Chapter Twenty-One
Marlow
Lady Diana.
Lady Diana, Lady Diana, Lady Diana.
Focus, Lucas, you idiot. The woman deserved my attention, regardless of whether or not I meant to pursue her.
But I could not focus. All I could think about was the sound of Georgiana’s laugh, the look she’d given me last night.
How she cared about everything and everyone, even Gabriel’s happiness. How she fit so seamlessly among us.
I checked my fob watch. Lord Reynolds should have collected her by now.
Dash that man.
The carriage pulled to a stop at its first destination, and Lady Diana’s mother ushered me inside their drawing room. I wondered about Georgiana’s mother as I followed her. Did they look alike? What had kept her from London, and did her absence bother Georgiana?
As I complimented Lady Diana’s golden evening gown, and her mother’s faint blue, I wondered what color Georgiana had chosen for the evening. Something bright? Perhaps an apple red?
Lady Diana asked after my morning, and I blanched answering, for I hadn’t the slightest clue how Georgiana’s had gone, and that made everything a little lackluster as I helped both ladies into the carriage.
“Will anyone else be joining us at the theater?” Lady Diana asked as we settled on opposite benches. Her mother sat beside her.
“My mother, of course, and my cousins. As well as Lord Reynolds and Miss Wood. She is a friend of ours,” I reminded her.
Her mother, Lady Rush, frowned and said, “Do you know her well? Indeed, Your Grace, I am surprised to hear of your family’s connection after reading about her in the papers.”
I cleared my throat, jaw tense. No matter how many times Georgiana reminded me of the rumors, I simply could not understand why they were still floating around. “The papers do not always print the full story. I would encourage you to form your own opinion, Lady Rush.”
“I believe the duke’s intention is to heal his friend’s good name,” Lady Diana said with a smile. “A heroic cause. And not the first time he’s endeavored to help a friend.”
Goodness, what had she been reading? If she spoke of Mrs. Winston, she had no idea what I’d actually done, and no idea that I would never have looked twice at Georgiana if she hadn’t been in possession of my grandmother’s ring.
What did that say about me?
I swallowed hard. I did not care to think overlong on that.
“I’m sure she’s lovely.” Lady Diana smiled at me as though she and I were together in redeeming Georgiana. It felt . . . odd. “If the duke feels there is more to the story than what we’ve read in the papers, then perhaps we ought to listen.”
Her mother harrumphed and pursed her lips.
Drury Lane was lit and bustling when we arrived. Lady Rush quickly found an acquaintance to engage in conversation, and I searched the faces of the crowd ahead.
I locked eyes with Georgiana.
No matter that she was on Reynolds’s arm. That she’d dressed so carefully, given so much effort to her appearance knowing he’d be watching her all night.
She was smiling at me.