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Lady Mayfield expelled an exasperated breath. “He needed a wife, and our family needed help. That is all there was to it.” She got to her feet. “Now, I will thank you to leave my house, becauseI am tired of suffering your ungrateful tirade. Do not return until you are ready to apologize.”

Georgiana felt crushed under the weight of her mother’s cold retort. She did not know why she had bothered to come. Her parents would balk at divulging anything to her.

She rose to her feet, still holding her mother’s gaze. “Very well,Countess. Thank you for the tea.”

Georgiana’s heart brimmed with hurt as she took her leave and walked out the door.

As she entered the carriage, Georgiana suddenly realized that her mother had not even asked about Daisy.

CHAPTER 16

“From what you have said, I am deducing that there is a lack of communication betwixt the two of you,” Lionel said.

Robert sighed deeply. “Indeed.” He nodded defeatedly. “We are sinking deeper and deeper into this marital quagmire each passing day and cannot find a way to pull ourselves out.”

Lionel stopped walking and turned to face Robert. “Tell me, old friend, what do you want?”

Robert frowned and turned to face Lionel. “What do I want? What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that, in the aftermath of Angela’s passing, you studiously avoided intimacy with all women. You then married this woman, a complete stranger by all counts, without courting her. While I sympathize, I believe these… issues you areexperiencing with your duchess are a sign that you are ready to try again.”

Robert’s frown deepened. “I am not following.”

Lionel took a deep breath, his eyes dropping to the ground and then back up to Robert. “I believe you are falling in love with your wife, or are at least enamored by her.”

Robert jerked hard as though someone had pushed him. He felt Lionel’s words like a physical blow, and his heart sank.

He shook his head slowly. “I…cannot,” he whispered.

Lionel nodded and resumed talking slowly. “I understand you, my friend. I do. And I am not advising you to run home and declare your undying love and fealty. I am saying that there is a happy middle ground, where you can enjoy the fruits of your marriage, while still protecting your heart.”

Robert pursed his lips. “I am too used to making no effort in this area. The women I met on my travels were far too eager to fling their handkerchiefs at me for the chance at being my mistress, never mind my wife. I suppose I shall have to ponder this and determine how to proceed.”

Lionel laughed, patting Robert consolingly on the shoulder. “It is not that difficult, old chap. If you pay attention, she will tell you what she needs.”

“What she needs…” Robert’s voice trailed away as an image suddenly formed in his mind, “I think I have an idea where to start,” he said.

Lionel grinned in delight. “There you go! I knew you had it in you.”

Robert turned to him. “Tell me, you know London better than I do. Where might I find an excellent French patisserie?”

Lionel looked nonplussed. “Eh?”

Robert threw back his head and laughed, clapping Lionel on the back.

“Never mind. I know just where to look.”

Georgiana woke up feeling miserable. She stared at the bed’s canopy, feeling the slow beat of her heart through the pulse in her neck. She felt disconcertingly untethered from the course her life was taking.

She had gone down to dinner the previous evening, determined to finally face Robert. She had decided she would follow his lead. If he wanted to have a quiet dinner, that is what they would do. If he wanted to discuss what had happened in the library, she was willing to do that as well.

It had occurred to her that her parents might not give her the answers she was seeking, but Robert might. After all, she had nothing to lose. Their relationship was a farce. It could only do them both some good to improve it.

If he kisses me again, I will not run away, no matter how panicked I become.

Unfortunately, Daisy had been the only person who appeared for dinner.

She tried her best to conceal her disappointment from her sister, but she knew she had done a poor job of hiding it. Throughout their meal, Daisy had stared at her sympathetically and tried to distract her with banter and gossip.