Page 18 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 18

T he third course arrived; Peking duck with baked apples. Robert sliced up his meal into smaller morsels while he scoured his mind for new questions to ask Georgiana.

Reaching for the carafe of wine, he filled her glass to the brim before filling his own.

He lifted his glass. “A toast. To new beginnings.”

Georgiana warily clinked her glass on his. “To new beginnings.”

Robert held her gaze as they drank. She appeared to be tense and suspicious. He wanted her to have enough wine to unwind, lower her guard, and speak freely.

“So, will you tell me what you were reading the other day that you did not want me to see?”

She blanched. “Er…well, before I do, why don’t you tell me something I don’t know about you .”

He pursed his lips, thinking. “Hmm. Ah, I am a connoisseur of wines. When I was traveling, I spent a lot of time visiting vineyards all over the continent and tasting the wines they produced.”

“Why were you traveling so much? Was there a reason you did not want to be in England?”

He smirked. “Are you asking if I was embroiled in some sort of scandal?”

She tilted her head to one side and looked at him coyly.

“Well…” she shrugged.

He threw back his head and laughed. “Sorry to disappoint, but the reason I left England is quite boring.”

“Do tell.”

He took a deep breath. “Have another sip of your drink first. Are you enjoying the duck?”

“It is delicious.” She took a bite and nodded. “I am quite enjoying it. What of you?”

He nodded. “It is good. We have a talented chef.”

“Yes, I brought in someone new. I hope you do not mind.”

“Not at all. The meals have been delectable.” He relaxed, smiling a bit, reveling in his successful diversion from her question.

“So, why did you leave London?”

He blinked a few times, caught off balance by her persistence. “Well, if you must know, I was…bereaved when I was one and twenty. It was a tremendous shock to me and I…well, I needed to get away from any reminders of her death.”

“Her death? Whose death?” she asked in gentle surprise.

“Yes.” He glanced at her and tried to smile. “I am afraid you are not my first betrothed. I was engaged to be married ten years ago. She was…” he shook his head, not knowing how to describe Angela to his wife. “She was a good woman.”

“That is why…you did not want to go through the marriage mart again…and paid my parents…” she said, her eyes widening as he watched her digest his admission.

He nodded. “It was part of the reason, yes. I did not think I could endure that again.”

“Endure what? The Season? Or falling in love?”

Robert hesitated, not knowing how to answer. “The Season, yes, but I was not in love with Lady Angela; I merely respected her. Still, her death… she was too young. Up until that point I had been fortunate that all my childhood friends were still alive; death had not clouded my heart. I was a mere babe when my mother passed. My father died about three years ago when I was in Barcelona.”

“My condolences. That must have been very painful for you.”

“It was a shock. My friend Lionel suggested that a change of scenery might benefit me.”

“And did it?”

Robert shrugged. “It provided a sufficient distraction that I was not constantly wallowing in sadness. However, to say that it healed me… would not be an accurate statement.”

“What made you come home? Why did you bother to find yourself a wife upon your return?”

Georgiana’s attention was fixed upon him. She had stopped eating and drinking and leaned forward with obvious anticipation as she waited for his response.

Robert paused while he thought of a way to phrase his words. “All the time that I was gone, I of course kept in constant communication with my family and my steward. In no way did I neglect my duties. After my father died, my grandmother had a fall that caused her to be bedridden for quite a long time. I decided that it was time for me to come home and take care of things.”

“Oh, is your grandmother all right now? I did not see her at the wedding.”

“She is better, but long-distance travel remains difficult for her. I thought it was too much trouble for her to come all that way for what was essentially a formality.”

Georgiana nodded jerkily and looked away, her shoulders hunched as though to stave off a blow.

Robert watched her shrink away and leaned forward to look into her eyes. “I now see the error of my ways, and that is why I wish a new beginning for us.”

She smiled wanly. “There is no need to appease me, you know. I knew what this was when I married you.”

