Chapter 43
Georgina wished she could have lain intertwined with Elizabeth all night. They dozed together in sated comfort for some time before reluctantly unravelling their limbs and climbing out of the bed.
Elizabeth fetched the only gown Georgina had brought in her portmanteau and helped her into it, suggesting they might continue their earlier conversation.
Pouting, Georgina complained that anything they needed to say to each other could just as easily be communicated naked. She shivered as Elizabeth kissed along her neckline at the back of her gown before securing the final clasp.
Elizabeth took a comb from the dresser and tamed Georgina’s curls. “I also have a household full of inquisitive retainers, not to mention our respective reputations to consider.”
Georgina caught Elizabeth gazing at her through the mirror, and the glint in her eyes filled her with warmth. Perhaps they might not make it back downstairs after all.
But Elizabeth stepped away from her, and so the two restored themselves to a level of respectability, save for the satisfied glow across their cheeks.
The ladies returned to the library, where Elizabeth furnished them both with another brandy and sat down beside Georgina on the sofa.
“Now, what brought you all this way? Surely not simply to ravish me.”
The twinkle in Elizabeth’s eye made Georgina pause. What she had to say was not meant to be received lightly. She took a breath.
“I came to apologise to you. In the past week, I have assumed the most dreadful things about you that were neither fair nor true. I came to tell you how sorry I am to have misjudged you so cruelly.” She shrugged. “And possibly to ravish you.”
Elizabeth regarded her. “Georgina, I suspect you are given to the dramatic.”
Georgina scowled. “I am not. All this time, you have thrown me clues to suggest you were involved with Mrs Gardner in some way, but you never told me in what manner. I could only conclude that you knew she victimised people like Arthur.”
“By the time last Sunday arrived, I realised my lack of communication had led you to that assessment.”
“I feared you had deceived me into developing feelings for you, to prevent me from finding out the truth about Solitaires.” Saying the words was physically painful.
Elizabeth nodded.
“It was only when my friend Lord Telford apprised me of the true nature of your dealings with Mrs Gardner that I realised what a mistake I had made.” Georgina paused. “And then I felt much worse.”
Elizabeth gave a forbearing smile. “I know I can be difficult to read—and slow to open myself up. Some of this story was not mine to share, which made it more complicated.”
“I tried to call upon you in town, but you had already gone away. Your mother provided me with your direction. She is very sweet, by the way … and strangely like me.”
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled. “There are similarities. Tell me, did my mother know you were coming here?”
Georgina smothered a smile. “Well, not precisely, but she may have entertained a suspicion to that effect.”
Elizabeth took her hand, and Georgina regarded her gravely. “After everything I have done and how I have acted, I know I do not deserve your friendship. But I beg you, please accept my deepest apologies.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I cannot forgive you. You have done nothing wrong.”
“I caused a scandal when I informed on Ellis and Montgomery to Bow Street. I accused them—rightly so, I might add—of murdering Henry. But I regret that your name was bandied about in the newspapers.”
“I was there to witness the serving of the warrant. I confess it was a work of art, and their expressions were haunted when they realised you bested them. I can only wish you had been able to see it unfold yourself,” Elizabeth interjected, her eyes brimming.
“When the Runner frisked Montgomery and found your brother’s watch, it was like the dawning of a magnificent sun as we all realised what you had done.
You only played at losing the watch. Of course.
As you assured me, you never lose. While they turned on each other with accusations, I almost burst with pride. ”
Georgina blinked rapidly, refusing the compliment.
“Perhaps you’ve forgotten. I broke into Solitaires and stole a faro box.
I got arrested. I attended a duel to try to stop my friend being shot,” she protested.
“I have had more than a few dalliances with married women in my day, and I did meet Prudence for dinner.” She shrugged.
Her list of deficits was an extensive one.
Elizabeth’s gaze softened. “Yes. You are a very impulsive, foolish girl. It’s part of why I like you.”
“I reach conclusions without thinking, and I never consider the consequences.”
“Indeed, you do not,” Elizabeth agreed. “One only needs to recall the housebreaking.”
Georgina looked to the ceiling for assistance with her catalogue. “I act rashly.”
“Yes, I remember rescuing you from Bow Street.”
Georgina sat up straight. “I have decided to establish a home for orphaned children like Joshua. A place where they might be cared for and looked after properly.”
Georgina enjoyed the puzzled look she received from Elizabeth, who blinked back at her.
“You have?”
“Another example of my impulsivity. Joshua can consult about how we will operate it. He will love that.”
Elizabeth cleared her throat. “I am sure he will. Though do not be surprised if he encourages you to disband formal lessons in favour of pony rides and playing in the park and replace sturdy meals with cake and jellies.”
Georgina’s smile faded, and she shifted to face Elizabeth. “And of all my failings, I am most guilty of assuming the worst in people.”
Elizabeth grasped Georgina’s hand and became preoccupied with kissing her fingers. “Indeed. Though distrust can be a necessary precaution.”
“Colt did not help matters. He was convinced you were working with Mrs Gardner the whole time.”
“Ah. Colt. The bane of my life.”
