’d met, and that was definitely not a good thing. Maybe it was just living with Francis that had soured her, until she couldn’t find a good thing to say about her own son.

  ‘I always tell him to bring them home to see the old place,’ Francis said, with a wheezy laugh. ‘That’ll put them off! He can’t afford to marry a poor girl, not unless she’s at least got a decent title they can trade on.’

  There was an awkward pause. Were they really waiting for her to tell them if she had money and/or an aristocratic family?

  ‘Of course, he never does bring anybody home,’ Maria said, looking wistfully at Theo. ‘I would like to see him settled—with the right girl, of course.’

  Celeste didn’t need the sharp look Theo’s mother sent in her direction to get the message there. She might not always be great at reading the subtleties of human nature, mostly through lack of experience, but really, there was no subtlety here.

  And Celeste didn’t have the patience for death by a thousand insults.

  ‘Well, I think we can all agree that’s not going to be me!’ Smiling cheerfully, she placed her spoon in her bowl, pushed away the stodgy pudding, and got to her feet, smoothing down her plain black dress. ‘And now, I’m afraid, Theo and I really need to get back to London. Don’t we, sweetheart?’

  ‘Afraid so.’ Were those the first words Theo had spoken since they sat down at the table? ‘Sorry, Mum, Father.’ He didn’t hug them goodbye. She wasn’t surprised. The Montgomerys were even less affectionate than her own family, which she hadn’t really thought was possible.

  ‘Thanks so much for having me,’ Celeste said, as she backed out of the room, because if nothing else she’d managed to learn some manners over the last twenty eight years of her life. Even if she wasn’t sure these people were really worthy of them.

  Neither she nor Theo said anything else until they were in the car, down the driveway and back on the main road again, speeding away from Theo’s childhood home.

  ‘Well,’ Celeste said, finally.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ He sounded so miserable, so tense, that she almost wanted to tell him to pull over so she could kiss him again, just to try and cheer him up.

  ‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘I mean, it’s not. They’re awful. But honestly, I’m used to dreadful family dinners, so it was almost nice to sit through someone else’s for a change. It’s a good job I got to know you first, though.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  ‘Because otherwise I might believe some of the things your parents said about you.’ She looked over at him and wished he weren’t driving, so he could see the truth of her words in her eyes. ‘As it is, I know you’re nothing like the man they seem to think you are. So that’s good.’

  Was that the start of a smile, curving around his lips? She hoped so.

  ‘Nothing like, huh?’

  He was fishing for compliments now, but, after meeting his parents, she decided he probably deserved a few. ‘Nothing at all. You’re definitely not lazy, and you’re proving with every essay you submit, every online seminar you attend, that you’re capable of studying when you want to.’ She’d talked him into showing her some of his modules and marks after a few more drinks after the ice skating. From his online tutor’s comments, she could see that he was a conscientious and dedicated student, with interesting opinions and interpretations of events and sources that weren’t just a repetition of someone e
lse’s analysis.

  She almost wished he were one of her students. Except then she definitely wouldn’t be able to think about kissing him, so it was probably best for all of them that he wasn’t.

  He was smiling now. She’d made him smile, just by telling the truth as she saw it. She liked that.

  ‘I’m still sorry you had to sit through that lunch,’ Theo said.

  ‘That’s okay,’ Celeste said cheerfully. ‘I know exactly how you can make it up to me.’

  He raised an eyebrow at that. ‘Oh? How’s that?’

  ‘You can come to my parents’ Christmas Eve party with me.’

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SPENDING CHRISTMAS EVE in a room full of people who were categorically proven to be brighter and better educated than him wasn’t exactly in Theo’s plans when December started. But then, nothing in his life seemed to have gone to plan since he’d met Celeste, so maybe it was all par for the course.

  The Hunters’ town house in central London was worlds away from his own family seat in most ways, but from the moment they’d arrived Theo had sensed something familiar. Something he didn’t like. Celeste, however, seemed perfectly comfortable, so he’d pushed the feeling aside and tried to enjoy the party. She’d been there most of the day, helping prepare for the party, and by the time he arrived—with the obligatory bottle of wine for the hosts, or for himself, in case he got really desperate—there were already half a dozen people milling around the living spaces of the house, including her brother, Damon.

  ‘You okay?’ Celeste asked as she drifted past holding a tray of interesting-looking hors d’oeuvres. She was wearing a different dress from the one she’d worn for lunch with his parents a few days before, although it was, obviously, still black. This was cut high in the front but fell low on her back, then swished all the way to the floor, only just revealing that her usual boots had been replaced with high heels.

  Theo wanted to pull down the shoulder straps and watch it fall to the floor. Although probably not in the middle of her parents’ party, he supposed.

  ‘Fine.’ He looked around the room. From the few introductions he’d made, everyone here had several more degrees than him, and mostly wanted to talk about their research with other people who would understand how impressive it was.

  He was not that person.

  Celeste rested a hand against his arm for a moment. ‘Sure?’

  She’d been like this since she’d met his parents—more sensitive, more concerned. Less Celeste-like. As if seeing inside his secrets allowed her to drop a little of her own armour. And she was letting him in here, too. Showing him her world.

  As if this thing between them meant something to her.

  Or as if she wanted company at a boring family party. That was the more likely answer.

  ‘I’m feeling...a little out of my depth here,’ he admitted reluctantly. He’d worked so hard over the years to fit in anywhere, to win people over, to make them smile in a way he’d never been able to achieve with his own parents. But here...he felt inferior again, just like at home.

  He didn’t like it.

