Page 15 of A Duke to Restore her Memory

“There you are.” Lydia stood in the doorway of Sebastian’s study, gazing at him intently. “May I speak with you?”

Sebastian sighed, pushing away the ledger on the desk and gazing at his sister.

“Of course,” he said, trying to smile. “Come in. I am due for a break anyway. I will call for some tea.”

After the tea arrived and they both had a cup, Sebastian looked at his sister. Lydia had that pinched, sour look, which meant she was displeased about something. He recognized it well.

His sister was here because she had a bee in her bonnet, and he would hear about it, come hell or high water.

“What is it?” he asked shortly. “I can see you are disgruntled about something, Lydia. Best get on with it. I have a lot of work to do today.”

“That is exactly why I am here,” replied Lydia, placing her cup down and gazing at him with a determined look. “I have heard some alarming reports, Sebastian. I have been told that you are letting our mysterious house guest look at the mine ledgers.”

Sebastian sighed, rubbing his neck ruefully. He should have known that word would get back to Lydia about Georgina looking at the business ledgers. It had only happened twice since she had offered, but clearly, Lydia had spies in the household, and they had informed her.

He suppressed a smile, thinking about Georgina poring over the books, a slight furrow in her brow, and her mouth slightly open, a picture of concentration.

It appeared that her instinct that she knew how to work ledgers was indeed correct – it was as if her entire being came alive as she pored over the books.

She was clever – she had offered a few good suggestions about reducing expenditure, which he had never contemplated before, and her eagle eye had caught two costly mistakes.

Georgina was very good at arithmetic. She was a highly educated woman. She had worked in her family’s business or as a bookkeeper. He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

Coud that be a way to locate someone who knew her? Should he visit some bookkeepers in the district and ask if they were missing an employee? Surely, there wouldn’t be many young women working in that capacity. It was usually the job of men.

“Sebastian?” Lydia stared at him expectantly. “Did you hear me?”

He jumped guiltily, forced out of his reverie. “Yes, I heard you.” He took a deep breath. “Georgina has been helping me, Lydia. It seems she is very good at arithmetic and is familiar with business ledgers. Why should you begrudge her for lending a hand? It makes her feel less guilty for being a prolonged house guest at Newquay Hall as well – as if she is contributing to the household in some small way.”

Lydia looked pained, rubbing the bridge of her nose, before gazing at her brother again, staring at him as if he was six years old and had upended the butter tray.

“You are being foolish, Sebastian,” she scolded. “We know nothing about her at all. She could be anyone.” She took a shaky breath. “It is a family business. She is an outsider. You are letting her look at very sensitive financial information. How do we know what she will do with that information?”

He frowned. “I am sure you are overreacting, Lydia. She does not have an agenda for being here, and she is very grateful that she is here, and we are helping her.” He paused, studying her closely. “You truly believe that she is not to be trusted?”

Lydia sighed heavily. “I know nothing about her – I do not know who she is, where she is from … and what her background is. And all of that makes me very cautious of her.” Her eyes flickered. “I understand you feel responsible for her because she was injured in one of the family mines, but you are being reckless, Sebastian. You should not be showing her the business ledgers. For all you know, she might be a spy. She might be trying to find out information about the business.”

Sebastian gave a bark of incredulous laughter. “A spy? Now you are being entirely fanciful, Lydia! And rather paranoid.” He exhaled slowly. “What motive could she possibly have? And you are inferring that she is pretending to have lost the memory of who she is in order to be here, which is erroneous. I found her myself. She really did hit her head badly. Ask Dr Watson if you do not believe me.”

A wave of intense irritation swept over him as he stared at his sister. Lydia was being ridiculous. She had taken an instant dislike to Georgina, which bewildered him. Anyone could see that Georgina was well-bred, even if she had presented in the clothes of a working woman.

He understood his sister being a bit wary of her, but the dislike was irrational, and not kind. Georgina was vulnerable … and she didn’t even want to be here. To suggest the injury and her loss of memory was a ploy to infiltrate the family business was ludicrous in the extreme.

There was a tense silence. Lydia picked up her cup, sipping her tea, and after a moment, Sebastian did the same.

“You do not know who she is,” she repeated eventually, her face solemn. “The only person who looks at those books aside from us is Mr Jenkins, the estate’s bookkeeper, who has served the duchy faithfully for over twenty years … just as his father served the duchy before him.”

She exhaled slowly. “My point is that Mr Jenkins is entirely trustworthy and has proved worthy of that trust. You have known this young woman for five minutes by comparison, Sebastian. It is foolhardy … and I believe you do know that, deep down.”

