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With a sigh, he rose from his chair and made his way to the parlor.

Daisy strolled into the parlor and immediately began to jump up and down and squeal. Georgiana put down her glass of brandy, stood up, and stared concernedly at her sister. “Whatever is the matter?”

“Oh, it is so exciting! You and the duke spent the whole day in your chambers. Oh Lord, what were you doing?What were you doing? Did he kiss you, hold you, and whisper sweet nothings in your ear?” she asked, still skipping around with excitement.

Georgiana blushed into the roots of her hair, then took hold of her arm and led her to a chair. “Sit down. Calm down. Let me pour you a drink,” she said.

“And then you will tell me?” Daisy asked.

Georgiana shook her head. “I am not telling you anything, Daisy. Drink your brandy.” She handed her sister the snifter before returning to her own drink.

Daisy looked her up and down. “Well, you do not look much different… except that you are glowing,” she whined sulkily. “Come on, Georgiana, tell me what happened! Am I not your sister? Do you not love me?”

Georgiana just laughed and shook her head, and hid her face behind the brandy snifter. “You are being ridiculous,” she said.

“I amcurious. All the servants were in a tizzy about it. And last night you made me eat dinner in my room so you could be alone. Come on, just tell me a little bit,” she wheedled.

“Fine. I will tell you a little bit… about our dinner.”

Daisy leaned forward eagerly.

“Robert arranged for a buffet and dismissed all the servants so that we would be alone in the room.”

Daisy squealed and clapped her hands in excitement. Georgiana gave her a look. “Do you want to hear the story or not?”

Daisy put her hand over her lips to indicate that she would be silent.

“Well, when I entered, the floor was covered with rose petals, and there were scented candles all around the room. We sat at a small round table near the fire, just the two of us.”

“What did you speak of?”

“A great many things; mainly our marriage and how we wanted it to go from now on.”

“And? Did he tell you he loves you? That he lives only for you? That he would do anything for you?”

Georgiana snorted. “I swear, my dear Daisy, your head is always in the clouds. This is no fairy tale. It is a real marriage. A real one…” Her voice faded away as she realized what she had said.

Their marriage was well and truly consummated. She was Robert’s duchess. His wife for good or ill.

For a moment, she could not breathe.

“Georgie? What is wrong?” Daisy’s voice cut through her rising panic, and she inhaled deeply.

Her warm dainty hands clutching around Georgiana’s had grounded her. She blinked away the haze from her eyes.

“N-nothing is amiss, darling. Ignore me. I am…emotional today.” She squeezed Daisy’s hands reassuringly.

“Of course you are!” Daisy nodded with understanding, peering intently at Georgiana’s face. “It must be very overwhelming for you. I know you are not used to a man’s attention.”

Georgiana’s lips twisted wryly, and she reminded herself that her sister was just trying to be helpful. “Yes…yes, that is true.”

“So…are you happy now?” Daisy asked tentatively.

Georgiana looked at her sister with a frown. “Why would you ask me that?”

Daisy shrugged. “Well, you just…well, you worry about other people so much sometimes that you forget to…see to yourself,” she said shyly.

Georgiana blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall. “I did not know that you noticed.”