Page 46 of His Stolen Duchess
“Of course,” Georgina replied. “You are going to London on business, and I am to accompany you. You can’t expect me to leave Mr. Squawksby all on his own, can you?”
Lysander rubbed his head. “I don’t really know how to answer that question.”
Georgina looked at her husband as the carriage rumbled through the cobbled streets. She was excited about going to London, and especially keen to reunite with Dottie, but their conversation was putting a real damper on things.
“I know this is irregular, but there is nothing else that can be done.”
“He could have been placed in a different coach or even strapped to the roof. He might feel like he’s flying.”
“No.” Georgina shook her head. “He would be much too scared in his cage with the unpredictable nature of coach travel.”
“Unpredictable nature,” the parrot squawked.
Lysander shot the parrot a withering look.
“Your Grace, you really shouldn’t be annoyed at him. If you want to be annoyed at anyone, it should be at me. I’m the one who begged you to bring him along. He’ll be so much happier at the townhouse with us instead of being alone at the manor. And if he were to escape and gain entrance to the manor, who knows what he might do? This way, I can keep an eye on him.”
“Because that has worked so well thus far.”
Georgina leaned closer to the cage and tapped it gently. “I promise I will keep an eye on him. He’s usually very well behaved, but he doesn’t know the manor yet, and it will take some time.”
“He doesn’t know the townhouse either.”
“I know, and you’re right, but it will all be fine. I promise. Mr. Squawksby will be on his best behavior, and so will I. Anyway, I shall take him to my sister’s townhouse for a few days while I visit with her, so there will be no opportunity for him to cause any trouble.”
“One of these days, I shall put my foot down properly, and there will be no more parrot.”
“He will behave, you have my word. And I must thank you again for being so accommodating. What is your business in London? The town is always quite exciting. Is it stimulating business with which you will be engaged?”
“No,” Lysander replied dryly. “I don’t wish to talk about business. I don’t wish to talk about anything right now. I’d rather have some peace and quiet while I can. If that is possible.”
“Yes, of course,” Georgina said.
She knew better than to question anything when it had already been such a big request to bring the parrot with her. She had hoped the Duke would allow it, but she hadn’t properly thought about how the parrot would travel until they were loading the coaches. The bird usually rode with her, but she often rode without the company of other people.
Thankfully, Mr. Squawksby hadn’t made much more noise than a few words and squawks, as though he sensed that his future was on the line.
Georgina looked at her husband out of the corner of her eye. He had turned his face away slightly to look out of the window, but not so much that he couldn’t keep an eye on the parrot at the same time. His brow was knitting together like a gathering storm, and his eyes were dark in the shadows of the carriage.
It wasn’t all that long ago that they had stood in the water together, and she had sensed the pain he carried from his military days, and then the way he looked at her as she spoke of her father and her own military knowledge. There had been a moment when she thought he might kiss her again.
But the memory disappeared as quickly as it had come. As they rode together in the coach, she realized there was nothing intimate to be gained. He had his mind on business or other matters—on other things instead of her.
The coach slowed, and the sound of grinding metal assaulted her ears as the large iron gate before the townhouse opened. The coach passed through the barrier, entered the courtyard, and the gate was closed behind them.
Georgina took a cursory glance at the window to see the staff lined up, waiting for them. She had been so consumed by her own thoughts about the Duke and what had caused his pain that she’d nearly forgotten about Dottie.
Something clicked in her mind, and she opened the coach door before anyone could do it for her and leaped out, running with open arms toward Dottie.
She might have hugged the young woman if it were not for the other staff standing with her. She instead grasped Dottie’s hands and held them tight.
“My goodness, I didn’t know if I would see you again, but I am so glad that I have.” She looked Dottie up and down, focusing onthe small bump beneath her dress. “And just look at you! You are glowing.”
“I can’t thank His Grace enough for hiring me,” Dottie said. “And I know that was because of you, Your Grace. I feel blessed to have a job here, and I would swear my life to serve you.”
Georgina still wanted to hug the young woman, but that would come later. She moved down the line, greeting each of the staff in turn before instructing two footmen to begin unloading the coach, and ordered the maid to prepare some tea.
“You must also give me something to do,” Dottie begged. “I don’t want any special treatment in front of the other staff. Your treatment of me has already been special enough. I only wish to do what you hired me to do.”
