Page 49

“By thy pale beams I solitary rove, to thee my tender grief confide; serenely sweet you gild the silent grove, my friend, my goddess, and my guide.” She looked up from the book, frowning in thought. “My friend, my goddess, and my guide. I suppose we all need that… but who shall become that for me?”

She closed the book, lay back against the headrest, and sighed.

Maybe Daisy is right. Could he really be courting me? And if so, why now?

She shivered slightly thinking about it, wondering whether she wanted it or not. She felt as if she was standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure whether to jump or not.

She scowled and pouted, throwing the book on the table and folding her arms across her breasts. “I refuse to worry about his intentions. I have better things to do.”

She jumped to her feet, put on her dressing gown, and trotted downstairs to seek out the housekeeper.

She still needed to go over the household accounts with her as well as plan out the meals for the following week. She also hoped to have her friend Selina over for dinner one day that week. The widow loved oysters, which meant an early morning trip to the market.

A lot of time and effort was required to run the household, and despite Robert’s presence, this was still her responsibility.

Robert was quite pleased with how happy Georgiana had been about his gift. He sat in his study, tapped his pen on the blotter, and thought about his next step. He realized that he knew extraordinarily little about Georgiana.

I need to remedy that.

He rubbed his hands together as he thought about how he could make that happen.

“I will begin during dinner. A subtle interrogation disguised as pleasant conversation. By tomorrow I will know how to apply the information I glean from her responses.”

The butler knocked on the door to let him know that Jakob Gerhardt was calling on him. Reminding himself that he hadother duties aside from courting his wife, he urged Sinclair to bring Jakob to his study.

“Ah, my friend,” Jakob said, breezing into the room. “I have news.”

Robert smiled. “That is good to hear. Please make yourself comfortable while I pour you a drink and you tell me all about it.”

“Very good,” Jakob said, nodding and beaming as he sat down in the wingback across from Robert’s desk. Robert retrieved the brandy carafe and two glasses and poured his friend a generous drink.

“Now,” he said, taking a seat opposite Jakob, “tell me this good news.”

When Georgiana entered the parlor at dinnertime she was surprised to find that Robert was the only person seated at the table.

She had passed through Daisy’s chambers to see if she wanted to join her for dinner, but her rooms were empty. She had assumed that Daisy was already downstairs.

She looked around the parlor. “Where is my sister?” she asked Robert.

“She left word that she would be having dinner with Lady Ariana and her family. Lady Ariana’s mother assured me of her chaperonage. We should expect her back by ten.”

“Oh. Then I suppose it is… just you and I for dinner.” Georgiana felt her heart speed up at the prospect.

I am quite sure that Daisy’s absence is not a mere coincidence.

“Yes, it is.” Robert gestured for her to sit. “May I pour you an aperitif?”

“Yes, please,” Georgiana said with relief.

She took the offered glass of brandy and downed it with alacrity.

Robert smiled. “Another?” he asked.

Georgiana blushed deeply. “No, I think I shall wait until dinner.”

He took a seat beside her. “It is fortunate that we have this night alone. I wanted to speak with you about…” he bowed his head, then lifted it to look into her eyes. “Well, you know what.”

She swallowed, wishing she had accepted the second glass of brandy. “Yes, I know.”