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She was sure she could garner quite a few tips from there.

Robert swayed a bit as he closed the door behind him. After they had concluded their business discussion, Jakob had insisted on making endless toasts to their future endeavors and Robert had become a trifle tipsy.

He chuckled softly to himself as he straightened up, flinging off his coat and tossing it onto the coat rack. He walked down the hall slowly until he came upon a footman.

“Have you seen my wife?” he asked. “Has she returned?”

“She is in the library, Your Grace,” the footman replied with a smile and a bow.

Robert nodded and breezed past him without uttering another word. As he approached the library door, his footsteps slowed. He had no idea what he would say to Georgiana when he encountered her.

Good evening, darling. It appears that I will be here a while longer. Could you perhaps try to be civil with me for the duration of my stay?

He snorted, chuckling to himself as he opened the door. The laugh died in his throat as he set eyes on her, sitting at the table, bent over a text.

“Oh, forgive me. I did not mean to disturb,” he said as he hovered in the doorway.

She looked up, regarding him with a fixed stare before blinking rapidly. She did not appear to recognize him.

“Duchess?” he said cautiously.

She nodded jerkily. “Y-yes?” She moved her hand, accidentally pushing one of the books off the table with her elbow.

She gasped, jumping as she transferred her surprised gaze to the book on the floor.

“Are you feeling all right?”

“Er…” she cleared her throat. “Ye-yes. Of course. Are you…fine?”

Robert frowned, stepping closer to her. “I am well.” He peered at the books that were open on the table. “What are you reading?”

She immediately covered the pages of the book nearest to her with her arm. “Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed with suspicion, and he stepped forward to take a closer look. “Hiding your reading? Dare I guess why?”

“I am not…” Georgiana protested loudly before lowering her voice in embarrassment, “hiding anything.”

He laughed softly before seating himself across from her. He regarded her closely, wondering what mysteries she was hiding behind the vivid blue eyes that stared at him with such innocence.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked warily.

“Hmm.” He turned to look at the table. “No reason in particular. Simply admiring the view.”

She frowned. “Are you mocking me?”

He cocked an eyebrow without looking in her direction. “Why would you think that? Are you unaware of your own beauty?”

“Beauty?” She huffed quietly, “Do you not think that is a bit of an exaggeration? I do not deny that I am pleasant-looking, but I am not beautiful.”

He laughed shaking his head. “I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but one would imagine you at least grew up with a looking glass. Do you think your parents were able to get such a substantial sum for you because you arepleasant-looking?”

Georgiana blinked a few times, seeming perturbed. “When you say substantial… what do you mean?”

Robert laughed again. “You do not know?”

She shook her head slowly. “My parents were not forthcoming with the amount. They simply said that it was enough—” she cut herself off, not wanting to reveal that her parents were living on that money alone.

“Well, I do assure you, they were well compensated.”