Chapter Seventeen
Damian had always been fascinated by his family history, his ancestors had lived an adventure, for the most part, and he hadn’t even told Georgie about everyone.
He also would not have the same opportunity as they did. In fact, the most adventurous thing that he may ever do was ride in a mail coach with Georgie from London to Liverpool, and then he would return to his duties in Southampton.
He’d been content with his life and what was expected of him, but he wanted to be more than content. The only problem was that he wasn’t certain what would make him happy.
He glanced across the coach at Georgie and wondered if perhaps his chosen bachelor state had been shortsighted.
Except, he did not have the patience to court anyone, nor the time.
His duties required him to be at Trade Wynd and he had not met a woman in Southampton that he had been interested in enough to pay them a call.
Someone like Georgie would make a fine wife.
Independent, pretty, and far from simpering nor did she flirt.
She was honest and forthright. He would never need to guess what she was thinking or wonder if there was a hidden meaning behind her conversation because if he wanted to know something he could ask and she would tell him directly.
Those were thoughts that he did not want to invade his mind and they probably wouldn’t if he hadn’t just drunk half a bottle of wine.
He especially wouldn’t have considered Georgie in the context of the type of wife he would not mind having, especially since he had not even known her a full three days.
This wasn’t the first time he had wondered if it was possible to be more than content either, though those musings had been more recent. About the same time the crack in the protection around his heart appeared.
“Besides your father leaving Ireland and ending up in Carrera, what other adventures has your family had.”
She chuckled. “None. My mother and her family have always lived in Carrera and as for my Irish relatives, I have no idea. My uncles visited when I was young, but I was a child and do not remember them all that well.”
“Well, you stowed away on a ship, so that is a story you can tell your grandchildren.”
This time she snorted. “I will not have grandchildren, Damian. I will not be having any children.”
He frowned. Despite her claiming that she was nearly on the shelf, she certainly was not. “You are only three-and-twenty, Georgie. You will marry one day,” he insisted. In fact, he was rather surprised that she hadn’t already. Maybe there were too few bachelors in Carrera.
“It is unlikely. Besides as the eldest, I will be the one who will take over Accetta Panetteria when my father and grandfather are gone because there is no son. And I may just do what my father wishes and turn it into Accetta Panetteria and Pasticceria if he doesn’t do so after my grandfather passes. ” She grinned.
“Is that the reason you want to become a spinster, so that you can own the business? It is also easier in England for an unmarried woman to own a business.”
“That is partially the reason,” she answered. “I can inherit the business from my father but a husband might wish to exert his authority.”
Damian already knew how much Georgie would not appreciate her decisions being challenged or her position usurped.
“What is the other part?”
“As a wife, I would likely become a mother and thus I would not have the time to honor my grandfather’s legacy, and if anything, Accetta Panetteria, must survive me for future generations.”
*
“What generations, if you do not have children?” he asked, humor in his eyes.
“I have two sisters, one is betrothed and Grace, well, she will likely wed soon. Their sons, or daughters, will take over, after I have instilled in them the importance of my grandfather’s Panetteria.
” She finished her cup of wine, a mournfulness filling her soul as she glanced out the window “This will likely be the only adventure I will ever have.”
She should be grateful that she had one, even though she had dreamed of many.
Maybe she should even thank Grace, but only after her sister was found, then scolded for her foolishness. Otherwise, she likely would have never left Carrera.
“You cannot know that for certain,” Damian argued quietly, more a discussion than challenge. “But you do seem to have your life already planned.”
“Yes, I do.”
It was also the only choice she had. There were other reasons why she could not and would not wed, not that she would share those with Damian, mainly because she did not want him to know her shame and that she was not much better than that blonde and brunette who had joined them on the mail coach yesterday who looked at Damian as if they couldn’t wait to…
She drew in a breath and blew it out. She would not think about what they had wanted to do since the same thoughts had crossed her mind and despite her past mistake, she would not be so foolish a second time.
Also, Damian wouldn’t even think to whisper words of love with plans to seduce her, and she was just as certain that the very idea had never crossed his mind, much to her disappointment, and what should be relief.