Chapter Twenty-Four
Georgiana
What have I done? I asked myself for the hundredth time since waking up.
Jane had sent a runner early this morning to Hampshire to deliver my plea—Peter, I’ve made another grand mistake. Please hurry.
If he hadn’t already left, then two days at most, and I had no doubt he’d return for me. To save me from whatever fallout I’d incur from letting my heart loose again.
But that kiss. I had dreamed of such a kiss. Endless fire, burning all through me. I could still feel it now buried forever in my bones. His lips, the taste of sugar and mint. I wanted more.
I hadn’t known such happiness was possible. I’d worked so hard against feeling anything for so long that locking away my feelings had become second nature. But last night, alone in the place where I felt most comfortable, I’d let my heart free from its cage.
I’d seen the truth of my feelings reflected in Lucas’s eyes.
I loved him.
Lucas.
Loyal, sweet, playful Lucas, who understood me better than any other man ever had. Lucas, who just so happened to be the Duke of Marlow.
And who was I?
A country girl with her name in the gossip papers.
He’d said so many sweet things, I could almost believe his feelings in earnest, were it not for the many other times he’d spoken to the contrary.
His needs were not in line with his feelings. He needed a wife worthy of the dukedom, and I was far from it.
And Lucas loved the dukedom most of all.
My chest tightened. I wasn’t ready to leave Ashburn Abbey. Or Lucas. Or our library. Our chair. The secret passageway and the warm, comfortable stables.
But I’d have to.
“Miss Wood, has your headache improved?” Jane asked from the doorway. “The family is taking tea and would like for you to join them.”
“The . . . entire family?” Lucas never took tea with us in the afternoons unless forced to do so.
“Including His Grace, yes.”
My stomach tightened, heavy and anxious. I could only feign a headache for so long.
For better or worse, I had to face Lucas. It was time. “I’ll be down in a moment.”
Jane smiled and left the door open a crack.
Drat, drat, drat. What should I do? What should I say?
Something about having a lovely sleep. Feeling much improved since this morning. Nothing about having kissed anyone, or feeling anything afterward, and certainly nothing about wishing for another round.
Heavens.
I descended slowly, watching the foyer for any sign of movement. The house was still and quiet. Perhaps Her Grace was waiting in the drawing room. Or perhaps they’d already started tea, and I could sneak inside and settle without saying more than good afternoon.
I stopped at the bottom, looking round. And blew out a long exhale.
Pausing right outside the open drawing room door, I heard low, undistinguishable voices.
Slowly, I stepped inside.
Her Grace was at the window with Maggie, a sweet bun in her hand, reading a paper. Gabriel hulked nearby as though waiting for them to relay something.
Lucas sat on the settee facing away from them with a cup in his hand, his gaze focused somewhere ahead on the red-and-yellow carpet.
Gabriel saw me first. “Miss Wood. Feeling much improved, I hope?”
Lucas’s gaze jolted to mine, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw fear in his eyes.
Regret?
I wouldn’t let the possibility wound me. I held my head high and smiled. “Much improved, yes. Thank you.”
“Thank heavens,” Gabriel said. “He was moments away from calling for the doctor.” He nodded to Lucas, who set down his cup and pushed up from his seat.
“And you slept?” Lucas’s gaze washed over me like he was examining a patient.
I raised a brow. He was acting strange. Sir Ronald had been angry when I’d kissed him. He would hardly look me in the face. Lucas seemed intent on ensuring I was still in one piece.
“Very well. Thank you.”
“Tea?” he asked, retaking his seat and gesturing to the space beside him on the settee. He poured my cup just the way I liked it, then took a plate and started filling it with food—strawberries, sweet buns, little sandwiches.
“Thank you,” I said as he finished. His kindness was noted by Maggie, too, who watched me take the plate from him and set it on the table in front of us.
Lucas handed me my teacup, then took a slow sip from his. He sat back in his seat, angled toward me, then crossed and uncrossed his legs. “Did you sleep well?”
I paused with the teacup at my lips, watching his right leg start to bounce. “You just asked me that question, Your Grace.”
