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The fire in the grate burned merrily and sent embers up the chimney. Georgiana listened to the clip-clop of horses’ hooves and the squeaky wheels of passing carriages and heard the soft murmurs of voices as the servants shut down the house for the night.

Georgiana sighed deeply, and Robert propped himself up on one elbow so she could breathe. They stared into each other’s eyes.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She nodded mutely, her eyes wide on her face. He sat up and shimmied over to the other end of the couch so she could also sit up. Georgiana blushed deeply, grabbed her corset, and covered her breasts while she simultaneously tried to pull down her skirts.

“Do not be embarrassed,” he said softly.

“I am not sure that is the word I would use,” she replied as her lashes lowered to cover her eyes.

“What word would you use?”

She took a deep breath before lifting her gaze to look him in the eyes. “That was… incredible. I hardly know how to react.”

Robert rose to his feet, crossed to the bar, grabbed a glass, and poured her a drink. He brought it to her and placed it in her hand.

“Drink,” he said.

She obediently did as he asked, and he nodded, watching her keenly. “Good girl.”

He took the glass and put it down on the table, before returning to his seat.

He pointed at her corset. “Would you like me to help you with that?”

She nodded shyly and he stood up again, circling the couch so that he could lace her up. While they were in the process of tying it up, there was a knock on the door.

Before either of them could say anything, the door opened, and Daisy walked in.

She turned to close the door behind her, not looking at them as she spoke. “Good evening. I have returned from Lady Ariana’s. Sinclair told me you are having a nightcap, so I thought I would join you.”

She turned around and stopped short, her gaze sweeping over Georgiana’s red face, to Robert behind her tying her laces. Her gaze drifted over to the couch pillows which had fallen on the floor, and her jaw dropped open.

“What…?”

Robert got to his feet. “A drink you said? Let me pour you one. Please take a seat on the armchair.”

He pointed very specifically to the chair across from them.

Daisy walked awkwardly towards it and sat down. Robert poured her a full glass of brandy.

“Er, h-how was dinner?” Georgiana asked in a hoarse voice and quickly cleared her throat.

“It was wonderful. Lady Stark is very pleased that Ariana will have a companion next year when we come out. You know how shy Ariana is; she did not want her daughter to be alone. Such a wonderful mother,” she sighed wistfully.

Robert took his seat. “Yes, coming out you said. Are you excited for that?”

She shrugged. “I suppose I am. I had hoped that Thomas… but never mind. I am sure my husband is out there waiting for me.”

Robert put his hand on the back of the couch. “I am sure he is.”

Georgiana cleared her throat. “It is late. We should go to bed.”

Daisy blinked at her. “Should we? Or would you likemeto go to bed?”

Georgiana spluttered and coughed, and Robert bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling.

Georgiana stood and held her hand out to her sister. “Both of us. Come now, let us go.”