Page 56 of The Wager of a Lady
“That’s Mr. Cooke,” Miss Schuller whispered. “He’s—”
Touching her.
Leo blotted out the remainder of Miss Schuller’s pretty speech as he sized up the gentleman holding Georgina’s arm. Her lover? Or something more?
Above average in height, taller than either Leo or his brother, athletic. Expensive clothing. There was an emerald pin stuck in the snowy whiteness of his cravat. Still, it wasn’t enough to wash away the mud of the streets Leo could practically see clinging to the hem of his coat no matter how much he tried to hide it.
Leo could always spot a fellow mongrel.
Miss Schuller’s voice was nothing more than a muted hum in Leo’s ear as he struggled to compose himself amidst the jealousy simmering beneath his skin. The gentleman’s grip on Georgina’s elbow was far too tight and spoke of familiarity. Intimacy. A low sound came from his throat.
“Mr. Murphy?” Poor Miss Schuller had removed her fingers from his arm and now regarded Leo with apprehension. “Are you well?”
No, he wasn’t well. Not at all.
“Will you excuse me, Miss Schuller?” he said. With a polite nod, Leo drifted away, leaving Miss Schuller sputtering behind him. His emotions, always held tightly in check, spiraled out of control whenever Georgina was in the vicinity. Frustrated he couldn’t simply march across the floor and claim her, Leo firmly pushed down his anger before it could escape. He grabbed another glass of champagne, barely tasting the fine vintage as it slid down his throat.
Angling himself against the far wall, careful to stay well hidden in the crowd, Leo watched Georgina as she greeted her mother and the man at her mother’s side. The smile on her lips was false. Pasted on. He’d seen her don the same look dozens of times.
Mrs. Rutherford didn’t look pleased to see her daughter. Even from where Leo stood, he could see her scathing glance run down Georgina’s form in disapproval.
Georgina tilted her chin higher, a smile teasing at her lips as she greeted her mother.
The gentleman holding her elbow hovered protectively over Georgina. Probably looking down the front of her bodice.
Feeling murderous, Leo swallowed down the rest of his champagne.
16
Georgina stared at her mother’s carefully controlled horror over the crimson gown, counting silently to ten, about the length of time it would take Mother to recover.
“Dearest.” Her mother’s frank gaze flitted over Georgina’s revealing neckline. “Is there a reason for such a reckless display this evening? We are at the opera.”
“Not at all, Mother. I simply liked the gown.” She smiled sweetly at the woman whose disapproval she garnered more often than anything else. Georgina had a complicated relationship with her mother.
Mother didn’t understand why Georgina questioned every rule and restriction placed upon her. Couldn’t fathom why her youngest daughter rejected playing an instrument or paying calls in favor of visiting her father and Ben at Rutherford Shipping. Why Georgina delighted in being outrageous, playing the flirt and speaking so boldly.
At times, Georgina wondered too. Defiance hadn’t served her well. Her parents hadn’t believed her when she’d told them she hadn’t lost her virtue to John Winbow as he’d claimed. Father had already been suggesting to Georgina a season in London. She’d played right into his ambitions.
Lilian, on the other hand, never so much as raised her voice. Her sister would never have dared to wear such a gown, but then Lilian didn’t possess Georgina’s bosom.
“Yes, I’m sure you simply liked the gown. Can you not appear in society, just once, Georgina, without drawing unwelcome attention? I thought your time in London might have matured you, but here you are, at the ripe age of twenty-two, still determined to be childish.”
Piers Bradt, at her mother’s side, frowned, distorting his distinguished features as he nodded in agreement.
Well, Georgina didn’t care what Piers Bradt thought.
“How lovely to see you, Mr. Bradt. Is your wife in attendance tonight? I should like to say hello.” Georgina looked around the room as if searching for Mrs. Bradt, who she knew wasn’t among the guests. “I don’t believe we’ve spoken since my return.”
The lines on Bradt’s forehead deepened. “Gertrude was unable to come this evening. One of her headaches is plaguing her.”
How convenient. Bradt’s wife hadn’t been seen in public in ages. She suffered many such headaches, but luckily, her personal physician saw to her. “A shame. Please give her my best wishes. She’s so kind to allow you to escort Mother to events when my father is away on business and can’t do so himself.”
Mother pursed her lips in obvious annoyance.
Bradt inclined his head, the silver at his temples catching the light. “Why don’t I bring you some champagne, Cordelia? I’ll only be a moment.” He wandered off, clearly not willing to trade barbs with Georgina tonight.
“That was unnecessary, Georgina. Piers is a kind man.” Mother’s eyes took in Ben with a small curl of her lip. “And an old and dear friend. As is his wife. You’ve made your point. Dare I hope your display this evening is meant to attract potential suitors?”
