Page 23 of A Scarred Wallflower for the Duke
Why can she not see how wonderful she is?
Georgina’s eyes flew open as if suddenly remembering herself. She took a hurried step away from him, color rising to her cheeks. “My brother is waiting for me,” she said. “And my sister is downstairs waiting foryou.” She smoothed her skirts and began to hurry toward the door. “You had best not keep her waiting.”
ChapterThirteen
“The plan is not working.” Lydia let out an enormous sigh, flinging the letter onto Georgina’s bed.
Georgina sat up from beneath the covers. The house was dark, and she could just make out the shape of her sister, hovering at her side. She had been on the edge of sleep before Lydia had come flying in.
Georgina reached for the shawl at the bottom of her bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. “What time is it?” she asked wearily. She stretched toward the side table and lit the candle. A warm orange glow fell over the room.
Lydia shrugged. She was wearing her robe and nightgown, but her eyes were bright, suggesting she had not yet even attempted to sleep. “I do not know. Midnight, perhaps? What does it matter?” She flung herself onto the bed and let out an enormous sigh.
I really ought to start locking my door…
Lydia picked up the letter again, shaking it violently in Georgina’s face. “We are invited to Levinton Manor tomorrow?” She huffed. “Why is he still here, Georgie?” she whined. “Why is he still pressing on with this dreadful courtship? You promised you would be rid of him.”
Yes. And I cannot make sense of why that is so hard to do…
“It is not so bad,” she told Lydia. “It will not just be you and the Duke tomorrow. Lord Renshaw and I have been invited too. And Grandmother.” She flashed her sister a smile. “Surely you must be looking forward to an afternoon in Lord Renshaw’s company?”
“Of course I am.” Lydia sighed, hugging her knees to her chest. Her face softened slightly. “I am sorry, Georgie. I know it is not your fault. I am sure you are doing your best to get rid of the Duke.”
Am I? Kissing him in the park probably did not help the situation.
In truth, she could not make sense of any of it. She had truly expected the Duke would run a mile after their afternoon at the park. What with her vulgar comments and Lydia’s blatant disinterest, surely he would have decided to seek a bride elsewhere. How had things taken such a wrong turn? How had she ended upkissinghim, of all things? And in such a public place, no less? The Duke of Levinton was making her behave in ways she never imagined herself behaving. Most confusing of all, he acted as though he truly was attracted to her. Was such a thing truly possible? Georgina struggled to believe it.
“And all those things are what makes you so special…”His words had been replaying in her head ever since he had uttered them. Yesterday, as he had looked at the distorted portrait her grandmother had requested, his anger had seemed genuine. As had the kind words with which he had complimented her.
But for five-and-twenty years, Georgina had been told she was damaged. A face not fit to be committed to a canvas. Surely a man as dashing as the Duke of Levinton could not believe otherwise.Could he?
Georgina grabbed the letter again, in an attempt to banish the dangerous thoughts. Nothing of what had happened at the park, or in the sitting room yesterday, could change any of what they had planned. She would continue to be as vulgar and uncouth as she could bring herself to be, and she would see to it that Lydia married the man she loved. Meanwhile, the Duke of Levinton could go and find himself another family to marry into.
“We just need to be patient,” she told Lydia. “I shall keep up my end of the plan, and I am sure soon enough His Grace will decide he does not want to be a part of this family. And then you will be free to marry Lord Renshaw.” She gestured to the letter. “I know Levinton Manor is the last place you wish to go, but we can use tomorrow to our advantage. You will be as disinterested as possible, and I will be as unpleasant as I can bring myself to be. Hopefully, then it will not just be the Duke who walks away from us, but the Dowager Duchess as well.” She squeezed her sister’s hand, giving her a short smile. “Besides, I shall make sure you and Lord Renshaw have a little time alone.”
* * *
The Dowager Duchess of Levinton had clearly been looking forward to this afternoon tea. When Georgina walked into the dining room at Levinton Manor, her hand looped neatly around Lord Renshaw’s elbow, she found a table spread with the most elaborate and colorful collection of cakes and biscuits she had ever seen.
Plates of sugar biscuits and macarons were spread out on colorful trays, along with a dish of sweetmeats and an elaborate fruit-topped cake. A large porcelain jug she guessed was full of cream sat beside it. Crystal champagne glasses glittered everywhere, and pristine white napkins sat beneath silver forks and spoons.
Georgina felt a small smile on her lips.
Oh, the fun I could have with this. I shall see to it that no one in our family is ever invited back to Levinton Manor again.
“Goodness,” Lydia murmured, jolted from her surliness by the display before her. “It looks as though we are to have quite a feast.”
Lord Renshaw gave a timid smile. “It looks wonderful, Your Grace.”
The Dowager Duchess beamed. “I am glad you like it, my dears. I have chosen only my favorites. These macarons are simply divine. I assure you, you have never tasted anything quite so light and airy. One would swear they were in Paris.” She waved everyone further into the room. “Please, do sit down.”
The Dowager Duchess was dressed almost as elaborately as her table. Her gown was a vibrant butter-yellow, while her dark hair was piled high on her head, shimmering with jewel-studded combs. Dressed in a plain sky-blue day dress, her hair pinned neatly and simply at her neck, Georgina felt positively dour beside her.
Footmen pulled out chairs for each of them and filled the champagne glasses with bubbling gold liquid. The Dowager Duchess held her glass aloft. “A toast. To this wonderful occasion. And to an impending marriage.” She held up a hand. “Pardon me—totwoimpending marriages, perhaps.” She gave Georgina and the Baron a patronizing smile. “I must say, I am very happy for you both.”
Lord Renshaw gave Georgina an enamored look he had clearly been practicing in the mirror. “Thank you, Your Grace. We are very happy, too.”
Georgina could feel the Duke’s eyes on her. She took a large gulp of champagne and hiccupped promptly. Her grandmother’s eyes widened in horror.
