Chapter Three
“Georgina, do sit down. You’re giving me a headache.”
She stopped and sat in the closest chair, the one at the small writing desk next to the window in the parlor.
“Not there. Over here. This is where we receive callers. Whatever is wrong with you? It’s as if your head is in the clouds.”
Dutifully, she rose and walked to the chair next to the settee.
Her mother sat in a chair on the other side of it.
Even after fifty years and eight children, or maybe because of it, Lady Edgerton was a force that could not be easily withstood.
Still, Georgina hesitated to sit—her nerves made her anxious, and the need to walk or even run just kept building. “Are you sure he’s coming today?”
“I am. And when he arrives, you must allow me to speak. You are to remain quiet. We already know you have poor judgment. I don’t want you to make a worse impression than you already have. There are a number of ladies he could choose from to acquire the dowry he needs, so we have no guarantee.”
The reminder that she was being married for her money might have upset someone else, but she didn’t mind. At least if she were married, there was a chance that after they learned more about each other, the man would at least come to like her.
She sat and arranged her skirts to look her best. Her mother refused to tell her who her father had corresponded with.
All she knew was that the Duke of Northwick, who owned the Belinda School for Curious Ladies, had approved of the match.
She rearranged her pale pink skirts once again, wishing her mother hadn’t insisted on that exact color.
“Georgina, stop fidgeting! No wonder no one has asked for your hand. How can they when you’re always moving?”
She shot up, unable to stay seated. “I just need to look outside. There are some lovely blue tits in the bush near the fence.” She forced herself to stroll toward the window, though she wanted to run, not just there but outside.
“And whatever you do, don’t speak about birds. No gentleman cares about birds. They are nasty creatures that leave messes all over the streets and walkways.”
She didn’t answer, as there was nothing she could say that would be considered acceptable.
Instead, she quickly searched the bush for the blue tits she’d seen earlier, but the couple was absent, so she let her gaze wander to the street, which was close to Mayfair, but not within its boundaries.
Her mother blamed her for that, too. Evidently, her parents had considered not joining the Season because of her, and since they had delayed, they were late to rent a townhouse.
A coach approached and her heart raced, sure it had to be her suitor.
It didn’t matter that the marriage would be to help the lord, whoever he may be, climb out of debt.
She would still think of him as a suitor.
As the coach came closer, she held her breath, not letting it out until it passed by.
Disappointed, she was about to turn back when another coach coming from the opposite direction headed her way.
Again, she held her breath as it drew closer, and when it stopped right in front of the townhouse, she couldn’t quite seem to breathe again.
She recognized the crest from Ellie’s Twelfth Night event.
She didn’t know whose it was, but if he attended Ellie’s party, he had to be a most eligible lord.
Finally, she breathed again as the footman opened the coach door and the man stepped out.
As he looked up at the townhouse, she recognized his face.
Her belly tightened as she gazed upon the Earl of Durham.
She was quite shocked that such an eligible peer would have anything to do with her, never mind need her dowry.
She remained frozen at the window as he strode down the short walkway before their butler opened the door.
She spun around and ran to the empty settee, arranging her skirts once again.
“Georgina, what have I told you about running? It is highly improper for a lady—”
“My lady. Lord Durham has come to call upon Lady Georgina.”
Her mother quickly refocused. “Well, send him in, of course.”
Georgina expected her mother to issue another warning, but as they stood to welcome him, he was already at the archway of the parlor.
She barely kept back a sigh. Lord Durham was tall, well built, and had light brown hair, the color of the body of a kestrel, a bird of prey she quite admired. He also had pale blue eyes that made him seem almost unearthly.
He strode forward and addressed her mother. “Lady Edgerton, it is a pleasure to see you again.” He faced Georgina then, his attention solely on her. “Lady Georgina, it is an honor to be in your company once more.”
She’d swear he could see into her soul the way he gazed at her. “My lord, the honor is mine.”
Before he could respond, her mother spoke. “Yes, it is. Please my lord, I have ordered tea.”
Georgina felt heat fill her cheeks, so she quickly sat.
