Page 53 of His Stolen Duchess
“We shouldn’t give our time to people we don’t like,” he continued. “There was nothing to be gained from that conversation.”
“No, there wasn’t,” Georgina agreed.
She wanted to find someone else to talk to, someone who would have nothing to gain, only to feel his hand on her waist again. To have him protect her again and guide her away from an awful person.
Georgina suddenly felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around and was surprised to see her sister Emily and her husband Ambrose.
“Oh, my goodness,” Georgina exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“And we didn’t expect to see you here, sister.”
Emily embraced her younger sister. Her other sisters then joined in, and just like at Juliana’s townhouse, the embraces and greetings took some time, during which Lysander was able to introduce himself to their respective husbands.
As Georgina hugged her three sisters, she dreamed of the day when the eight of them would all visit together and have an enjoyable time. Lysander was the outsider of the group, mainly because this was the first time he was meeting any of them, and that made Georgina feel like an outsider, too.
“Oh, Uncle Francis! You’re here, too.”
“I am,” Francis replied. “It is good to see you,” he said. “I have only heard wonderful things from your sisters. It is so welcome to see you married and looking so well. Your Grace, I hear you are in London on business.”
“I am,” Lysander replied. “There’s always so much to do.”
“Yes, I know that life,” Francis said. “And my niece has not been bothering you too much?”
“Uncle Francis,” Georgina warned.
“Well, you did take your parrot with you when you moved out. I know how much noise that beast can make. I’m certainly glad it’s gone.”
“UncleFrancis.”
“Sir, you don’t need to worry about your niece or her parrot. We were down in the village not long ago, and my subjects took to her immediately, and the staff in the manor are delighted to have her there. And we have heard barely a peep from the parrot. Mr. Squawksby mostly keeps to himself, and he has the conservatory at the manor and an aviary enclosure at my townhouse. I’m sure his days of mischief are over.”
“Oh, they certainly are,” Georgina chimed in. “He was never that bad back at home, and I believe he has taken a liking to the Duke.”
“Your Grace, I am also told that you are a military man.”
“I was a military man,” Lysander said.
Georgina could feel her husband’s body stiffen with sudden tension.
“I suppose you fought in the Napoleonic Wars,” Uncle Francis continued.
“I did, yes,” Lysander responded curtly.
“Yes, I thought so.” Uncle Francis rubbed his nose with his thumb. “I only ask because I am a military man myself. I would have guessed that about you purely from the way you hold yourself, Your Grace. You are a military man through and through. It is welcome to have another military man in the family. Georgina’s father and I both served, and now you have served. It is a proud tradition to have kept up.”
“It is a tradition to be sure,” Lysander said.
“Might I ask about more modern warfare? It has been some time since I served in the military, and I am sure much has changed. I have read about it, but that doesn’t compare to talking to someone who has actually lived it. What are your views on war and the current military? Do you believe there is a chance of England being invaded, or are we sufficiently prepared to fight off invaders?”
“I might be the wrong person to ask,” Lysander replied. “I don’t have a lot of in-depth knowledge.”
“Still, you must have seen some things. What has stuck with you, Your Grace?”
“Uncle, you don’t need to talk the Duke’s ear off. There are many lords here who have served in the war.”
“Yes, but His Grace is right here, and I’m sure he doesn’t mind talking about it. You must have seen some horrors, too.”
“The horrors are best left on the battlefield,” Lysander said.
