Chapter Twenty-Eight
Damian chuckled and lifted the parcel of books after the clerk had wrapped and tied a string about them. This was going to be a delightful day indeed if he was able to stop Georgie from arguing with him.
Had they been in London, where he could have met anyone that he knew, Damian would not have purchased macaroons or books for Georgie because it was not proper and before the day was out, gossip would have spread to every household in Mayfair.
However, they weren’t in London, but Liverpool, and other than Chisholm, nobody knew him. It was all rather quite liberating.
“Why do I need more than one book?” she asked quietly as they exited the shop.
“It could take six weeks to sail from Greenock to your home, depending on weather. These will keep you entertained, and each time you open the pages, you will think of me.” He grinned
“I do not think it likely that I will forget you, Damian.” She chuckled.
Nor would he ever forget her. At the very least, these days would be a fond memory that he took with him into his dotage.
He also knew that her funds were scarce because he had seen them and would be surprised if there was enough for her to book passage back to Italy for her and her sister. He also just enjoyed buying her things.
Maybe it was because she would appreciate them.
In the past, when buying baubles for his mistresses, which cost far more than three books, it had been expected and anticipated, because mistresses were rewarded.
This was different because Georgie asked nothing of him and he wanted to see her happy.
Though he had no doubt that she would be quite aggravated with him before the day was complete because he could do as he pleased, purchase for her what he thought she should have and she would be forced to accept those gifts but only because she was stubborn enough not to argue with him and was determined to win challenge he’d presented.
Oh, this day was going to be enjoyable indeed.
“Where shall we visit next?” he asked.
“As there is nothing that I need, we can simply walk,” she suggested. “Unless you wish to purchase something for yourself.”
“I do not, but I have noticed that you lack one item.”
“I lack nothing, Damian, but thank you,” she offered sweetly. Maybe she thought a softened tone would not be viewed as an argument.
“I disagree,” he returned.
Georgie opened her mouth to speak but paused and smiled, though it did not reach her eyes. “Pray tell, what do you think I need?”
Oh, he was going to enjoy this day very, very much. “I will let you know when it is found.”
“If that is what you wish, Damian.” Her tone was so sugary sweet that it made his tooth ache. It was likely killing her to take on the role of a submissive miss who had been told her entire life that decisions are best left to men and that she should not tax her brain.
He chuckled to himself and continued down the street until they came to a millinery shop.
“Are you in need of a bonnet?” she asked.
“You know that I am not.”
“Then why are we here because I do not need one.”
“Ah, but you do, unless you brought one with you.”
“I had a hat, once, but it was lost in the streets when I was unceremoniously tossed over a rogue’s shoulder,” Georgie offered sweetly, so as not to be mistaken as an argument, and she was stating a fact. “However, I do not believe a bonnet is necessary, as I am rarely in the sun.”
“That was a man’s hat, which would not be suitable for how you are dressed…and…I…” he drew in a deep breath, “apologize for treating you in such a manner.”
“You are forgiven, though that still does not require that I have a bonnet.”
“I have noticed your freckles, which has me believing that you will burn in the sun, and since you will be on a ship, and this time you don’t have to hide below, I fear that you will burn because of the brightness of the sun and reflection off the water.”
“I do not burn,” she stated frankly.
“Have you spent much time on the water or sailing while on a deck of a ship?”
She pursed her lips and frowned before she answered. “I have never had the opportunity and even though we are very close to the beaches, I go there rarely.”
“Thus, you need a bonnet.”
“We are sailing at night,” she reminded him.
But he truly wanted to buy her a bonnet. All women wore bonnets and so should she.
“Therefore, I do n…” She stopped talking when he arched an eyebrow and waited to continue her argument.
“Really, Damian, you have already purchased too much for me. How can I repay such generosity?”
Was this her new way of arguing with him? It could be, but her tone was soft and maybe she was concerned, but he truly did not care. In fact, he wanted to buy her anything she wanted or needed.
“Wear a bonnet for me, please. I would hate for you to suffer a sunburn and then be miserable, because they can make you ill, and then what kind of state would you be in when you finally caught up to Grace?”
She narrowed her brown eyes. “You are wicked, Damian, to use such logic.”
She had no idea how wicked he could truly be, and likely would never learn, which was truly a shame.
They strolled through the shop, but Georgie did not pick out a bonnet, though Damian wasn’t surprised. Therefore, he held the more fetching one against her face and hair before he settled on a simple straw bonnet trimmed with a pale, lavender ribbon, a color that was quite attractive on her.
Damian placed the bonnet on her head to test the size, which fit her perfectly, then tied the ribbon beneath her chin. He only did so because he did not expect her to, but as he pulled the bow tight, Damian noticed that her cheeks had deepened to a rosy hue.