Lucas . . . flushed? His cheeks blossomed pink. “I did not.”
“You did.” I hid my humor behind my teacup. “And the answer is still the same. I slept well, thank you. Did you?”
His eyes flickered about the room, as though to ensure we were speaking privately, then leaned in as though imparting a secret. “It was the best night of sleep of my life.”
Our eyes locked. It felt like a dare, a tease—say something and see what happens next.
I had no idea what might happen next.
My heart drummed against my ribs, terrified. “I am glad to hear it.”
“You look well this afternoon.” His gaze washed over me, cheeks still pink.
My heart ached, absolutely ached for him.
I held his gaze, though being so near him in so intimate a conversation set my chest ablaze.
“I don’t deserve your kindness,” I whispered.
He tilted his head. His knees angled close and bumped into mine. “I don’t think care and affection are something anyone deserves, Georgiana. I think they are a product of forming attachments.”
Oh, I was done in. Done for. Completely mad for him and for the way he looked at me as though I mattered to him. It was too good to have his attention like this.
His fingers trailed over his knees until they grazed mine.
All I did was open my hand, and he took it, entwining our fingers.
The touch of his skin on mine spread like wildfire all the way down to my toes.
His fingers were warm and rough. Encompassing mine.
It felt like a homecoming. Like a hundred butterflies in my chest.
I wanted to feel this way forever.
“Whose carriage is that?” Maggie asked from the window, and I tugged my hand free, twisting round.
He took my hand back, knocking our knees together. “Georgiana, what I said last evening—”
“Lucas,” I said his name like a warning. Not here. Not now.
“I meant every word.” His eyes watched mine, measuring my reaction. “I need to know if you—”
“Lord Reynolds to see you, Your Grace,” the butler said from the doorway, and we tore apart.
“What the devil is he doing here?” Gabriel stalked toward the window.
An alarm rang through me. Lord Reynolds? I’d completely forgotten. He’d wanted to walk Kensington Gardens!
Maggie smirked. “Is there something you ought to tell us, Miss Wood?”
Lucas had stilled. Drat, drat, drat. “Ah—well, I believe he’s come to invite us out for the afternoon.”
“How lovely,” Her Grace said, standing just as Lord Reynolds strutted inside.
He stopped a few paces away and bowed as we all rose to greet him. “Your Graces. Mrs. Drexel. Mr. Brennan.” Then he took me in, a slow grin curving his mouth. “Miss Wood. You look beautiful this afternoon.”
Throw me in the Thames. To be so bold! And in front of Lucas! “Lord Reynolds.” I curtseyed. The earl had zero reservations. No doubt he had a reputation with women.
Lucas stood rigid beside me. “To what do we owe this great pleasure, Reynolds?” he asked with measured calm.
“I hope I am not interrupting your afternoon. I’m off to Kensington Gardens. Miss Wood and I had spoken of it last evening at the theater. I am hoping to convince her to join me.”
“Absolutely not,” Lucas enunciated.
My gaze jumped to his. And as though he felt it, he softened.
Maggie laughed. “Not without the rest of us, His Grace means.”
I had an inkling from way Lucas grit his teeth that was not at all what he meant.
“Of course! Please, do join us,” Lord Reynolds insisted. “The weather is fine, and I believe we’ll be early enough to miss the crowds.”
Lucas looked to me, studied me. “Would you like to walk Kensington Gardens, Miss Wood?”
I could see no way out of it. No polite excuse to decline Lord Reynolds’s invitation, especially since we had indeed discussed the outing last evening.
I’d have to decline any further invitations or risk giving him the wrong impression.
I was dangerously close to misguiding him as it was.
I gave Lucas a pained look. I’d love nothing more than to sit beside my friend until the sun fell low, but was that wise either?
“I think fresh air would do us all some good. Clear the mind. Shall we all go out as friends?” I asked.
“Well thought.” Her Grace smiled, patting Lucas’s arm. “Enjoy yourselves.”
Lord Reynolds grinned at me.
“Friends.” Lucas scowled. “We’ll take my carriage.”