Page 79 of Her Duke's Second Chance

She did not like it one bit. She was in uncharted territory and did not know what to do.

CHAPTER 26

“Have you seen His Grace this morning?” Georgiana asked the butler without preamble.

After a restless night, Georgiana was eager to go down to breakfast and speak with her husband.

She did not like to live in a cloud of uncertainty and after a year of not knowing when she would next see her husband, she was sick and tired of it. She decided that she would give him a piece of her mind for leaving her alone and going to bed without saying a word.

What was I supposed to think? Not only was it a tremendously thoughtless thing to do, but it was also ill-mannered.

She had prepared herself to speak her mind, only to walk into the dining hall and find it empty.

“Yes, Your Grace, he left earlier for a meeting, I believe,” the butler answered.

“Very well then. I shall have my breakfast in my room.”

The butler bowed low. “Yes, Your Grace.”

Georgiana stomped up the stairs feeling frustrated and annoyed. She was also somewhat broken-hearted, which only deepened her displeasure.

She did not want to care about where Robert had his breakfast or with whom.

Too late.

She already did care, and that was very aggravating to her spirit.

Throwing herself onto her bed, she let out a long breath as she stared out of the window. It was shaping up to be a fair day, with no sign of rain.

She sat up just as someone knocked on her door.

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened and a maid came in carrying a tray laden with food. Daisy trailed directly behind her.

“Good morning, sister. I went down to breakfast, but they told me you were having yours in your room; I decided to join you.” She threw herself on the bed beside Georgiana, not bothering to ask for permission.

With an inner sigh, Georgiana realized that she would not be able to brood while she ate.

Perhaps it is just as well.

The servant placed the tray on the bedside table and left the room.

Daisy immediately shimmied off the bed and picked up the kettle. “I shall be mother,” she said as she poured the tea.

They sat on the window bench, eating in companionable silence as they watched the traffic below. Daisy sighed audibly several times until Georgiana was compelled to ask her what was wrong.

“Did you enjoy yourself last night?” Daisy asked.

Georgiana blinked in surprise. “Why do you ask?”

Daisy shrugged. “I heard some men remark that you and His Grace enjoyed yourselves a bit too much, and I wondered what they meant.”

Georgiana felt her cheeks redden. “Umm, you know that Robert broke protocol by dancing with me twice.”

“They were laughing in a rather mean way. Surely an extra dance would not provoke that?”

Georgiana bent her head towards the plate. “Well then, I cannot imagine what they meant. Why do you let it bother you so much?”

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