Page 60 of His Stolen Duchess
“It is not difficult at all.” Georgina didn’t want to hear what her perceived difficult history was. Her marriage was her own business, and she preferred to keep it that way.
“Hmm,” Lady Eastbeck said. “You hide it all so well, but you need not do so with me, my dear. It must have been incredibly difficult when Lord Abbington broke your engagement. I know I would have beendevastatedby that. It is only natural for you to jump into the arms of the first man you met.”
“That is not what happened,” Georgina stated.
“No, of course not,” Lady Eastbeck said. “And the rumors about you being with His Grace while you were betrothed to John are certainly not true either. I know how people like to gossip, and I wouldn’t take any notice of it. Still, we all know something happened that shouldn’t have, and there is much that is hidden, but I haven’t pried into your personal business.”
You address Abbington by his first name, although I get the impression that you are quite familiar with him. This is not about me, it’s about you.
“My marriage is fine,” Georgina claimed. “You need not worry about me.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about you, Your Grace. The person I’m worried about is Lord Abbington. He has had to leave London for now. You understand how gossipmongers can be. It is not fair that he is the one hounded because he had to break off his engagement with you. Was it before or after he found out about the affair?”
“There was no affair,” Georgina snapped. “Our engagement ended, and frankly, it was for the best. Lord Abbington was notthe right man for me, and if anyone is pointing fingers about affairs, then they shouldn’t be pointing them at me.”
“I would watch my tongue if I were you, Your Grace,” Lady Eastbeck said. “Do you really dare say such things about him? You shouldn’t talk about any man like that, and especially not John. You think you can speak how you like because he is not here, but he doesn’t want people talking about him. I see you are quite happy to walk around the hall with everyone talking about you. Do you really have no shame?”
“I had no idea people were still talking about me until tonight,” Georgina claimed.
“That poor man.” Lady Eastbeck pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed her eyes. “The things he has had to put up with because of you. A woman is supposed to be a source of joy for a man, not an eternal misery. I only pray that he might find some happiness one day. I am hopeful he will.”
You are in love with him. Why else would you be so vile toward me? What has he told you?
“I’m not here to cause any trouble,” Georgina said. “But I do ask that you don’t speak lies about me.”
“What lies have I spoken?” Lady Eastbeck retorted. “Do you expect me to believe that youchosenot to marry him? Is Lord Abbington not a fine man? Is that what you are telling me? Is your husband a better man than he is?”
Yes, decidedly so.
Georgina could hear the agitation in the woman’s tone of voice. She didn’t want to fight with her, and there was obviously no reasoning with her. It was not her place to go into the details of why she had run away on her wedding day, and even if she told the lady about the maid who was pregnant with Abbington’s child, or the way he’d treated her, or a host of other dreadful things, they would undoubtedly fall upon deaf ears.
“I don’t wish to discuss Lord Abbington any further,” Georgina said. “I’ve made up my mind about him, as you have obviously made up yours, and we are in opposition. Therefore, there is nothing further that needs to be said.”
“You speak as if thesituationcan be interpreted any other way than the truth. I spoke to John, and he told me all about your infidelity with the Duke, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you were pregnant already. The only good thing to come of this is that you showed John your true colors before he married you. I suppose I must be thankful for that.”
“Why?” Georgina asked. “Because you are in love with him?”
“And what if I am? Does that make you jealous? Did you think he would pine after you and try to win you back? No, he doesn’t want you anymore, and it is obvious from seeing you and the Duke together that he doesn’t want you either. Is there anyone who wants you, Your Grace? Do you just cling to men in the hope that one of them will stick? Well, you have certainly done that with the Duke.”
“Take that back this instant,” Georgina snapped. It hit a nerve to be reminded that she and the Duke were only bound together out of convenience and nothing more, no matter what happy moments she grasped onto. “I will not tolerate you being cruel.”
“No?” Lady Eastbeck asked. “Then why have you turned bright red in anger? You wouldn’t have done so if there was nothing to be angry about, but here we are. You’re livid that I know the truth. The others around you might gossip, but they don’t know what I know.”
How many women has Abbington fooled?
“He caused my maid to be with child!” Georgina burst out. “I found out the morning that I was supposed to marry him, and I confronted him about it. He didn’t give a whit that he had a child on the way, and had discarded the maid like a used handkerchief. He almost struck me when I spoke to him about it.”
Lady Eastbeck pushed her shoulders back as she stepped closer to Georgina, facing her. “I will strike you if you continue such lies. I am not afraid to put you in your place if you continue to spout such outrageous untruths.”
“There is no untruth.” Georgina swallowed when she saw the fire in the depths of the woman’s eyes. “I can take you to my maid. She will tell you everything.”
“You mean she will lie for you,” Lady Eastbeck spat.
“I don’t know what I can say to convince you of this, but I urge you to stay away from Abbington. He will only make your life miserable. The man is a monster.”
“How dare you!” Lady Eastbeck snapped.
She raised her hand to strike Georgina, but before she could do so, someone grabbed it.
