Page 4 of His Stolen Duchess
“You needn’t be so cruel.”
“I’m not cruel, my dear betrothed. Merely a realist. And I’m not in the habit of being blackmailed by harlots,” the Earl spat. “Nor will I have a bastard child on my estate.”
“So, you admit it.”
The Earl’s jaw clenched, and he bared his teeth for a moment. “I’m speculating as to whatshebelieves. Whoever this maid is, she is nothing more than a charlatan. Now, please cease this nonsense and leave my home before you are seen here. We wouldn’t want whispers to spread before our wedding, would we?”
“Look me in the eye and tell me the baby she’s carrying isn’t yours,” Georgina begged.
The Earl took a step toward her, and every instinct urged Georgina to retreat. His presence felt like a cold, menacing shadow creeping ever closer, but she stiffened her spine andforced herself to stand her ground, even as his looming figure sent a chill down her back.
“Go home and get ready for our wedding,” he intoned with an unsettling calmness. “When I see you again, I want to see you as my blushing bride. Not as a simpleton who wastes her time on rabble.”
She looked him straight in the eye, holding firm. “You’ve still offered no explanation to assuage my belief, fiancé.”
The Earl raised his hand. Every instinct screamed at her to recoil, but she held her ground, lifting her chin instead. If he meant to strike her, so be it. Let him prove the kind of man he truly was.
“Be very relieved that I’m not the type of man to strike a woman, Lady Georgina. Youwillwatch your tongue, or I will not be so soft next time. Do you understand me?”
Georgina’s upper lip twitched as she answered. “I understand you completely, my lord.”
It was still early, but not so early that she might not be caught. The sun had risen, but it was the height of summer, and it was well before most people were awake. She only hoped that the thick curtains in her uncle’s chambers were doing their job as she rifled through the desk drawers in his study.
She was not the type of person to hunt secretly through someone else’s belongings, nor was she the type of person who stole money, but as the sun continued to rise, Georgina searched the study for her uncle’s stash of money.
A sound came suddenly from the other side of the closed door.
Georgina froze.
Someone was walking in the hallway, the sound of footsteps getting louder and louder.
Georgina held her breath. The footsteps passed, and the person continued on their way.
Georgina let out a sigh of relief, then clamped a hand over her mouth.
Once the sound of the footsteps had disappeared, she continued rustling through the drawers and found what she was looking for.
Lord Ridgewell had tried to be clever, hiding the money behind a false panel in his desk, but his efforts were amateurish at best. Georgina’s eyes caught the slight irregularity immediately, and with a gentle push, the panel gave way, revealing his secret stash.
She took twenty pounds and rolled the banknotes, shoving them into the hidden pocket of her dress, then quickly closed the panel and rearranged the desk, making it look as it had been before.
At the door, she listened intently for any sound of movement in the hallway, and when the coast was clear, she exited the room and quickly made her way downstairs.
Dottie was still in the kitchens, alone. She’d stopped crying, but her eyes were red and raw.
“Take this.” Georgina took her aside and squeezed the money into Dottie’s hand. “This should keep you afloat for a bit. Lord Abbington will never acknowledge the child, and I’m worried he might do something to you to silence you.”
“My lady?—”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Georgina soothed. “The child is yours, not his. I want you to give your child the best life possible. That is my final command to you. Do you hear me?”
Dottie lunged at Georgina and wrapped her arms around her, burying her face in Georgina’s neck. “Thank you, my lady. I can’t ever thank you enough for this.”
“Go on, go,” Georgina hissed. “I’ll deal with the housekeeper,” Georgina assured her. “Go on. And write me a letter as soon as you’re settled. Include your location. I’ll send you more money then.”
Dottie pulled back from the embrace. “My lady… You are an angel, sent straight from heaven. Thank you.”
Georgina’s chest swelled. At least one of them would have a better life today.
