Chapter 23
“Wherein a rake reveals a heart.”
It has been noted that the ton’s darling M of B, that handsome devil, has been paying extraordinary attention to the dazzling new Siren in our midst. Could it be that our most delightful bachelor has marriage in mind at last?
Extraordinarily, the D of S is also dancing attendance, but his attentions are not received with any visible pleasure.
The Siren continues to call to all the most eligible men, but who will get burned this time?
The following ten days passed in a blur. Dances and routs and shopping and picnics, and yet more shopping and more dancing.
Georgiana felt giddy, as though the world was spinning too fast and she couldn’t keep her grip on reality.
It was like some strange dream where everything was a little too bright, a little too colourful, and too perfect to be real.
But she let the colours and the attention and the compliments shower over and about her and watched the glittering world around her without ever truly feeling a part of it.
The duke was always there, watching her with those dark eyes.
He was like a storm gathered on the horizon.
Everyone knew, sooner or later he would break, and the lightning would probably scorch her to the bone.
She felt she would welcome it. It was hard to keep pushing him away, to keep rejecting his advances when she could still see the heat in his eyes.
But she wouldn’t be his plaything this time.
She wasn’t a toy he could pick up again, simply because another boy had decided he wanted her.
If Sebastian wanted her, he would have to declare his interest as Beau had. He had to make it clear to the world he was courting her.
He needed to offer far more than just an affair that could ruin her and destroy all her dreams. She wanted him still, loved him still ... but did he love her enough to put the scandalous past aside?
Did he love her at all?
“That’s Lady Chartley,” Beau whispered to her as they took a turn about the room. “She’s been sleeping with Derby for almost a decade now, spends more time there than at her own home by all accounts.”
Georgiana looked at the elegant brunette with a raised eyebrow. She would never see forty again, but she was still a beauty. “But Lord Derby is a fat old goat,” she hissed to him, in disgust. “If she must take a lover, she could do far better.”
Beau smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, but I never said Lord Derby, now did I?”
Georgiana felt her mouth make a little O of surprise as Beau chuckled.
“Oh, I do love opening your eyes, darling Eve. It is such a delight to educate you.”
She cast him a sideways look. “I’m not shocked,” she retorted, though she knew he dearly loved to make her blush. He seemed to count it as some kind of delightful sport. He was very good at it too. “I’m just surprised, that’s all I just ... never considered ...”
She trailed off, annoyed that she was blushing now. “I mean I know that men sometimes like other men, so I suppose it makes sense,” she replied, shrugging as Beau went off into peals of laughter beside her.
“I do love it when you try to sound as though you are so very sophisticated and experienced of our dark world, sweet little Eve.”
She huffed and glared up at him. “Well it’s not as if I get a chance to discover anything about it myself, is it? All I learn, I learn from you. I never realised you were such a dreadful rattlepate.”
He put a hand to his heart with a groan.
“Oh, that hurt. After the lengths I have gone to keep you entertained. A rattlepate! Is that the only thing you can find to say of me after all the extravagant compliments I give you? Here I am, hanging on your sleeve as ever, your obedient lap dog, and you never so much as throw me a bone.”
Now it was her turn to laugh at this wounded expression, ignoring the looks of disapproval from some of those they passed by.
“Oh, you are an odious, spoilt creature. That is for certain.”
“Oh, Eve,” he replied sounding so dejected and giving her such puppy dog eyes that she did really feel sorry for him.
“Beau, you’re a dreadful flirt and I know well your game by now, but you know I adore you so stop trying to lure me into spoiling you further. Dreadful man,” she added, tutting as his eyes lit with appreciation.
She couldn’t help but return his smile, but then her breath caught as he paused, his eyes darkening.
He covered her hand with his and leaned towards her. “Marry me and I’ll teach you everything you want to know, Eve.”
She swallowed, unsettled by the look in his eyes.
God, she couldn’t deny the idea of bedding him didn’t make her skin burn.
She’d overheard whispers about him from other women, about his prowess and skill in the bedroom.
Somehow, she didn’t doubt a word of it. But though he might be able to make her body respond, her heart was already engaged, and she wasn’t so fickle that it could be taken by another with such ease.
He reached out a hand, the back of one finger touching her cheek for a bare moment.
“I’ll make you forget about him, darling, I promise I can do it.”
She smiled and shook her head. “And once you had taught me everything you know you would grow bored and leave me alone. Back to chasing your pretty light skirts, spending your nights with your Cythereans rather than your dull wife.”
His face clouded over, a frown in those gorgeous blue eyes. “Who says I would grow bored? I can’t imagine it now.”
Georgiana couldn’t help but laugh, he looked like a scolded boy who had been denied a treat. “That’s because there is finally something you cannot have, and the more you cannot have it the more you want it.”
“I do want it,” he returned, his voice fierce and such fire in his voice, she caught her breath. “I want you,” he said, and she could see the truth of it in his eyes. “I’ll do anything you want, Eve. Command me. Make me earn your hand if you will but don’t refuse me.”
“Don’t, Beau, please,” she begged him. “Not now.”
