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“Would you like me to sing to you?”

She pulled back to look him in the face, gaping in surprise. “You can sing?”

He shrugged. “A little. Would you like me to sing to you? You will probably fall asleep just to escape the sound.”

She giggled. “All right. Sing to me.”

He began to hum under his breath. Georgiana settled into her pillows and placed her head in his lap. As he gently stroked her hair he began to put words to his hums, his voice so low she could barely hear him.

Her brow furrowed as she listened closely, trying to decipher the song he was singing.

“There once was a lady, with lips like a rose, she tempted a man, from his head to his toes…”

She bolted upright, her cheeks blazing. “Robert! That is utterly improper!”

He grinned at her wickedly. “Improper? I have hardly started.” He leaned closer, his voice a low murmur. “The next verse is about what happens when she whispers in his ear…”

“Stop this instant!” she exclaimed, swatting at him with her hands as he laughed.

“Oh, come now,” he teased, catching her wrist and pulling her hand to his lips. “You cannot fault me for singing inspiring lyrics when you are lying in my lap.”

Oh, you are a naughty one.

CHAPTER 22

“Good morning, Your Grace. Did you sleep well?”

Georgiana startled awake and looked around in confusion.

She did not know why, but she had not expected to be alone in her bed. She ran one hand down her face with a sigh, breathing in deeply as she remembered falling asleep to Robert’s voice.

He must have gone back to his own chambers after I fell asleep.

She pushed away her disappointment and reached for the bell. She had barely rung it before Cecile was in the room, a huge smile on her face.

Georgiana looked at Cecile with a puzzled frown and asked, “Why are you using that tone?”

“Well, a little birdie informed me that His Grace was here until quite late last night. They saw him sneaking back to his own chambers in the early hours. It seems you had aparticularlygood night.”

Georgiana opened her mouth to protest and then closed it again, not really knowing how to explain what had happened. She also wanted to hold the events of the previous night close to her heart and save them for later inspection.

She chose to change the subject instead of answering Cecile. “My head is pounding. Would you ask Mrs. Green for some willow bark tea, so I can drink it as you dress me? I intend to go riding with Lady Galerton this morning.”

“Of course, Your Grace. I shall return with the tea and some hot water momentarily. But allow me to put a cool cloth on your forehead as you wait.”

She hurried to pour some water into the basin, dipped a facecloth into it and wrung it out.

Georgiana lay back in her bed, sinking into the pillows with a sigh, as Cecile placed the wet cloth on her forehead.

She closed her eyes, taking consciously deep breaths, and waited for Cecile’s return.

She just knew that riding in the fresh air would do her disposition a world of good.

Robert was not interested in company, not with such a pounding headache, but he wanted to see Georgiana. He dragged himself out of bed, performed some basic ablutions, and made his way downstairs for breakfast.

His heart sank with disappointment when he saw that it was Lady Daisy and not Georgiana seated at the breakfast table.

“Good morning,” he said, only to be polite.