Page 15 of Chaperoned By Her Enemy Duke
“Surely not?” she gasped. Her eyes grew wider than George had ever seen them, and he almost laughed. It took a lot to surprise his mother.
Yet, it seemed he was the one about to be surprised as he said, “It is absurd, don't you think? Their mourning period has not yet been observed.”
He couldn't help thinking of Lady Cecelia then. Her raven hair. Her deep, striking green gaze. Her porcelain skin. The way she had looked at him …
“The only absurdity is that you should chaperone her at all,” his mother stated, sounding positively beside herself.
“I found it absurd, too,” George said, “I am much too busy.”
“The absurdity is that you should not court her yourself!”
At her words, George's mouth nearly fell open.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Lady Cecelia is a beautiful and intelligent young lady. She is the daughter of a well-respected man from a decent and well-connected family. She would make a fine duchess.”
George did not dare to think of it.
So many times in childhood he had considered the idea. But he had been young, foolish, and hopelessly in love. And that had beenbefore.
“You cannot be serious, Mother,” he protested.
She grew stiff at that, glowering at him as if she meant to scold him. “Why ever not?”
“You always said she was far too rebellious, far too stubborn, and far too boyish.”
She laughed and shook her head. “She was a child.”
Again, George thought of Cecelia. She had changed so much since they were children. On the outside at least.
Though she had always been beautiful in a girlish way, she was now a stunning if not stubborn young lady. That much he knew for certain. He had seen it in her eyes the day before. He was certain that even if he offered his help, she would not accept it. Not without the encouragement of her mother, and he did not wish it to be so.
“You ought to remove the idea immediately from the table,” his mother advised, “do not waste your time when you could nip it in the bud and court her yourself.”
George's throat constricted. How could he possibly do such a thing after all that had happened between them?
The word coward still lingered in his mind. The look on her face that day even more so.
“I cannot imagine she would even entertain the idea,” George scoffed, his gaze lowered.
“Georgie, you are a duke,” his mother reminded him. “Nobody would dare reject you.”
George found amusement in that. To be called Georgie and a duke in the same sentence was laughable.
“Lady Cecelia has always been rebellious.”
When his mother didn't respond immediately, he looked up.
“She is also intelligent,” she said, looking him dead in the eye. “She would be foolish to reject such a proposal.”
George shrugged, unsure what to say.
“And, dare I say it, but you would be foolish not to try,” his mother said, continuing without blinking. “I remember how you used to follow her around likeLittle Bo-Peep'ssheep.”
George felt his cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. “We were children.”
“And now you are adults. You ought to know a good thing when it is right in front of you.”