He sighed and shook his head, allowing them to move on once again. “Very well, my sweet torment. Punish me if you must. But I’m not giving in.”
“I should hope not,” she replied with an arch smile that made him laugh.
“Vixen.”
They walked a little further until they came upon a crowd of people exclaiming and gathered around. There was something, no ... someone, on the floor.
“Oh, the poor woman!” Georgiana exclaimed. For there was indeed a poor creature in the throes of some kind of fit, her thin limbs jerking and twitching as people watched and exclaimed with horror.
“Get out of the way!” With no little surprise she watched as Beau scattered the crowd with fury flashing in his blue eyes. “Get away from her, you devils!”
He reached down and swept the woman up as though she weighed nothing and Georgiana ran ahead of him, throwing open the door as he strode through, searching for a quiet place to set her down.
“Here!” she called to him, opening a door onto a darkened library, lit only by one oil lamp.
The woman’s body was rigid with tension, her right arm twitching fiercely but Beau carefully set her down on a couch and knelt beside her.
Georgiana watched, astounded as he undid the buttons on the high neck of her gown and then as he held her steady, to stop her tumbling off the side of the couch, and gently restraining the erratic movement of her arm.
He spoke to her in a clear, calm voice, and began stroking her hair with his hand as the tremors began to die away.
Beau let out a breath of relief and she noted how pale and drawn his face was with curiosity. He waited until the woman was still, her breath fast and shallow but steady.
“She’ll be alright now,” he said, sounding a little shaken as he got to his feet. “But perhaps you should loosen her stays, make her more comfortable.”
“Yes, I think my uncle would say to do so,” she admitted, looking up at him in wonder. “How ...” she began as Beau turned his back and she tried to make the woman more comfortable.
“Someone I knew when I was a child,” he said, his voice short. “He had similar seizures.”
It was clear he didn’t wish to speak about it, so she returned her attention to the woman.
She was desperately thin, almost emaciated, and even Georgiana found little trouble in moving the poor thing about like a limp rag doll. Her dress was worn and badly faded and Georgiana felt a jolt of pity, realising how very lucky she was.
“I wonder what caused it,” she asked quietly. “I remember one of uncle’s patient’s having something of the sort.”
“Stress or an upset used to trigger my ... my friend’s attacks,” he said, before adding. “Perhaps I should fetch some water?”
“Yes,” she replied and smiled up at him, wondering at his intervention.
Not many men, as it had been seen, would have intervened in such a way. Madness was a terrifying thing, and any sign of something that approached it was to be shunned and reviled.
Though her uncle was adamant that fits and madness were not one and the same thing and neither were they contagious, not everyone shared his view by any means.
“Do you know her?” she asked, wondering if that was the reason he had acted so quickly.
“No, though I have seen her around before now. I know of the man she came with by reputation though, and a bigger bastard you never did meet.”
“Oh,” she replied, looking back at the sleeping figure with regret. “Perhaps we shouldn’t inform him then.”
“No.” He shook his head. “We’ll stay with her until she wakes and then find a way to get her home.”
Georgiana smiled at him, suddenly struck that she’d underestimated him. She’d judged him as she’d raged against those who’d judged her in turn.
“What?” he asked, obviously bewildered by the look in her eyes.
“I was just thinking ... how very kind you are.”
He actually looked embarrassed for a moment before he gave a snort of derision.
“Not kind,” he replied, sounding almost gruff. “I just hate to see those carrion crows picking over the bones of people who can’t defend themselves. It makes me sick.”
He strode to the door and muttered his intention of getting water for her.
By the time he got back the woman was beginning to stir.
She was very plain, her thin face all angles and her dark hair scraped severely from her head in an unbecoming style. A small pair of spectacles sat on her nose and Georgiana watched as Beau removed these and sat her up, supporting her with one strong arm behind her back.
“Here,” he said, his voice gentle. “Sip some water. It will make you feel better.”
The woman did as she was bid, though she was clearly disorientated, and it took a moment before her eyes opened properly and she was able to focus.
She blinked and Georgiana was startled by the widest pair of dark brown eyes she’d ever seen. They were too big in her gaunt face, and they widened further as they focused on Beau.
“Lord Beaumont!” she said, gasping, her face one of utter astonishment and appalled embarrassment.
“Don’t look so alarmed. Miss Bomford is here. It’s quite alright. I’m afraid you had something of a turn. Is there anything we can do for you, Miss ...”?
“Sparrow,” she said, her voice barely audible. “Millicent Sparrow.”
Georgiana thought she had never heard a more appropriate name for this little scrap of a woman. The poor thing shook her head and looked up at Beau as though he was some angel sent to save her.
“You’ve already been so kind. I can never thank you enough.”
“Think nothing of it,” he replied, his smile warm and reassuring. “Miss Bomford, would you be so good as to see Miss Sparrow safely home tonight?”
“Oh yes!” Georgiana replied, smiling. “Of course, I will.”
“How very kind you are,” Miss Sparrow murmured, still gazing at Beau, and Georgiana found she couldn’t fault her for it.
“Yes,” Georgiana echoed, staring at Beau herself with new eyes. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?”