Page 64

G eorgina and her dearest friend, Lady Honoria Duncan, casually strolled the gardens of Brockenhurst. Her mother had spent hours with their gardener, ensuring that only the choicest blooms were to be picked to decorate the interior of the castle for the party.

To Georgina, there weren’t enough flowers to brighten her mood from her current state of anxiety.

Her nerves were stretched thin with the thoughts of who, among those eligible gentlemen of Society, would come to stay at her parents’ estate.

And whether or not she’d find herself betrothed to one of them. It was all happening too fast and seemingly without her consent. Even if this was how it was often done, she wasn’t happy with it.

Thank goodness for Honoria and her friendship over the years.

Much like herself, Honoria wasn’t one to thrive within the rigors of the ton and preferred the country life.

Georgina was thankful for her friend’s understanding.

Everyone else acted as though it were the worst thing for a woman of her age to be unmarried, but Honoria wasn’t interested in—as she put it—being a brood mare for a herd of children from a man she didn’t love.

Instead, she too was waiting for someone special to come into her life.

It was no wonder they were the best of friends.

“Your parents’ guests are starting to arrive. Get ready for battle, Gina. I’m with you.” She brandished her parasol like an epee before popping it open and holding it over her head to keep the sun from her face. “ En garde .”

Georgina shrugged. “I suppose if I want to have any say on who I might marry, then I best decide on one of them. Otherwise, my father has made it clear he will choose a husband for me. I don’t think he’ll give a fig if I find the man even remotely attractive.”

“Attractive is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose, Gina,” Honoria declared as she scanned the people on the walkways. She gave a heavy sigh while her attention focused on Andrew, with Lady Viola Ravenscroft on his arm.

“As long as he remains faithful to our vows and doesn’t take a mistress, that will be enough for me,” Georgina answered, unable to keep a grim sense of doom from her voice.

She’d wanted so much more from a husband, and now she was being forced to settle on a few expectations.

It truly was unfair. “Well… that, and the fact that he has his own fortune and won’t gamble mine away will be a bonus. ”

A giggle left her friend. “I can’t imagine you’d ever allow such a happening. Why, you’d take one of your rapiers and skewer the man alive!” Her blue eyes sparkled mischievously.

Georgina tossed her friend a knowing glance. “Hopefully his demise won’t come by my hand, but you’re probably right.” She halted her progress through the gardens to cast her eyes upon two gentlemen she had never met before. “Who are they, I wonder?”

Honoria shrugged. “The taller one looks slightly familiar, but I can’t recall his name. I suppose if we had spent more time in London the last few Seasons, we’d be well acquainted with just about everyone who might attend in the next several weeks.”

Georgina shuddered. “Ugh! Weeks of plastering a smile on my face is hardly to my liking. I’d rather they all just disappear and let me live my life how I see fit.”

“Your parents are only looking out for your best interest, dearest Gina,” Honoria said, placing her hand in Georgina’s elbow as they continued their walk.

“You sound like my mother,” Georgina grumbled in irritation.

Honoria gave her a small smile. “Considering how much I admire your mother I should consider that a compliment.” She returned her gaze toward Andrew. “Do you suppose your brother holds any sort of affection for Lady Viola?”

Georgina shrugged again. “I doubt it. Lady Viola is well accepted among the ton and I have nothing against her. She’s actually quite lovely, but I doubt her demure demeanor would suit my brother.

Besides, Andrew is only being polite and appeasing my parents since they also want him to marry.

The marriage mart has come to Brockenhurst Castle.

” A suspicion took hold in her mind. “Why do you ask?”

Honoria turned her attention away from the couple strolling before them. “No reason. Just curious, I suppose.”

Georgina stopped walking and stepped in front of her friend, so that she could see her eyes and expression. What she saw there confirmed her suspicion, and glee fizzled through her like the bubbles in a champagne flute. How could she not have noticed it before? “You’re in love with my brother!”

“ Shhhhh !” Honoria scolded as she took Georgina’s arm and led her in the opposite direction. Her cheeks had pinked. “Do you want them to overhear you?”

Georgina could barely wait to find out more.

She practically dragged Honoria through the grass to the gazebo.

