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“Do tell.”

He took a deep breath. “Have another sip of your drink first. Are you enjoying the duck?”

“It is delicious.” She took a bite and nodded. “I am quite enjoying it. What of you?”

He nodded. “It is good. We have a talented chef.”

“Yes, I brought in someone new. I hope you do not mind.”

“Not at all. The meals have been delectable.” He relaxed, smiling a bit, reveling in his successful diversion from her question.

“So, why did you leave London?”

He blinked a few times, caught off balance by her persistence. “Well, if you must know, I was…bereaved when I was one and twenty. It was a tremendous shock to me and I…well, I needed to get away from any reminders of her death.”

“Her death? Whose death?” she asked in gentle surprise.

“Yes.” He glanced at her and tried to smile. “I am afraid you are not my first betrothed. I was engaged to be married ten years ago. She was…” he shook his head, not knowing how to describe Angela to his wife. “She was a good woman.”

“That is why…you did not want to go through the marriage mart again…and paid my parents…” she said, her eyes widening as he watched her digest his admission.

He nodded. “It was part of the reason, yes. I did not think I could endure that again.”

“Endure what? The Season? Or falling in love?”

Robert hesitated, not knowing how to answer. “The Season, yes, but I was not in love with Lady Angela; I merely respected her. Still, her death… she was too young. Up until that point I had been fortunate that all my childhood friends were still alive; death had not clouded my heart. I was a mere babe when my mother passed. My father died about three years ago when I was in Barcelona.”

“My condolences. That must have been very painful for you.”

“It was a shock. My friend Lionel suggested that a change of scenery might benefit me.”

“And did it?”

Robert shrugged. “It provided a sufficient distraction that I was not constantly wallowing in sadness. However, to say that it healed me… would not be an accurate statement.”

“What made you come home? Why did you bother to find yourself a wife upon your return?”

Georgiana’s attention was fixed upon him. She had stopped eating and drinking and leaned forward with obvious anticipation as she waited for his response.

Robert paused while he thought of a way to phrase his words. “All the time that I was gone, I of course kept in constant communication with my family and my steward. In no way did I neglect my duties. After my father died, my grandmother hada fall that caused her to be bedridden for quite a long time. I decided that it was time for me to come home and take care of things.”

“Oh, is your grandmother all right now? I did not see her at the wedding.”

“She is better, but long-distance travel remains difficult for her. I thought it was too much trouble for her to come all that way for what was essentially a formality.”

Georgiana nodded jerkily and looked away, her shoulders hunched as though to stave off a blow.

Robert watched her shrink away and leaned forward to look into her eyes. “I now see the error of my ways, and that is why I wish a new beginning for us.”

She smiled wanly. “There is no need to appease me, you know. I knew what this was when I married you.”

He cocked an eyebrow, placed his elbow on the table, and rested his chin in his hand. “Do tell. What is this?”

She shrugged. “A business arrangement? A marriage of convenience?”

“I struck no agreement with you. You are correct that it was a transaction, but only between me and your parents. I now desireto strike a bargain withyou. I wishusto decide what this is. Hence my desire to court you.”

Georgiana’s cheeks became flaming red. “I see,” she said, swallowing the rest of her port and pushing her plate away. “I think I am now ready for the next course.”