Page 33 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
“Your mother is a very practical person,” Tobias replied, thinking of his wife and the way she had kept her family afloat all these years.
After that scum of a man betrayed her. And yet she has hidden it from her children, sheltering them from her pain.
Belatedly, he realized that Georgia was still talking and forced his attention back to her.
“Yes, she can be.” She gave him an appraising look. “You must be too. Otherwise, she would not have married you. Is that why you have swords instead of paintings? I suppose a sword is nice to look at and can keep people safe, but I do miss paintings.”
He smiled at her, his eyes drifting across the wall of swords. “Those swords are not really for use, except perhaps in an emergency. They are heirlooms. Passed down from generation to generation.”
“Oh. So you do not know how to use them?” The corners of her lips turned downward.
“I did not say that.” Tobias picked up one of the rapiers and moved away from her, swinging out the blade and making several parries and ripostes against an invisible opponent.
“Can I try?” Georgia’s eyes lit up as she looked at him.
He shook his head and put the sword back in place. “I think it’s too heavy for you, and I do not want you to hurt yourself. More to the point, I suspect your mother would skin me alive if I let you play with something so dangerous without knowing what you were doing.”
“But I do know what I am doing. I used to fence with Alistair.” She was practically vibrating with excitement now.
He eyed her carefully, fighting to keep a smile off his face as her excitement washed over him. “Did you, indeed?”
“I did. I can show you!” Her eyes darted to the sword again, but he moved in front of her.
“Very well, but not with that one. I do not have any practice foils in the study, so you shall have to show me what you know with this.” He picked up two canes and handed one to her, using the other as his weapon.
“Very well.” Georgia clumsily saluted him with her cane and then fell into the opening fencing stance. “En garde!”
Tobias mirrored the gesture. “Prêt. Allez!”
Georgia lashed out with her cane, making a daring move towards him. He met it easily with his own cane, and the two of them traded blows.
Tobias studied her expression, her form. It was clear she had had some training, and even had some skill. She parried and riposted well, but her footwork was sloppy.
“If you move your left foot, you will find it easier to get behind my guard.” He demonstrated with his own foot.
“Like this?” She mimicked him
“Yes.” He nodded as they continued to duel. “See? Your balance is much better.”
She nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration as she struck out again with her cane. The movement was a little wild, and she tripped on her skirt, losing her grip on the cane and letting it tumble to the floor.
Tobias darted forward, ready to catch her in case she fell. Georgia’s arms windmilled, and she caught herself before giving him a smile that was half embarrassed and half frustrated.
“It would be easier in trousers, but I thought it would be better to wear a dress.”
An unfathomable emotion flickered across her face. Shame or anger? Maybe both?
“Sometimes people get quite upset when I wear trousers.”
“This is your home; you should not worry about judgment here,” Tobias said gently as he knelt down in front of her. “If you wish to wear trousers, then you are welcome to do so. And if any of the servants says anything to you, I shall speak to them.”
“But I don’t want anyone to get into trouble.” Her eyes widened, and she clenched her fists. “It takes people time to get used to me, and that’s all right. I know I’m odd. I try not to be too much at once.”
“If anyone ever makes you feel like you are too much, they are not worth your time.” Protectiveness surged through Tobias as he looked at her. “You are perfect just the way you are.”
“But I am not proper.” Georgia shrugged. “I don’t really fit. Sometimes trousers feel right, and sometimes dresses feel right, and when I was younger, people sometimes called me George, and that felt good, and sometimes it didn’t. But then everyone got confused, so I thought Georgie would be better.”
“Propriety is important, but it is not everything. And what is considered proper changes. What matters more is whether you are a good person. And from what I have heard and seen, you are.” Tobias ran a hand through his hair, choosing his next words carefully. “And though it is kind of you to make things less confusing for people around you, I do not want to call you anything that does not feel like you. If you want me to call you George, I will.”
