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“Ah yes. I do recall. I have since wed.” He held out a hand to Georgiana, and she took it, still in a daze, allowing him to pull her to him. “This is my dear wife, the Duchess of Emberford. I do not know if you have met.”

Lady Susan cast Georgiana a contemptuous glance before looking back at Robert. “I do not believe I have. How remiss of me.”

She put her hand on Robert’s arm, leaning in to speak confidentially. “I would surely have given you a wedding present.”

Robert laughed uncomfortably. “No need for that.” He moved back so that she was no longer touching his arm.

Georgiana felt a blush rise on her cheeks at the other woman’s brazen behavior. She wondered if Robert had noticed.

“Of course. You should call upon us soon. We have missed you terribly. We had such fun with our Pall Mall games back in the summering house.”

Robert’s face was blank, but he pulled Georgiana closer to him. “Well, I would accept your invitation, but your rudeness towards my wife has frankly soured such memories. She is my duchess, and she deserves an equal amount of respect. Now, if you will excuse us, we shall continue our walk.”

He bowed to all of them before placing his hand on the small of Georgiana’s back and urging her along.

Georgiana was silent as they walked, mulling over the encounter.

“Was she one of your prospects?” Georgiana asked, her tone deliberately light, but the sharpness in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. “Before you settled on me?”

Robert’s laugh was deep and unapologetic. “Lady Susan? Do not be ridiculous. A woman like her cares for nothing but her reflection in a gilded looking glass. She has all the depth of a puddle after a light rain.”

Georgiana arched a brow, her lips curving in a sardonic smile. “And I suppose I am the muddy ditch by the roadside?”

His gaze snapped to her, sharp and unwavering. “Do not insult yourself—or me,” he said, his voice firm, but tinged with warning. “Lady Susan may glitter, but there is nothing beneath the surface. You? You would cross the country for someone you love. You are fire and grit, Georgiana. You have lived and fought for things that matter.”

“You make me sound like some… overworked carthorse,” she muttered.

Robert moved closer, his presence impossible to ignore, his voice dropping to a low, commanding murmur. “You are not acarthorse. You are a damn warhorse—strong, unstoppable, and born to manage life’s battles. You do not drain me like she would. You challenge me, push me, and remind me that I am alive.”

His hand brushed hers, the touch light but electric.

“And if you think for one second that I would ‘settle’ for you, then you know nothing about the man standing in front of you.”

Georgiana stared up at him, captured by the candidness of his words.

“You are impossible,” she said, her voice softer now.

Robert’s mouth drew into a satisfied smile. “And you are mine.”

A soft but pointed clearing of a throat made them both turn.

Selina, who had been trailing a few steps behind, regarded Robert with a raised brow, her tone cool.

“Well, it is a relief to see you are capable of something resembling charm, Your Grace. Georgiana deserves no less.”

Robert inclined his head, his smirk unfaltering. “And I intend to give her no less.”

Selina’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing further, her wary gaze turning to Georgiana as if to gauge her reaction.

Georgiana, still flustered, gave Selina a small smile as they continued walking.

“I suppose I should be grateful for your approval.”

Selina sniffed lightly, her parasol swinging in her hand. “Let us just say that I am reserving judgment—for now.”

They rounded the hill and came across the Bentleys sitting by the river with another family that Georgiana did not recognize.

Lady Stark waved to her merrily. With a glance at Selina and Robert, Georgiana changed directions to go and greet them.