Page 14 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 14

“ W elcome back,” Cecile said as Georgiana closed the door to her chambers with a sigh.

Georgiana jumped slightly as she turned to see Cecile getting to her feet and placing the sewing she had been doing on the small stool beside her chair.

Georgiana’s hand flew to her chest, and she expelled a loud gasp. She leaned her back against the door to support her weak knees.

“Cecile! You scared me.”

“I apologize, ma’am. I did not mean to do that.”

Georgiana straightened up, dropping her hand. “It is fine. It is my own fault for expecting the room to be empty.”

Her lady’s maid walked towards Georgiana, her brow furrowed with concern. “Are you all right, Your Grace?”

Georgiana’s shoulders dropped as she gave up. She really did need to speak with someone who could give her some insight into how men worked. She felt she would go mad if she remained in limbo any longer.

“Actually, Cecile, I am not.”

Cecile’s frown deepened. “What is ze matter?” she asked with concern.

With a sigh, Georgiana moved to the bed and sat down. She patted the space next to her. “Come. Sit.”

Cecile did as she was told, her eyes never leaving Georgiana’s, the frown on her forehead as apparent as ever. “Tell me.”

“You know that I had to rush out of town on some urgent business.”

Cecile nodded. “Yes, Lady Daisy ran off with that randy man.”

Georgiana’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

“Ach!” she waved a hand airily, “you know how servants talk.”

Georgiana blinked a few times. “Oh no… so has it become common knowledge?”

Cecile shook her head. “No, not really.”

Georgiana put that aside with a sigh, deciding to brood about it later. “Well, His Grace also went searching for her.”

“Ah, oh! That is why you returned together.” Cecile nodded sagely.

“Er…yes. Well, that is not the issue.”

“What is, madam?”

“It is…well, you know how His Grace and I have been living, don’t you?”

“Separately, yes,” Cecile nodded.

“Yes, well, on this trip…” she trailed off, not knowing how to explain.

“Ah…” Cecile nodded knowingly. “You have come together…” she made a crude gesture with her hands, making Georgiana blush.

“Not…exactly,” she said.

“Then what is it?”

Georgiana took a deep breath. “Well, he kissed me…and…he was naked…but…” she shook her head, her face flaming.

“He did not…” Cecile made the crude gesture again.

Georgiana covered her face. “God, why is this so hard?”

“He was hard?” Cecile asked.

Georgiana’s head shot up, eyebrows raised as she looked at Cecile in shock. “I did not…look. Oh my God, Cecile. What type of woman do you think I am?”

Cecile expelled an impatient breath. “What is the problem, Your Grace?”

“I do not know what to do!” Georgiana exclaimed, “Everything is so…confusing.”

Cecile looked even more bewildered. “Confusing? How?”

Georgiana turned so that her body was facing Cecile. “I just…well, my husband kissed me and…well, I liked it. But I pushed him away because I was unsure of what to do next. I do not know what to do now so that things are not so…” she bobbed her head from side to side, “strange between us.”

Cecile pursed her lips. “Mmm. You know, with French men, I just tell you to sit straight and put out your bosom, meet his eyes and flutter your lashes and he will do the rest. But English men…” she shot up straight and scowled, “they are stiff and straight, and no kissing, no public affection, nothing. Hard to know.”

Georgiana nodded in agreement. “Yes, very hard.”

Cecile gave her a sidelong glance and rubbed her hand sympathetically. “Can you not try to talk to ‘him?”

“Ugh!” Georgiana huffed, her shoulders dropping defeatedly.

“I know but there is no other way. If you throw yourself at him, he will be disgusted,” she shuddered theatrically. “The English want the virginal bride, shy and retiring.” Her mouth turned down in disgust. “No passion.”

Georgiana blinked a few times in surprise. She did not know much about passion, but she was sure that the kiss she had shared with Robert contained a lot of it.

“What if he does?” she asked, just to be sure.

“He does what?” Cecile asked.

“What if he does have… passion?”

Cecile’s eyes widened in delight. “Oho! Has he shown you this? Ah, then you must just give him the opportunity to show you more!”

Georgiana gave a doubtful frown. “Are you sure?”

Cecile nodded emphatically. “Yes, yes. You must just make it easy for him to grab you and hold you close. Then he will do the rest.”

Georgiana let out a breath, her brow furrowed as she thought about Cecile’s words. She was not sure if she was capable of doing what Cecile suggested…then remembered there were certain books in the library that might be of some help.

She got to her feet, determined. “Very well, Cecile. Thank you for your counsel. I shall take it from here.”

Cecile nodded meekly. “Yes, Your Grace.”

Georgiana marched to the door, murmuring words of encouragement to herself.

There was a particular book she was thinking of—a tale of two women in love with one man, and how they both set out to seduce him.

She was sure she could garner quite a few tips from there.

Robert swayed a bit as he closed the door behind him. After they had concluded their business discussion, Jakob had insisted on making endless toasts to their future endeavors and Robert had become a trifle tipsy.