Though it would soon be full of guests, right now it was empty, and far enough away that no one would overhear them.

As soon as they arrived there, she spun to ask, “How long have you had feelings for Andrew?”

Honoria shut her parasol and leaned it up against the railing, then took a seat on the bench. She didn’t answer immediately, and instead focused on arranging her skirts around her.

Realizing her friend was trying to come up with the courage to answer, Georgina took a seat beside her. She could wait. A bit, anyway.

Finally, Honoria answered. “All my life,” she said, her voice soft. She looked up at Georgina, her eyes soft. “I’m surprised you didn’t see me at any given time of our friendship looking all moon-eyed whenever he was near. Or even, when he was mentioned.” Her cheeks grew even pink.

Georgina took Honoria’s hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. “It just never dawned on me. Have you told him?”

A gasp escaped her friend. “And have him publicly reject me? I think not. If he doesn’t have any sort of a connection to me at this point in our lives, I highly doubt he thinks of me as a potential wife.”

“Well, that’s because he probably thinks of you only as his little sister’s best friend. You could change all that with just a few words,” Georgina urged. How wonderful it would be to have Honoria as her sister-in-law!

“Are you daft, Gina?” she declared with wide eyes. To Georgina’s surprise, they were filled with tears. “Please promise me you will not say anything to him.”

“But—”

“ Promise me,” Honoria firmly said, “or I swear, I shall never forgive you.”

The fizzy joyful feelings she’d had quickly began to go flat. Georgina sighed and nodded her head. “Very well.” But she couldn’t help adding, “But I think you’re making a terrible mistake.” She let go of Honoria’s hand.

Honoria sniffed. “It’s not a mistake if he figures it out for himself that I’ve been here right in front of him all along.

But he shouldn’t have to be forced into having feelings for me,” her friend declared, taking hold of her parasol again.

She held the handle firmly. She was ready to wage war, Georgina realized.

It was a battle in which she wouldn’t engage.

Instead, Georgina took hold of Honoria’s arm. “I hope you know I’m here for you, just as you were there for me when I needed you the most,” she said softly.

“Not every man is like Lord Pendleton. And you’re not a girl anymore, Georgina.”

“Even so, Honoria. If you hadn’t arrived in time, why—I might have been compromised!”

Georgina thought back to that moment. Even now her stomach twisted at the memory. She’d been so foolish, with a head full of girlish dreams, completely unaware that most men— all men, really—saw her as a means to great wealth and nothing more. She’d never make that mistake again.

And she never had. Instead, she believed, she’d become adept at spotting those who angled for her fortune and nothing more. She hoped that her parents had the same skill, since if she wasn’t able to choose any of these men, they would make the choice for her.

She turned to look at the castle beyond; thoughts of Wymar and Ceridwen occurred to her once more.

Why couldn’t finding love happen for both of them the way it had for her ancestors?

“You’d think our future husbands would know where to find us,” she said.

“Like a handsome knight coming to our rescue as in days of old.”

“As appealing as that thought is, it’s unlikely to happen.

Instead, you’d best get your head out of the clouds, dearest Gina, and find a man you could come to love from those who will attend your parents’ house party so that your father doesn’t find one for you.

That’s as close to a knight in shining armor as you’re going to get, I’m afraid.

” Honoria stood and shook her parasol open. “We should go in before we’re missed.”

Georgina stood to follow her and they began to walk the garden paths toward the castle.

Her gaze fell on the stranger, who’d stopped to smell one of the budding roses.

His tawny-colored hair fell forward, covering his cheek, but when he returned to his full—rather impressive—height, he turned and their eyes met.

If Georgina’s arm wasn’t linked with Honoria’s she was certain her knees would have buckled.

Her stomach somersaulted as his gaze captured hers.

Georgina was overcome by the desire to push that rakish lock of hair from his forehead.

He swept it back into place with his fingertips before giving her a brief nod.

He then turned back to his companion as they walked away as though something monumental hadn’t just occurred.

Never before in her life had she ever had such an experience. Her head reeling, she could only continue to wonder who this gentleman was, and why he had had such an astonishing effect on her from first sight.