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Her mouth twisted. “I do not know. Now that they arewell compensated, they no longer need me.”

His brow furrowed. “I apologize for using those words. It did not come across as I had intended.”

She gave him a skeptical sidelong glance. “Are you saying you did not pay them a large sum in exchange for me?”

“I mean…” he said carefully, “I did. But the bargain was certainly worth it.”

“Was it? It is not as though I have already provided you with an heir.”

He smiled. “We will get to that…eventually.”

“So, you are not disappointed with your bargain?”

He smiled slowly. “I am very happy with it.”

She nodded as she picked up her glass and drank deeply. “Well, I suppose that is a good thing.”

“Is it not? You seem unsure.”

She jerked a bit, startled by his perception. “I supposeIam not sure I am worth it. I have done nothing but run from you.”

He nodded. “That is true. But I do not blame you. You were afraid and I did nothing to assuage your fears and make you feel safe. I would like us to have a fresh start. Allow me to court you.”

She snorted. “Court me? We are already married. What would be the purpose of that?”

“Just as I said. We need to understand each other better so we may live harmoniously. Do you not agree?”

She searched his face, wondering what his real motive was. It seemed he was investing a lot of effort just to live in harmony. Especially when Robert spent most of his time in Emberford rather than London.

“All right. I agree,” she only said.

CHAPTER 18

The third course arrived; Peking duck with baked apples. Robert sliced up his meal into smaller morsels while he scoured his mind for new questions to ask Georgiana.

Reaching for the carafe of wine, he filled her glass to the brim before filling his own.

He lifted his glass. “A toast. To new beginnings.”

Georgiana warily clinked her glass on his. “To new beginnings.”

Robert held her gaze as they drank. She appeared to be tense and suspicious. He wanted her to have enough wine to unwind, lower her guard, and speak freely.

“So, will you tell me what you were reading the other day that you did not want me to see?”

She blanched. “Er…well, before I do, why don’tyoutellmesomething I don’t know aboutyou.”

He pursed his lips, thinking. “Hmm. Ah, I am a connoisseur of wines. When I was traveling, I spent a lot of time visiting vineyards all over the continent and tasting the wines they produced.”

“Why were you traveling so much? Was there a reason you did not want to be in England?”

He smirked. “Are you asking if I was embroiled in some sort of scandal?”

She tilted her head to one side and looked at him coyly.

“Well…” she shrugged.

He threw back his head and laughed. “Sorry to disappoint, but the reason I left England is quite boring.”