Page 108 of The Duke's Bartered Mistress

Thorne stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Take it from me, dinnae mention yer arse when groveling.”

Mother nodded vigorously, causing another gentle cascade of feathers. “But the whole bit about not breathing or eating—oh, if only I had a notepad! That was brilliant; you must use that line on her!”

Demon scowled at both of them.

“This is moot. I have to reach her first. Thorne says I need a gesture, but how in bloody hell am I supposed to do that? How do I show her what she means to me?”

How do I give her what she wants?

She wanted to belong. Wanted to be loved.

He’d destroyed her reputation, and now Society was whispering about her.

As Mother smiled up at him, an idea slowly formed.

If Society is going to whisper about her, might as well make it worth their while. Give her the place she deserves.

“Mother…” Demon cleared his throat, knowing perfectly well he’d been hiding from her preparations for the last week. “I need a few more invitations to yer ball.”

Chapter 23

Georgia could hear the whispers, could feel everyone’s eyes on her as she stepped into the ballroom. It was everything she could do to keep her chin up and her breathing normal. She couldn’t let them know how much she wanted to turn around and flee. But she was an expert at appearing.

Or at least, she thought she was.

“Breathe, dear,” murmured Felicity at her side. “You look like you are slowly choking to death.”

“I am.” She was also likely choking the life out of her friend’s arm. They’d stepped into the ballroom with arms linked, hoping to appear as two old chums who were enjoying the evening…but now her hold on Felicity was the only thing keeping Georgia upright.

“It will be fine.” Felicity’s tone—and her pale countenance—made Georgia wonder if she was speaking to herself. “Everything will be fine.”

Will it? Georgia led them toward a series of doors opening along the back wall, hoping to be out of the way. There was an orchestra and space cleared for dancing, but no one appeared interested in the exercise at that moment. They were too busy whispering behind fans and laughing.

Damnation. Was it too much to hope for a distraction? A faulty chandelier, a small fire? A stampede of wildebeests? Anything to drag attention away from themselves?

Felicity was trying to drag her behind a potted fern and Georgia was tempted to allow it.

“I cannot believe you dragged me here,” she muttered.

Felicity had always been nervous in Society—her preference for standing behind ferns was what had originally attracted Georgia’s friendship, since she couldn’t help but study the potted plants in her hosts’ homes. The fact Felicity was the one who had insisted they come when the invitations had arrived was still hard to believe.

Yet again Felicity explained, rolling her eyes in exasperation. “Georgia, it was a personal invitation—a command, almost—from a Duke. A Duke! Neither of us could ignore that, no matter how much we would like.”

No, it hadn’t been an invitation from a Duke. It had been an invitation from Demon. There was a difference.

“I could have ignored it.”

Felicity shook her head at the muttered denial. “Well, I could not. My parents would never have forgiven me.”

“But you hate being out in Society.” Georgia loosened her hold on her friend’s arm and forced herself to inhale slowly, focusing her attention on this ridiculous argument rather than what was happening in front of them.

Her friend nodded unhappily. “True. I would much rather be home with—”

Her cats? Her photography equipment? Her son?

Over the last days, Georgia had been thrilled to be the support Felicity had needed as she and Bull acclimated to their new relationship and arrangement. Seeing them slowly grow closer made her realize she couldn’t stay in Felicity’s house forever. Her friend needed her space to build a life with her son.

Although Georgia didn’t know where she’d go, she didn’t want to think of that now. Best to just make it through this evening, and if she didn’t expire from embarrassment, she could consider a future.

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