Sebastian felt a flash of guilt. His sister was being a bit over the top in her reaction towards Georgina, but she did have a very valid point.

He had been swept away by his strong feelings towards the mysterious young woman and his desire to help her recover her memory. But the business ledgers were confidential, and he shouldn’t have let her look at them, even if she had ended up helping him.

“I take your point,” he conceded ruefully in a sheepish voice. “I will not let her look at the ledgers again. I promise.”

“Thank you,” said Lydia, draining her tea and getting to her feet. She looked down at him. “You are growing rather too fond of her, Sebastian. I really think that if she does not recover her memory soon, then we should look into placing her somewhere.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastian gaped at her. “Place her where?”

Lydia’s face darkened. “She cannot remain as our house guest indefinitely,” she said in a tart voice. “Do you imagine that she will still be here as an old woman, unable to remember her life?”

Sebastian reddened. “Of course not …”

“If she is as clever as you say, then we should have no trouble placing her as a governess in the district,” she said loftily. “Or perhaps even as the mistress of a local school. I am certain that Georgina would like it, as well since she cannot wish to remain idle here forever. Can she?”

Sebastian shrugged awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Lydia gave him a dazzling smile before sweeping out of the room. His face was still burning. The next time that Georgina dropped by his study he would have to tell her that she couldn’t look at the books any longer. How was she going to take it?

***

Christina knocked on the study door, her hand shaking a little. The knock came out as a small rap. The door was wide open, and the duke was seated behind his desk, but he looked distracted and preoccupied. In fact, he looked rather grim indeed.

“There you are,” he barked, his eyes flickering over her. “Come in, Georgina.”

She entered the room, curtseying deeply, before straightening, her hands clasped together in front of her. She had been here twice to look at his ledgers … and she had found, to her joy, that she knew how to read them. In fact, she was very good at it. He had been happy, too, with her suggestions to improve the business. More than that, it helped pass the time. She didn’t feel as much of a burden on the household. It gave her a sense of purpose … and even helped her forget she had no idea who she was.

She bit her lip. She had to admit that she liked being here and doing this because it meant she was near him, too.

The duke was an extremely attractive man, and her attraction towards him – and connection with him – seemed to be growing exponentially. In fact, she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him.

“I have something to tell you,” he said curtly. His eyes flickered over her. “I will not be needing your assistance with the ledgers any longer. But thank you for your help, just the same.”

“But … why?” Her voice was threaded with disappointment. “I thought I was helping you …”

“You were,” he said with a slight smile. “And I have appreciated it, as I said.” He hesitated. “It was pointed out to me, quite correctly, that there is some sensitive information in the ledgers … and that it is not your place to be privy to such information. Do you understand?”

“Of course, Your Grace,” she said in a small voice, feeling a stab of pain and dismay. “I understand completely.” She hesitated. “I am sorry that you feel that way. I would never betray your confidence in me. I just want you to know that.”

He reddened, looking uncomfortable. “Thank you. I do appreciate it.” He exhaled slowly. “I am sorry, I am rather busy at the moment.”

“I will leave you,” she said quickly, flushing. Hastily, she curtseyed. “I am sorry I disturbed you. Good day.”

She turned and fled from the room. Her heart was thumping uncomfortably, and she felt tears burning behind her eyes. She didn’t feel like returning to her room, deciding to walk in the gardens instead, heading outside into the cool air.

Angrily, she brushed away the tears, walking quickly down the path towards the gazebo. She knew she had no right to be angry or indignant about it.

It was his decision if he let her look at his business ledgers … and she understood that he didn’t know her very well and there was sensitive information within them.

She exhaled slowly, staring at the lake shimmering ahead of her. No, it wasn’t that. It was the fact that his attitude towards her had changed so dramatically. He had looked so uncomfortable and had spoken to her so brusquely, dismissing her utterly.

It was a far cry from how he had looked at and spoken to her over the past week. He had looked at her as if he was truly enamoured with her … and had spoken to her as if he truly respected her opinion and admired her.

He does not owe you anything. He is a duke … and you are a nobody. A woman without a name or a past. Why are you so upset that he has reminded you of that fact?

But the truth was, she was upset. Her chest was heaving and tight. Tears were stinging behind her eyes. There was a tight knot in her stomach, filled with pain. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t dismiss it.

Why had he suddenly dismissed her in such a way? What had changed between them? If only she knew.