Lord Durham had the choice of sitting on the chair next to her mother, the chair next to the settee, or on the settee next to Georgina, so when he chose the settee, her heartbeat practically doubled in time, though her classmate Lady Rose would tell her that was impossible.
“Thank you, Lady Edgerton. I appreciate the kindness. I’m very pleased that you’re willing to allow me to court Lady Georgina.
I just wish to know if she is amenable to it as well.
” Lord Durham turned his attention to her.
“My lady, I know the circumstances we find ourselves in are most unusual. However, I would not think to pursue marriage with you if it’s not to your liking. ”
“Of course it’s to her liking. She has no say in the matter.”
At her mother’s harsh response, Georgina cringed.
Lord Durham turned to Lady Edgerton, his gaze now far less kind. “I appreciate your position, Lady Edgerton. But I will not marry your daughter unless she is willing. You do understand, I’m sure.”
Her mother’s intake of breath was almost as loud as Georgina’s own. She’d never heard anyone speak to Lady Edgerton in quite that way.
Lord Durham returned his gaze to her and smiled encouragingly. “My lady, are you willing to be my wife and fulfill all the duties therein as my countess?”
She felt tears gathering in her eyes at his kindness. “Yes, my lord. I would willingly be your wife and do my best to make you proud.”
“Then if you are in agreement, after I speak to your father, we shall have the banns read. In the next three weeks, we can become better acquainted so you’re very comfortable come our wedding day, and no one will think our marriage anything but a natural occurrence upon a close relationship.”
Her throat closed at how caring he was, so she nodded, unable to express her gratefulness.
“That is a wise plan, Lord Durham. However, it is important that one of us is with her at all times, as she will tell everyone of her fall from grace. My daughter, this daughter, cannot keep even the most minor information a secret.”
As Lord Durham’s eyebrows rose at her mother’s statement, Georgina wished she could fly out the window and avoid the questioning look he sent her.
She gave him a sheepish nod, hoping her mother would reveal nothing else about her, so she could make the best impression possible upon her soon-to-be husband.
“Indeed. That should be of no inconvenience, since, as her betrothed, I’d be with Lady Georgina often before the wedding.”
“Then you should also know that she’s forever wandering off to watch birds, of all things, can’t sit or stand still for more than two minutes, and is as likely to eat an entire trifle as not.”
Georgina swallowed a groan as she fiddled with her skirts, too embarrassed to look at Lord Durham.
“Is there anything else I should know?”
At his hard tone of voice, she snapped her head up to find him scowling at her mother.
Unfortunately, Lady Edgerton didn’t care for people challenging her, and her back stiffened. “As a matter of fact, there is something of great import you should know. My daughter isn’t with child, as she discovered just this week.”
Mortified, Georgina glanced at Lord Durham, who appeared as in shock as she, before she lowered her head in shame, crinkling her skirts in her hands and wishing she were anywhere else.
“You go too far, Lady Edgerton.” Lord Durham rose.
“That information should have been shared between Lady Georgina and myself. Since I only came here to be sure that Lady Georgina was willing to marrying me, I have accomplished my purpose. I will now meet with your husband.” With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room.
“That upstart should be thanking me. What man wants to raise another man’s son?”
Georgina stared at her mother, completely flummoxed. She’d known since she was a child that she was her mother’s least favorite, but Lady Edgerton had always kept her feelings hidden when in Society. For her to have spoken so bluntly must mean she couldn’t wait to get rid of her last child.
Disheartened, Georgina rose. “I’ll return to my room now.”
“Yes, you will, but don’t think we’ll be buying you a new wardrobe simply because this man wants to pretend he’s courting you. We all know what the truth is, so you’ll make do with the dresses you have until you’re his wife. Then you’re his problem.”
Dresses? Her mother thought of dresses after all she’d just done?
“If he marries me.” Georgina walked to the archway.
“What do you mean, if? Of course he will, unless you’re scheming some way to put him off. You’d best not, or it would not go well with you.”
She hesitated, then turned around, speaking quietly. “No. I think you’ve already done that.”
At her mother’s incredulous look, she turned and hurried up the stairs to her room, quite sure she’d lost her only chance of leaving her family’s home.
*