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CHAPTER 8

“How are you feeling?” Georgiana asked her sister.

Arriving back in London was such a relief for Georgiana.

The first thing she did was take a long bath and allow Cecile to pamper her endlessly, but only after she had made arrangements for Daisy’s care. She did not want her sister to worry about anything other than rest.

After luxuriating in the lavender-scented, steaming water while Cecile brushed her hair, she once again felt calm and rejuvenated. After her ablutions, she donned a simple muslin gown and went in search of her sister.

She found her curled up with a book in a large, plush wingback chair before the library’s fireplace and sat down in the chair next to her.

Daisy sighed, looking up from her book. “I am a little sad. I do not know what is going to happen next.”

“Well, I doubt any of us know what will happen next. We are all simply trying our best to get on, how are we not?”

“No, Georgie. You know what I mean. I do not know if Lord Newston will come up to scratch.”

“Well, if he does not, I am certain there is someone else who will.”

“Are you certain? Because I am not.”

Georgiana reached out and grasped her sister’s hand, squeezing gently. “I am positively certain, darling,” she said quietly.

Daisy emitted a deep sigh but did not protest her words. She looked around. “And your husband? Where is he?”

Georgiana pursed her lips. “Well, I believe that after he dropped us off, he drove to Emberford.”

Daisy frowned. “So quickly?”

Georgiana shrugged. “He never stays in town for long. I imagine running after you two was the longest he has been away from there.”

She could not quite keep the bitterness from invading her tone.

“But…why? Does he not know that you miss him?”

Georgiana snorted derisively. “Oh, I imagine such matters do not concern him much.”

“Why not?” Daisy’s tone was filled with pity, and it annoyed Georgiana greatly.

She shot to her feet, eager to change the subject. “I need to see about dinner. Will you be all right on your own?”

“I shall be fine. Thank you.” Daisy frowned in concern. “Are you angry with me, sissy?”

Georgiana tried to smile. Daisy only called her sissy when she was nervous or afraid. She did not want her to feel that way.

“I am not angry with you, dear. Just with myself. Do not worry your pretty head about it.” Georgiana left the library before Daisy could ask any more questions.

She was not yet ready to face the answers.

As the sisters quietly ate dinner together, Georgiana felt consumed by guilt for being so abrupt with Daisy earlier.

It was not Daisy’s fault that her marriage was lacking. If anyone was to be blamed, it was Georgiana herself. She knew that she was pushing Robert away, but some contrary part of her was angry that he did not make an effort to stop her; to fight for her.

Though his eyes often seemed to smolder with desire when he looked at her, his comportment made her wonder about his true intentions.

“Are you sure that Robert has left?” Daisy asked, giving Georgiana such an intensely concerned look that she could not feel annoyed.

“He dropped us off at the gates and rode off. Where else could he have gone?”