Georgina tried to concentrate. Elizabeth’s lips against her skin made it rather difficult to focus. “He and Sarah are to be married. Perhaps his impression of you will mellow with her positive influence.”
“Poor Sarah,” Elizabeth said, kissing her palm. “I will have to learn to suffer Colt, will I not?”
A flutter of anticipation rushed through Georgina like a playful breeze. She had a happy thought, then shoved the possibility out of her mind.
“After I returned the faro box to Solitaires, on that awful day we parted, you sent me that odious letter. I thought you might never want to see me again.”
“Odious letter?”
“Yes, you wrote ‘not everyone is capable of redemption’. But I am. I know I failed Henry. But I am trying to make it up to people.”
Elizabeth brought her hand to her mouth in dismay.
“Now it is for me to apologise. I was referring to Mrs Gardner. Never you, Georgina. I wanted nothing more than to call upon you after that day, but I also knew that rushing to talk to you after the incident might only have resulted in further accusations and anger. I hoped that by giving you time to reflect, you would, with any luck, grow calmer. It was a gamble, I grant.”
Georgina recognised Elizabeth may have a point on that score. “I wanted to tell you the truth about the night Henry died. But I feared you would hate me as much as I have loathed myself.” Georgina fidgeted with her glass. This conversation was never going to be a simple one.
Elizabeth tilted Georgina’s chin up with one finger, holding her gaze steadily. “You are not responsible for Henry’s death. Only his killers are responsible. You must free yourself of this penance. Henry would not want you to be so unhappy.”
Georgina murmured, “That’s what Joshua said.” She could hardly believe the words she’d just heard, spoken with such softness. “So, you did not turn against me?”
“Well, you are, by far, the most stubborn, hot-headed woman I have ever met.” Elizabeth curled her finger around a tendril of hair that framed Georgina’s face.
“I, therefore, decided not to pursue you in the throes of conflict. And whilst it was difficult, I took myself off to the country where I meant to keep myself occupied until I could hopefully converse with you in a more considered manner.”
“How like you, to be so levelheaded.”
Elizabeth pinched Georgina’s chin. “On the contrary, I have known no one capable of destabilising me as much as you do. I have spent most of the last few days wondering how to repair my relationship with you. Had I been open about my connection to Mrs Gardner in the first place, we might have avoided all of this.” Elizabeth swallowed and took Georgina’s hand.
“The truth is, I never expected to become entangled with you. When we met over the gaming tables in St James’s Square, you amused me, certainly.
I could see that you were an accomplished flirt, and for reasons known only to you, you had seized upon me as your latest mark.
And I indulged you but expected little.”
Georgina could not deny the truth of this. She put her glass down.
“The day we attended the Royal Academy was the first time I realised I had no choice. You were utterly irresistible, and I was powerless against my desire for you.”
Georgina wished such frank dialogue had been available to her weeks ago. “And after we kissed at the masquerade, you subsequently distanced yourself from me. Why?”
Elizabeth’s gray eyes flashed up to meet hers earnestly.
“No, no. I was in turmoil, Georgina. You were running around town, embroiling yourself in all manner of trouble, despite all my advice and urgings to trust me. But not only that. In manner, behaviour and words, you never indicated you intended anything beyond yet another dalliance. I suspected if I continued along the course of becoming your mistress, however tempting, I would soon become another of your casualties.”
Georgina lowered her gaze in contemplation. “I think we have both been rather foolish. You are much more to me than that.”
“This time apart has been very good for me, Georgina,” Elizabeth continued. “It is now clear, beyond any doubt, that I love you and cannot be without you.”
Georgina blinked. The room was impossibly bright, as though the sun shined indoors, despite the darkness outside. “You love me?” Delight coursed through her.
“I do. Very much, indeed.”
Georgina sat quietly for a moment. Perhaps she would, after all, surrender to the love she felt for Elizabeth and allow herself to be loved back. She reached one hand up to Elizabeth’s face.
“There is one more thing we must clear up.” Elizabeth breathed in, looking serious. “Be mine?”
Georgina’s eyes filled with tears. She had turned into one of those ladies who craved entanglement, after all. She nodded.
“I already am. I love you, Elizabeth.”
“Blimey. If it ain’t the Missus and her ladyship, in lurve!” an excited voice expostulated from the doorway as the door flung open.
“I will never forgive you for cursing me with that child,” Georgina whispered through gritted teeth.
Joshua had by this time surged into the room, one hand holding a half-eaten bun. He plunged the other into his pocket. He swept an assessing eye over the room.
“Very nice. Grat’lations. When’s the wedding, then?”
“Goodness, what possessed you to bring him here, Georgina?”
“He brought himself.” Georgina grinned.
“I got a special dispenation. The Missus were worried about highway robbers. Put me in the strongbox, so I could rumble ’em unexpected like. I could wallop ’em from behind and knock their heads clean off. There’d be much blood, m’lady!”
Elizabeth cocked a brow at Georgina. “You have a singularly macabre interest in beheadings, my love.”
Georgina’s heart was full to overflowing. She winked at Elizabeth, then turned to the boy.
“You are a wretch, Joshua,” she said with a doting smile.