Page 45

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as the carriage came to a stop, before feeling calm enough to approach the house.

Now that she was there, she did not know if her idea had been a clever one.

Come now, Georgie, you have never been a coward. Do not be one now.

She marched determinedly to the front door and rang the bell. After an interminable wait, the butler finally opened the door.

“Cuthbert, you are still here. How lovely to see you. Are the earl and countess home?”

The butler looked extremely surprised and hastened to make an appropriate bow.

“Your Grace!” he exclaimed, flustered. “We did not expect you. Yes, your parents are in. If you give me a moment, I shall be right back.”

“Do not be ridiculous, Cuthbert, I am hardly a visitor.” She breezed past him imperiously, making her way to the parlor. “Tell them I wish to speak with them urgently.”

She made herself comfortable by the window, slowly breathing in and out to calm herself. A servant brought in a tray of tea and sandwiches, setting it down on the table without a word before curtsying and leaving.

My parents are clearly determined to treat me like an unannounced stranger.

She crossed her ankles and waited.

It took twenty minutes for her mother to breeze into the room, wearing a magnificent morning gown of flowered silk. Her hair was done up and liberally powdered. She wore just a touch of color in her cheeks and a pair of pearl earbobs in her lobes.

She came to a stop in the middle of the room and executed an elegant curtsey. “Your Grace, how kind of you to favor us with your presence.”

Georgiana stared at her mother in disbelief. “What on earth are you doing?”

Lady Mayfield took a seat on the turquoise Chesterfield that stood perpendicular to Georgiana’s armchair by the window. She turned to her daughter, one ankle delicately crossed, her hands folded in her lap, and her back ramrod straight.

“Why, giving you the respect you deserve as the wife of a duke. What does it look like I am doing?”

“Playing games,” Georgiana shot back.

Lady Mayfield gave a delicate laugh, “And why would I do that?”

Georgiana looked towards the door. “Where is Father? The two of you are always as thick as thieves. Did he send you here to find out what I wanted?”

Her mother frowned disapprovingly. “I am sure I do not know what you mean, but I can tell you that I am unhappy with your tone. What exactly are you insinuating?”

“I aminsinuatingthat you know exactly why I am here. Hence this noxious display of deference.”

“I cannot read minds, dear Georgiana. If you have something to say to me, I am afraid you must articulate it.”

“All right, then I will.” Georgiana nodded. “How much did you sell me for?”

Lady Mayfield’s face paled slightly through her rouge as she reached for the teapot.

“Shall I pour you a cup?”

“Thank you, but I have already had breakfast. I would rather you answered my question.”

“Whatever this conversation is, I think it would benefit from some tea,” Lady Mayfield said, pouring a cup and handing it to Georgiana.

“I know you were able to pay off all of your debts, because Mr. Crooks told me so.” Her gaze swept across her mother’s luxurious attire. “I can see you are once again able to afford expensive silks for your gowns. All I want you to tell me is what you offered the duke in return for the money. Did you promise him a wife or something more?”

“What more could a duke want from us?” Lady Mayfield asked in a frustrated tone. “I do not understand why you believe we harbored nefarious motives when we secured you a husband who possessed the means to care for you for the rest of your life. Georgiana, you will want fornothing. A little gratitude would be nice.”

Georgiana paused and leaned towards her mother. “A hasty marriage, no choice in the matter, not even a proper period of courting. You thrust me into the duke’s world and left me to fend for myself.” She shook her head. “But I was so accustomed to finding my own way and making do, that it did not occur to me until recently how unusual my situation was. Not until His Grace told me that hecompensated you very wellfor me. So, tell me,Mother, what did he pay for me?”