Page 1 of Her Duke's Second Chance

CHAPTER 1

“This one is from theHymn to the Moonby Lady Mary Wortley Montagu,” Georgiana whispered to the sleeping child in her lap.

“By thy pale beams I solitary rove, to thee my tender grief confide; serenely sweet you gild the silent grove, my friend, my goddess, and my guide,” she smiled, glad that the child was too deeply asleep to hear her. “Your mother would likely not approve if she could hear what I am reciting to you.”

The stagecoach bounced causing its occupants to sway violently back and forth. The little girl’s mother looked up from where she sat breastfeeding her second child, to confirm that the one she had placed in Georgiana’s lap was still fine.

Georgiana smiled reassuringly before peering outside to see how close they might be to the inn.

I wonder what the young missus would say if she knew I was a duchess.

Georgiana bit her bottom lip hard to stop herself from laughing.

Just then, the conductor called out, “Five minutes to the inn!” and Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief.

She could notwaitto stretch her legs.

She peered out the window as they approached the inn and came to a stop. Handing the sleeping girl back to her mother, she stepped out of the stagecoach and walked about, stretching her back.

With a sigh, she walked into the inn. She had left London abruptly, without so much as a change of clothes, half out of her mind, frantic to catch up with her sister before it was too late.

She entered the taproom and took a seat on a nearby bench. The mother walked in with her two children, the little girl clutching her mother’s hand and crying sulkily. Georgiana felt a frisson of guilt for having abandoned them but pushed the feeling away.

She had done what she could to help.

“Good evenin’, ma’am. Can I bring you something to eat? We have hot beef stew and freshly baked bread, as well as freshly brewed ale,” a young serving girl with a thick northern accentstood over her, hands tucked into her apron, and smiled down at her.

Georgiana heard her stomach growl. “Yes, all three please.”

The serving girl’s smile widened. “What brings you by here? We do not get much fancy folk stopping by.”

Georgiana’s eyebrows rose in surprise. She had not thought she would stand out from the other travelers. Sure, her gown was fine cotton, and her long brunette hair was shiny and well-coiffed, her hands unblemished and without calluses…

Well, now that she thought about it, she could see why she stood out.

“I am in search of my sister. Perhaps she also stopped by here? She would have been traveling with a gentleman. A dandy.”

The girl laughed. “Oh, did she run off to Gretna Green? Good luck to you then. I am afraid I have not seen her.”

Georgiana sighed in disappointment, her shoulders slumping.

“Now fades the glimm’ring landscape on the sight… And all the air a solemn stillness holds,” she murmured miserably to herself, wondering what in the world she would do if she was too late.

“Beg pardon, ma’am?” the serving girl asked.

She blew out a loud breath. “It is just a poem I read recently.”

“Oh?” the serving girl looked uncertain, “Well, I do not know much about poems…canna read either.”

Georgiana smiled. “Perhaps I will teach you one, if you like? What is your name?”

The serving girl looked back uncertainly towards the kitchens. “Well, my name is Caroline. But I dinna have time ta…”

“That is all right Caroline. Perhaps another time.”

She nodded. “Aye,” and hurried off to the kitchens.

There you go, scaring the publicans again.

---