Page 53 of A Scarred Wallflower for the Duke
Vincent’s lips parted. “Then why…”
“Lord Renshaw is in love with Lydia,” Georgina told him. “The two of them wish very desperately to be married. But our grandmother believes my sister would be settling by becoming a baroness.”
“I see.” A ghost of a smile began to flicker on Vincent’s lips. “And where exactly do you fit into this little charade?”
Georgina drew in a breath. “I told Lydia I would pretend I was being courted by Lord Renshaw so the two of them could spend time together.” The words spilled out in a fluster. “And in the meantime, I would… I would…”
Vincent raised his eyebrows expectantly. “You would, what?”
Georgina sighed. “I would do my best to drive you away from my family,” she said quickly.
Vincent’s eyes glittered. “I see.” He took a step toward her, a grin on his lips. “And how did that turn out for you, Miss Wyatt?”
She gave him a faint smile in return. “It seems I rather failed in my mission.”
“Yes,” he chuckled. “It seems that way.” He pressed his lips into her neck. “I would say you failed rather spectacularly.” Then he looked up, meeting her eyes, his expression suddenly serious. “Georgina,” he began. “I need to know how you truly feel. I need to know if you…” He faltered. “If you wish to make a life with me, as I do with you.”
Georgina closed her eyes. Every fiber in her body wanted to tell him how much she cared for him. How much she longed to wake each morning beside him. How much she longed to be his wife. But what the two of them wanted was only one piece of the puzzle. And as much as she wished it to be otherwise, the rest of the pieces simply did not fit together.
“I am sorry, Vincent,” she murmured. “But you know that cannot ever be.” She dared to look up at him. The hurt was visible in his eyes.
“Why?” he pushed.
“Because.” She felt tears welling in her throat and swallowed them down, determined not to cry. “Because thetonwould never accept a duchess that looks like me. I would be an embarrassment to your family. And to my own.”
“An embarrassment?” Vincent cupped her face in his broad palm. “Georgina, you would be the best thing that ever happened to my family.”
She let out her breath. “You know that is not true.” She pulled away from Vincent, needing to put space between them. His nearness was too painful. Despairing, she sank to the floor in the corner of the room. Vincent followed, dropping to the floor beside her. She could feel his eyes on her, and he sat patiently, wordlessly, as though waiting for her to speak.
“The day I was born,” she began, “my grandmother took me out to the river to die. She saw the injuries to my face and arms, and she decided that it was in everyone’s best interests that I not live. She knew someone that looked like me could never belong in the ton.” Georgina swallowed heavily. It was the first time she had ever spoken of such a thing. The words felt bitter on her tongue. And yet speaking them to Vincent seemed to lift a weight from her shoulders.
“I only survived because the lady that was to become my stepmother happened to see Grandmother do it.” She blinked back tears. “I know I was never supposed to find out about that. But I overheard my father and stepmother talking about it once when I was a child. My father banished my grandmother. Told her she was no longer to be part of our lives. But after he died, she sought me and my siblings out.”
Vincent pressed his hand over hers. She could see the emotion in his eyes. But he did not speak. The feel of him was impossibly comforting. And impossibly painful at the same time.
“I grew up knowing I would never be a wife or mother,” Georgina continued. “I knew I would never have so much as a dance at a ball, let alone a kiss.” Tears slid down her cheeks, and she let them fall into her skirts. “And then I met you. And for a time, I started to believe things could be different. But then…” She faded out, shaking her head.
Vincent squeezed her hand. “And then, what, Georgina?” His voice was low and gentle. “Tell me what happened.”
She sighed. She did not wish to speak of it. But she knew she had gone too far to stop now. She drew in a long breath. “At Lord Greenford’s ball last week, I overheard your mother and my grandmother speaking. Calling me a curiosity of nature. Saying they could not believe any man would ever wish to make me his wife. Their words reminded me of my place. Reminded of how much shame I would bring to our families if you and I were to marry. It reminded me of all the reasons I need to stay away from you. And why I ought to have done so from the beginning.”
Vincent’s hand tightened around hers, and Georgina could sense him reining in his anger. He brought her fingers to his lips, then held her hand to his heart. For a long time, neither of them spoke.
“I am so sorry you experienced all that,” Vincent said finally. His voice was husky. “I am so sorry for my mother. And I am sorry for my own behavior too.”
Georgina frowned. “What do you mean?”
He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Georgina, I wanted to make you my wife from almost the moment I saw you.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Both with your mask on and without. “But I confess that I too considered it something that could never be. I feared the ton would not accept you.” Georgina lowered her eyes, but he tilted her chin with his finger, keeping her gaze on him. “But then I realized how much of a coward I have been, following the path they set out for me. For us. I ought to have been strong enough to follow my own heart.” He squeezed her fingers. “I have realized now that what the rest of thetonthinks does not matter a scrap. I do not care what they think, or what they say.”
“I will bring shame to you,” she murmured. “And to your family.”
“You could never bring shame to me,” Vincent said firmly. “Never.Do you understand? I would be so proud to call you my wife.” He dug his fingers into her hair and kissed her lips hard.
“What of your mother? She thinks—”
“My mother will just have to find a way to cope,” he said shortly. “As will anyone else who does not believe you and I to be a good match. And if anyone dares to say otherwise, or speaks ill of you, then they shall have to deal with me.”
A smile flickered on Georgina’s lips. “I am perfectly capable of standing up for myself, Vincent.”