  Celeste reached up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. ‘Just stay away from my mother and you’ll be fine,’ she told him.

  Well, that was encouraging.

  ‘Keep me company for a few minutes?’ he asked, trying not to sound desperate. ‘I’ve barely seen you tonight.’

  She flashed him an amused smile. ‘You know the people here aren’t likely to be posting photos of us on social media, right? Some of them might not even know who you are...’

  Theo faked horror at that idea, although actually, right then, it seemed like the better option. He didn’t want to be singled out and identified here. Didn’t want to be highlighted as the know-nothing TV star.

  He wanted to be here as Celeste’s date. Nothing more, nothing less.

  ‘That’s not why I want to spend time with you.’

  ‘I know! You want my feedback on your latest essay, right?’ she guessed. ‘I’ve told you, I’ll do it, but only if you give me tips about not appearing scary on television.’

  ‘You don’t need them, but I’ll give them to you, sure. But not tonight.’

  She gave him a speculative look. ‘Is it because I’ve already lectured you on my research and books and you figure I’m the only person in the room who won’t bore you again?’

  ‘I’m never bored listening to you.’

  ‘Ah, so it is that,’ she said, with a grin. ‘In that case, try and avoid my dad, too.’

  ‘Celeste...’ She started to move away, and he snaked an arm around her waist to keep her closer. ‘Is it so hard to believe I might just want to spend time with you? Because I like doing that?’

  The surprise in her eyes hurt, a little. It so obviously hadn’t occurred to her that he might want to do that—which suggested that she didn’t want it.

  Then he looked a little closer, as she bit down on her lower lip and met his gaze. ‘Do you? Because generally most people don’t.’

  ‘I’m not most people,’ he told her. ‘And yes. I do.’

  A small smile spread across her face, a real one, one he believed. She opened her mouth to respond—until someone called her name from across the room and, with an apologetic look, she slipped away.

  Theo sighed, and reached for another drink. He had a feeling that the evening was going to be a very long one.

  * * *

  An hour later and Theo was still looking pretty miserable. Celeste wished she could stop and stay with him for a while—especially since it seemed he actually wanted her company, and not just for appearances—but she had bigger concerns tonight. Mostly around her brother and her best friend. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by the thought of kissing Theo again.

  However tempting that was.

  Her conversations with Damon during the day hadn’t made her feel any better about whatever was happening between him and Rachel, although she suspected they couldn’t keep pretending it wasn’t an issue for very much longer. And Rachel still wasn’t here...

  Celeste’s phone buzzed in her pocket. God, she loved a dress with pockets.

  I’m outside. Come meet me?

  It was Rachel, of course. Dumping her tray on the nearest flat surface, Celeste headed for the door—wincing as she realised that her father had cornered Theo and looked to be practising his latest lecture on him. At least Theo was still managing that polite, TV-star smile. When that started to slip, that was when she’d worry.

  ‘Why didn’t you come in? It’s freezing out here,’ she said as she opened the door, looking around for her friend. Then she spotted her, at the bottom of the steps that led to the town house’s front door.

  One look, and she knew. She stared, speechless for a moment.

  Then, ‘Oh, my God, you’re in love with my brother,’ she blurted.

  ‘I wanted to speak to you first,’ Rachel said, with a small smile. ‘Before I talk to him.’

  Oh. Oh, she’d been right. Everything was coming to a head tonight.

  Celeste shut the front door behind her and stepped out into the biting cold of the December night. Descending the steps carefully in her heels, she sat on the second from the bottom one in the freezing cold with her best friend.

  ‘Tell me everything,’ she said.

  And Rachel did.

  Some of it she already knew from her conversations with Damon, or the double-fake-date lunch they’d shared. Some of it was new.

  And all of it boiled down to one thing—the same thing Celeste had known from the moment she saw her.

  Celeste waited until Rachel had run out of steam and words before she spoke.

  ‘So like I said, you’re in love with my brother? Is that right?’

  Rachel nodded. ‘And I’m hoping he feels the same about me.’

  Celes
te thought back to her last conversation with Damon, in the kitchen before the party started. He’d seemed...conflicted.

  ‘I think he does,’ she said slowly. ‘The thing will be getting him to admit it.’

  She didn’t want to give her friend false hope, because her brother was basically a lost cause when it came to love. But on the other hand...

  ‘If anyone can do it, I reckon you can,’ she said.

  Rachel flashed her a quick grin. ‘Do you know, apart from my mother before she died, you were the first person in my life who ever listened to what I had to say without talking over me, or telling me what I should feel. Damon was the second.’

  No wonder she’d fallen for him. Celeste knew what a rarity that was in Rachel’s life; she’d often assumed that her listening skills were the only reason her best friend put up with her at all. She might not agree with her all the time, and she’d most definitely tell her when she’d got something factually wrong, but she would at least listen first.

  ‘It’s one of the most useful things our parents ever taught us,’ Celeste said lightly. ‘You see, you can’t brutally demolish another person’s argument or theory without listening to it properly in the first place.’

  Rachel laughed, but it sounded more desperate than amused.

  ‘What’s he going to say when I tell him?’ she asked quietly.

  Celeste had no idea. But her friend needed to know the answer, one way or another. ‘Let’s go and find out.’

  Rachel stood up, smoothed down the beautiful wine-red dress Celeste had helped her pick out at the Cressingham Arcade, and nodded.

  Inside, the party was still...well, mildly happening, rather than raging. Across the room, Damon stood with their mother, but he turned away from her as Rachel entered, and Celeste almost felt the moment his gaze met her friend’s.