Page 95 of His Stolen Duchess
“Firstly, you can’t use the word ‘bonk’ when you’re threatening someone,” Georgina told her. “Secondly, I would really like to see that. I mean, perhaps it wouldn’t end well for you, but I’m sure Lysander would get the sock of his life.”
“Oh, we heard about the incident at the lake,” Isabella fawned. “Did he really fight off three men as they tried to grab you?”
“Is there anything my sister hasn’t told you?” Georgina complained.
“You never said that I couldn’t repeat what you told me,” Emily said as she waltzed into the room, followed by two maids with trays. “Now, who is up for some refreshments?”
“Well, I just think that you don’t need to tell everyone everything I tell you,” Georgina complained.
“And I thought that you needed some cheering up after sulking here for the last three days, and Isabella and Beatrice needed some context as to what they were walking into.”
“Oh, my goodness, Emily!” Georgina shook her head so fiercely that she thought it might pop off. “You make it sound like I’m a lost cause.”
“All I know is that you are hurting, Georgie, and I hate to see you like this. All I want is for you to be happy. I hope you know that.”
“I do,” Georgina relented.
When did my life become such a mess? I caused myself drama by running away from one wedding, and I never thought I would have so much drama with the Duke.
“We don’t need to talk about it,” Beatrice said. “How about we tell you what is happening in London. There are some juicy tidbits.”
“Beatrice,” Isabella chided as she sat in one of the chairs around the round table with the tiled mosaic atop. “We said we weren’t going to gossip as much this season.”
“Yes,” Beatrice replied, joining her sister at the table. She spoke through her teeth. “But this is only to distract our friend from the things she doesn’t want to talk about. You do remember that is why we are here.”
Isabella placed a hand at the side of her mouth and whispered. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking about that. If you’re going to tell her anything, you should tell her about Mrs. Latham.”
“That’s obviously the story I was about to tell,” Beatrice replied through gritted teeth.
Georgina sat at the table. “Youdoknow I can hear every word the two of you are saying. Given that, please never try to talk about anyone in public. Of course, that is great advice at the best of times. Now, what do you have to tell me about Mrs. Latham? I believe I met her once at a ball.”
And anything to take my mind off Lysander.
“Well,” Beatrice pronounced extravagantly, her smile widening. “I heard this from Mrs. Darlington, and you can’t always trust what she has to say, but she was adamant that it was the truth.”
“Yes, because people who are known to fabricate stories are to be believed when they tell you they are telling the truth because they couldn’t possibly be lying,” Isabella interjected.
“You were the one who wanted me to tell this story,” Beatrice said through gritted teeth once more.
“I’m only giving some context on the overall situation, but I’m sure that it’s true. It must be true. We have told so many people that I really hope it’s true,” Isabella commented.
Georgina tried not to laugh. “This is quite the build-up to the story. I hope the climax is worth it.”
“Yes, I hope so, too,” Beatrice grumbled. “Well, the thing about it is that Lord Penworth has been seen sneaking out of Mrs. Latham’s garden during the early hours of the morning or thelate hours of the night. In any event, at some time after midnight on most nights.”
“Yes, not once, but thrice,” Isabella added.
“Mrs. Latham’s husband has been in Bath for the past three weeks,” Beatrice added. “They say that the moon was so bright one night that you could see Lord Penworth was half buttoned when he came through the hedgerows.”
“Who arethey?” Georgina asked.
“Well,them,” Beatrice said.
“Yes, them,” Isabella agreed. “You know, the people who say things and notice things. It’s not like it’s one person, but an entire network of people across the city.
“People who know things,” Beatrice added. “Anyhow, I’m sure there’s aperfectly reasonableexplanation as to why he was coming out of her hedges at such an ungodly time, but the less said about it, the better.”
“No, the more said about it, the better,” Isabella said. “Because we all want to know more, right?”