“What do you think?” He then gently turned her toward the mirror to which she smiled shyly and bit her bottom lip.
“I hate that you are insisting on such an extravagance that is not necessary, but I also refuse to argue.”
He leaned close to her ear. “I know, which is why today is going to be so much fun.”
Georgie cocked her head and looked at his reflection. “Does this mean that you are going to do your best to cause an argument so that you can win?”
“The thought has crossed my mind.” He chuckled. “Let me pay for your bonnet and then we will see what else we can find in Liverpool.”
*
Three books, pastries, and a new bonnet. It was all too much, and no matter how much she knew that this was wrong, Georgie found herself enjoying Damian’s attention.
“Your wife looks lovely in that bonnet,” the clerk said as Damian completed his purchase.
“Yes, she does,” he agreed then led Georgie back out on the walk.
“Why did he assume I was your wife when we had not said anything?”
“Because if you were a…” His blue eyes widened and she watched as he stared and tried to find an explanation.
“Mistress?” She chuckled. “I do know they exist but how could the clerk in the millinery shop know which I was?”
“A matter of style, I suppose.” Georgie did not have to ask anything further when she recalled the two women who had ridden in that first mail coach with them.
Both had been beautiful, their hair had been artfully arranged, and their bonnets were of silk or similar fabric.
She wasn’t as pretty, nor was she as fashionable.
“A mistress would likely choose the most expensive bonnet in the shop and consider it her due. You did not want one at all and no doubt had I selected something of silk with ribbons and frills that you would have thought me a fool.”
“True, but I would have let you purchase it because I am not arguing with you today.”
Damian chuckled. “This straw bonnet is perfect. And, it is perfect for you, Georgie. There is no artifice to your personality or in your dealings with me. You are not mercenary either and it pleases me to be able to provide something you need, even if it is simply a bonnet.”
While his words were not exactly a compliment, she did like his opinion of her.
“There is one concern that you should have,” she said.
“I have none, but what do you believe I should be worried about?”
“Three gentlemen now believe that we are wed. Panmure, Frome, and now Chisholm. And, while you were not concerned that anyone would believe Panmure, can you be so certain of the others?”
“They will not speak out of turn,” he assured her.
“Did you ask them to say nothing?” She knew that he had not, unless it had been in a conversation that she had not heard. “How soon before it is mentioned in passing. Gossip such as that spreads and by the time you attend the Season next spring, all of London will believe you are a married man.”
“It would be liberating if they did,” he responded with a smile. “I would be left alone.”
She assumed that he would eventually want to wed, which would be impossible if everyone believed him unavailable.
“There are benefits to no longer being a bachelor. I am the spare and assumed heir until Sterling’s wife produces a son, therefore, there are misses and their mothers who would like to gain my attention and then bring me up to scratch,” he grumbled.
“I never fooled myself into thinking that it was me they were interested in, but the potential future title, connections, and the wealth our family has accumulated through Trade Wynd.”
“Is it because you think so little of yourself?” Which she found difficult to believe. “Or are you untrusting of those in Society.”
“Untrusting,” he answered without thought. “Marriages are rarely based on affection or love, which is why I have no plans ever to wed. There is no need for me to do so.”
“What if your brother does not have a son?”
“I am not concerned, but even if that came to be, I have three younger brothers. My life is not one that would support a marriage.”
“I do not understand.”
“Every waking hour I am at Trade Wynd. It requires my constant attention and if someone had not stowed away on my ship, who I needed to apprehend, I would be there now.”
Oh dear, she hoped that he wasn’t coming to resent her for taking him away.
“But I have also come to realize that it is good to be away for a time. Do I want to spend endless hours on a mail coach again? No. But it has been an interesting few days that I will not forget.”
Nor would she.
“Maybe you will realize that not all your time needs to be spent in your office.” Though she didn’t want him to rush out and find a wife either.
“I will only marry for love, Georgie. The Wynd family has no need for connections. I will marry if I ever meet a person that I want by my side always.”
He may believe that he would remain a bachelor, but situations change, and Georgie found herself already jealous of the woman he had not yet met.
If this was how he treated her, buying her these gifts, because they were having an enjoyable day, what might he gift his wife, a woman he loved, and how often?
And, for the quickest moment, she wished that she could be that woman.
Foolish indeed.
But it didn’t make her heart ache any less, which she would need to put aside. There was no future for her in England, or with Damian. He was simply seeing that she reached her sister safely, and his emotions ran no deeper, even though he was buying her gifts.
“Maybe when you return to Southampton and discover that Trade Wynd did not truly suffer in your absence, you might decide to visit Liechtenstein.” Or Carrera.
Damian chuckled. “Maybe I will.”