Page 10 of A Scarred Wallflower for the Duke
“A pleasure to meet you too, Miss Wyatt,” he said smoothly.
This cannot be happening. My sister is to marry the man who I…
In a daze, she trailed her grandmother and the Duke into the parlor. She perched on the edge of the settee, clasping her hands in her lap. Her heart was beating so loudly, she was sure the others could hear it.
I knew it. I just knew last night would end in disaster. But I had no idea it would look likethis.
She forced herself to look up at the Duke. He had no idea who she was, she reminded herself. She had not removed her mask for a second in his presence. Nor would he ever know. And of course, it was for the best this way. This man was to become her brother-in-law. The only thing she could do was forget last night had ever happened.
“Tea, Your Grace?” the Dowager Viscountess offered, as the maid bustled in with a tray.
“Yes. Thank you.” The Duke’s eyes were on Georgina as he spoke. She looked down, suddenly self-conscious of her scars. Without the security of her mask, she felt horribly exposed beneath his gaze.
Last night, with her face half-hidden, he had looked at her with such lust in his eyes. But today, she could feel that same curious examination of her appearance she always felt when she met someone new. It was a thing she had grown used to, of course, the weight of strangers’ stares and sideways glances. But coming from the Duke, it stung far more than usual.
“Miss Lydia is ever so excited to meet you,” the Dowager Viscountess gushed. “We were disappointed not to make your acquaintance at the ball last night.”
“Yes, I apologize, My Lady. I am afraid there was something of an… urgent situation. Something unexpected came up.”
Was Georgina imagining it, or did his eyes dart to her as he spoke? She took a hurried mouthful of tea. All in her imagination, surely. There was no way in the world he could know it had been her in his arms last night. No way he could know it had been her body his hands had been roaming. No way he could know she had been the one writhing beneath him, begging him for more.
Stop it! Such thoughts will only destroy you.
“Oh dear,” said the Dowager. “I trust it was nothing serious?”
“Nothing serious, no,” said the Duke with a cool smile. “Just a situation I will have to see through to its conclusion at a later date.” Georgina felt his eyes boring into her. This time she knew she was not imagining it. She fought the urge to look away. Doing so would only make her look guilty.
“I see.” The Dowager Viscountess glanced toward the door. “I do apologize for Miss Lydia’s lateness, Your Grace. I expect she is taking her time to look her best for you. But I shall go and hurry her along.”
Georgina stared desperately after her grandmother as she hurried to the door.
She cannot leave me alone with him!
Before she could manage a word, the door clicked closed behind her.
And so here we are alone together. Again.
Georgina drew in a breath and forced herself to look at him. Forced herself to smile. For a moment, a stilted silence hung between them.
“Forgive the impropriety, Your Grace,” she mumbled. “I hope it does not offend you.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “I am not offended by impropriety, no.” For a fleeting second, his gaze drifted down to her lips. “Were you perhaps at the ball last night, Miss Wyatt?”
A blaze shot through her. She could hardly believe he was being so forward!
I do not know why I am surprised. I know well enough that this man has not an inch of shyness in him…
“No,” she murmured. “Of course not.” She cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice. “I rarely attend such social events.” She lowered her eyes. “For reasons I am sure you can deduce yourself.”
“I see.”
He sounded as though he believed her. And for that, she was grateful. But he did not take her eyes from her. Georgina’s shoulders tensed under the scrutiny. How dare he stare at her in such a way? Did he truly think that her physical imperfections gave him the right to stare at her as though she were a creature in a pit show? Anger began to bubble up inside her.
She let out her breath. “You are clearly not worried about the impropriety of being left alone with me,” she snapped, “given you have so little decency yourself.” The Duke’s eyebrows shot up at her sharpness. “Do you truly find my appearance so appalling that all you can do is stare so openly?”
The Duke’s lips parted, clearly caught off guard. “Forgive me,” he said. “It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable. I just…” He shook his head, a slight frown creasing the bridge of his nose. “I do not find your appearance appalling at all, Miss Wyatt. Far from it.”
Georgina let out her breath in disbelief. “Save your lies, Your Grace. I am not interested in hearing them.”