He chuckled softly to himself as he straightened up, flinging off his coat and tossing it onto the coat rack. He walked down the hall slowly until he came upon a footman.

“Have you seen my wife?” he asked. “Has she returned?”

“She is in the library, Your Grace,” the footman replied with a smile and a bow.

Robert nodded and breezed past him without uttering another word. As he approached the library door, his footsteps slowed. He had no idea what he would say to Georgiana when he encountered her.

Good evening, darling. It appears that I will be here a while longer. Could you perhaps try to be civil with me for the duration of my stay?

He snorted, chuckling to himself as he opened the door. The laugh died in his throat as he set eyes on her, sitting at the table, bent over a text.

“Oh, forgive me. I did not mean to disturb,” he said as he hovered in the doorway.

She looked up, regarding him with a fixed stare before blinking rapidly. She did not appear to recognize him.

“Duchess?” he said cautiously.

She nodded jerkily. “Y-yes?” She moved her hand, accidentally pushing one of the books off the table with her elbow.

She gasped, jumping as she transferred her surprised gaze to the book on the floor.

“Are you feeling all right?”

“Er…” she cleared her throat. “Ye-yes. Of course. Are you…fine?”

Robert frowned, stepping closer to her. “I am well.” He peered at the books that were open on the table. “What are you reading?”

She immediately covered the pages of the book nearest to her with her arm. “Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed with suspicion, and he stepped forward to take a closer look. “Hiding your reading? Dare I guess why?”

“I am not…” Georgiana protested loudly before lowering her voice in embarrassment, “hiding anything.”

He laughed softly before seating himself across from her. He regarded her closely, wondering what mysteries she was hiding behind the vivid blue eyes that stared at him with such innocence.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked warily.

“Hmm.” He turned to look at the table. “No reason in particular. Simply admiring the view.”

She frowned. “Are you mocking me?”

He cocked an eyebrow without looking in her direction. “Why would you think that? Are you unaware of your own beauty?”

“Beauty?” She huffed quietly, “Do you not think that is a bit of an exaggeration? I do not deny that I am pleasant-looking, but I am not beautiful.”

He laughed shaking his head. “I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but one would imagine you at least grew up with a looking glass. Do you think your parents were able to get such a substantial sum for you because you are pleasant-looking ?”

Georgiana blinked a few times, seeming perturbed. “When you say substantial… what do you mean?”

Robert laughed again. “You do not know?”

She shook her head slowly. “My parents were not forthcoming with the amount. They simply said that it was enough—” she cut herself off, not wanting to reveal that her parents were living on that money alone.

“Well, I do assure you, they were well compensated.”

Georgiana stared curiously at Robert, wondering why he was complimenting her. Cecile’s words were still ringing in the back of her mind, and she knew she should be putting her words into action, but he had managed to catch her wrong footed. She had not expected to see him before suppertime and had been devising her plan to seduce him.

She was aware that she was acting suspiciously. The book she had been reading was quite innocuous if perceived as just another love story, but the way that she had jumped and covered up its pages made her sure he thought she was hiding something from him.

No, I cannot allow him to see what I was reading, or he may uncover my plan.

She did not want to continue their conversation about money or her looks. From Robert’s demeanor, she could see that his sobriety was compromised.

“May I fetch you some water, Your Grace?”

He raised his eyebrow at her offer. Georgiana became distracted by his long, dark eyelashes, which framed and emphasized the vibrancy of his steel-grey eyes.

If anyone is beautiful, it is Robert.

“Do I seem thirsty?”

“No, you appear to have imbibed a little more whiskey than I initially surmised. I simply wished to help you overcome your intoxication.”

“While I am grateful for your concern, I am quite capable of looking after myself, thank you very much,” he replied dryly.

Georgiana huffed at his dismissal. “I was simply trying to be helpful. It would behoove you to reciprocate in kind.”

He leaned forward and smiled at her. “Forgive me. I am unaccustomed to you showing concern for me, therefore I failed to recognize the gesture. Perhaps, next time, you can begin with a gesture of affection so that I can discern your intentions,” he whispered, his breath brushing across her cheek.

She suppressed a shiver and smoothed down her skirts in an attempt to regain her equilibrium. “Wh—what do you mean by that?” she squeaked.

He smirked. “I can show you better than I can tell you.” He lifted his right hand, one eyebrow raised in question.

She merely nodded.

He cupped her cheek, stroking her skin gently with his thumb, his impossibly long lashes sweeping downward for a moment as he examined her face. He traced his index finger over her bottom lip, his eyes darkening, and ran his tongue across his lips as he drew closer to her.

She held her breath, her eyes fluttering closed. Her skin became warm, and she felt a tingly heat rise from her breasts and spread across her face and ears. Her heart raced wildly with a mix of anticipation and fear. Without warning, Georgiana shot to her feet in a panic and ran from the room.