Page 47 of A Scarred Wallflower for the Duke
ChapterTwenty-Six
Lydia slipped into Georgina’s bedroom without knocking. She stood with her back against the door, arms folded.
“Well?” she began pointedly. “Is there anything you would like to tell me, Georgie?”
They had returned from the ill-fated treasure hunt an hour ago, after a painfully silent carriage ride. Georgina was surprised it had taken Lydia so long to come barging in here with her questions. No doubt she had been preoccupied with dodging their grandmother’s interrogation about why she had not returned from the manor as a duchess-to-be.
Georgina lowered her eyes to the book in her lap. She had been sitting on the window seat with the same page opened for at least half an hour. She had read the first sentence at least fifty times, and still could not make sense of what it said.
She could not bear to face her sister. Could not stand to see the look in her eyes when she learned how she had been betrayed. Georgina knew she ought to have offered Lydia an explanation for the mask the moment they had returned from Levinton Manor. But her heart was aching far too much for her to do so. Finally, she dared to look up and meet Lydia’s eyes. And before she could manage a word, tears spilled down her cheeks.
Lydia rushed at her. “Oh, Georgina.” She pulled her into her arms. “It will be all right. I promise.” Lydia squeezed her tightly, clearly taken aback by this uncharacteristic show of emotion. Georgina was not sure she had ever cried in front of her sister. She wiped her eyes, coughing down her tears.
“I am sorry, Lydia,” she said. “I am so terribly sorry.”
Lydia sat beside Georgina on the window seat. She lifted the book from her lap and took her hands. “Tell me what happened,” she said gently. “How did His Grace come to have your mask?”
Georgina sniffed. “The night of the masquerade ball,” she began, “I needed a little space. I decided to go upstairs to the sitting room. His Grace came in while I was there. And someone locked us in.”
Lydia gasped faintly. Nodded for Georgina to continue.
“He and I…” Her cheeks flushed. “Well, he said he wanted to kiss me. And I… I allowed him to.”
“Oh.” Lydia got to her feet and began pacing. “Oh, my. I feel terrible.”
Georgina frowned. “Why? It had nothing to do with you. I did not even know who the Duke was that night. I had no idea he was the man Grandmother wished for you to marry.” She reached for her sister’s hand to stop her pacing. “I’m the one who ought to be apologizing, Lydia. I—”
“No.You do not understand.” Lydia scrubbed a hand across her face. “Iam the one who locked you and His Grace in the sitting room.”
“What?”
Lydia sighed. “Oh, Georgie. I had sneaked up there earlier in the evening and stolen the key from the door. I was hoping Peter and I might manage a little time alone. When I went up there to meet him, I heard voices in the sitting room. I realized it was you. And that you were in there with a man.”
Georgina raised her eyebrows. “So you locked us in?” she demanded.
“Yes.” Lydia covered her face. “I just thought… I thought perhaps if a man had a chance to sit down and talk to you, get to know you, he would see how wonderful you are. And perhaps he would wish to make you his wife.” She let out her breath. “I never imagined for a minute it was His Grace in there with you.”
For several moments, Georgina sat in silence.This was allLydia’sdoing? Fate certainly has a sense of humor…Then, in spite of herself, she began to laugh. After a moment, Lydia joined in.
When her giggling died down, Lydia perched back on the edge of the window seat. “It seems I was right,” she said. “It seems you did catch the eye of a man while the two of you were locked in the sitting room.”
Georgina knotted her fingers. “Yes,” she murmured. “It seems I did.” She swallowed heavily. “How is Grandmother? Is she terribly disappointed you did not come home from Levinton Manor as His Grace’s betrothed?” In spite of herself, her voice wavered.
Lydia waved her question away. “That is not important right now. I want to know about you.” She pressed a hand to her sister’s wrist. “Georgina,” she began carefully, “I know the Duke cares for you a great deal. Is it possible that you might care for him too?”
Georgina squeezed her eyes closed. What point was there in pretending? Things had gone too far for that. “Yes,” she admitted. “Yes, Lydia. I care for him very much.”
A smile flickered on the edge of Lydia’s lips. “Do you now? I thought you believed the man a damnable rake.”
Georgina sighed. “Yes. But… but there’s more to him, Lydia. There really is. He is warm and kind and honest… And he makes me feel so good about myself.” She leaned back against the window. “I really do care for him. So much.”
Lydia grinned. “Georgina Wyatt. I never thought I would see the day. And adukeof all people. Whoever would have thought?” Her eyes were sparkling.
Georgina gave her a faint smile. In spite of the embarrassment she could feel coloring her cheeks, there was something pleasant about sharing such things with her sister. Indeed, she had never imagined either that such a thing might ever happen. “You are not angry with me?” she asked tentatively. “For falling for the man you are expected to marry?”
“Oh goodness, no.” Lydia flapped a dismissive hand in her sister’s direction. “If you wish for that cocky scoundrel, then he is all yours.”
Georgina shook her head sadly “I am afraid what I wish for has no bearing om anything. Grandmother and the Dowager Duchess are determined to see you become the Duke’s bride. And even if they weren’t, a lady who looks like me could never be a duchess. Thetonwould never accept it. And it would bring far too much shame to the Duke’s family.”
