Page 24

“Yes, well, I had thought you drove off,” she said curtly, moving closer, “and left me alone. So, what are you doing here?”

He stared at her, clearly taken aback by her rudeness. She lifted her chin, looking at him with defiance as she waited for his response.

Finally, Robert huffed. “I have business in London,” he said.

“Really?” she said skeptically.

“Why would I lie to you?”

“I do not know, but you have never had business in London before. What has changed?”

He laughed shortly. “How would you know? Do you think you know everything about me?”

She took a step backward, feeling that she might have gone too far. She realized that she was annoyed with him, but could not identify the source of her displeasure. Perhaps it had something to do with the pity she had seen in her sister’s eyes or therejection she had felt when he had simply dropped them off and driven away without a word.

“I think by now I should know something about you, Your Grace, but you continue to treat me like a stranger or an interloper.”

“I interact with you the way in which you have made it abundantly clear you wish to be treated: at arm’s length. Or is it my imagination that you flinch anytime I come anywhere near you?”

Georgiana’s mouth silently opened and closed. She could not find the words to combat his accusation. She was not comfortable enough with him to confess that she was simply lost, with no idea how to behave in his presence. She did not know how to confess that she wanted him to guide her.

She fought the overwhelming temptation to lash out at him; to keep provoking him until he lost his temper and lashed out at her. She knew how childish it was, but she could not help herself.

She looked him up and down. “Well, at least you are not unclothed on this occasion.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “If that is a problem, just say the word and I will oblige you.”

She snorted disdainfully. “You rate yourself too highly, husband. I have no interest in seeing your naked body.”

Robert stood up and took several steps toward her until his lanky frame overshadowed hers. “Is that so?” he said in a deep voice, his eyes capturing hers in an intense, searching stare.

She took a deep shuddering breath. “Yes, that is so.”

Her cheeks were heating, and she wanted to look away from him, but she felt powerless. It was as though he had hypnotized her, and was holding her captive with his eyes.

He took one step back and straightened up with a sigh. Georgiana swallowed what tasted distinctly like disappointment.

“Well, your demeanor is certainly different from the last time you saw me. You barely took your eyes off me. In fact, you seemed quite flustered by me.”

“Forgive me for being flustered by the first naked man I have ever seen,” she snapped.

“First naked man?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Well, well, and here I thought you were running around town with Lady Galerton, looking at whatever naked bodies caught your attention.”

She gasped in shock. “Why would you say that?”

He shrugged. “A widow, that young, and wealthy? What else has she to do with her free time?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I shall have you know that Selina isstill a maiden!”

She jerked back with a gasp and covered one hand over her mouth, mortified that she had been provoked into revealing Selina’s secret.

Gauging by the shock on his face it was clear that Robert had not known.

She poked him in the chest. “Tell anyone about that and I shall chop off your head!”

He barked in surprised laughter. “Oh, you shall? On whose authority, my queen?”

She narrowed her eyes further. “Imeanit, Your Grace,” she hissed.