He cocked an eyebrow, placed his elbow on the table, and rested his chin in his hand. “Do tell. What is this?”

She shrugged. “A business arrangement? A marriage of convenience?”

“I struck no agreement with you. You are correct that it was a transaction, but only between me and your parents. I now desire to strike a bargain with you . I wish us to decide what this is. Hence my desire to court you.”

Georgiana’s cheeks became flaming red. “I see,” she said, swallowing the rest of her port and pushing her plate away. “I think I am now ready for the next course.”

Smiling, Robert rang the bell. Servants immediately appeared to clear their plates and bring in dessert.

They waited in silence until the servants had withdrawn again.

Robert picked up his spoon and dug into his sponge cake with an appreciative sigh. “This is very good.”

Georgiana tasted her own cake before nodding in agreement.

“I suppose I should ask whether you are interested in being courted. Did you run away because that is not something you desire?”

“No,” she shook her head vehemently. “I just…got into such a panic. I was suddenly overcome with an urge to flee. I cannot even tell you why.”

He nodded slowly. “I see. I would like to suggest that we enjoy our digestif in the parlor. Should you develop any degree of fear, please tell me.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“I think it is.” He raised both eyebrows. “I know they say that a lady should close her eyes and think of England, but I personally prefer an enthusiastic participant.”

Her face flamed. “I see…” she bit her bottom lip, watching him warily.

He turned to his dessert, taking another eager bite. He was glad to see that she followed suit and noticed that her wine glass was empty. He hastened to pour her more.

“Tell me about Angela.”

Robert startled at her request and lowered his fork. “What would you like to know?”

“What was it about her that made you want to propose? You mentioned you were not in love, but there had to be something about her that made you choose her instead of another lady.”

He smiled in gentle remembrance. “She was a bold girl, unafraid to oppose the demands and traditions of the ton. She approached me at the ball and informed me that I would be her first dance,” Robert chuckled, “I was suitably affronted; how dare she? But I was also intrigued, and by the time I had dredged up a suitable retort she had already walked off.”

Georgiana grinned. “She seems like a woman after my own heart.”

“Bold as brass she was, but also amiable and kind.” Robert reminisced. “By the end of the night I had grown to admire her spirit, and it was clear to me that we were a practical match. We would make good companions, but nothing more.”

“I can imagine.”

“Yes,” he shrugged and chuckled, “I suppose I have always been old and cynical.”

“You are hardly old,” she said wryly.

“Decrepit,” Robert insisted.

Georgiana giggled, her hand over her mouth. “If you insist.”

“It is a wonder you can bear to look at me.”

Georgiana went from giggling to guffawing, her head thrown back with the force of her unrestrained mirth. “Oh. Oh dear, this is not very demure of me. I think I have had too much to drink.”

“Do not worry yourself about it. I rather like it when you are at ease and cheerful.”

“Is that so?”

He shrugged. “Yes. First of all, because you deserve to be comfortable and happy. And secondly, because I have realized that I am missing a lot by clinging to the past while wasting the present.”

Georgiana looked at him, impressed. “That is very profound, Your Grace.”

“I try, my lady. Some more wine?”

“Oh, a hot toddy would go down a treat.”

Robert reached for the bell. “Bring us two hot toddies please,” he said to Sinclair as soon as the butler appeared.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Robert leaned confidingly towards Georgiana, swaying slightly from inebriation. “I am not one for hot toddies, but I will certainly join you.”

“I thank you for that, Your Grace. One never likes to drink alone.”

“Mmm. And who usually shares your nightcaps then, hmm?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She blinked at them in fascination.

“I must say, you have the most luxuriant eyebrows and eyelashes that I have ever seen,” she said staring intently at them.

He laughed, feeling abashed and self-conscious. “Why thank you. That is a unique compliment.”

“It is merely an observation.” She nonchalantly shrugged her shoulder.

“Do not think I have forgotten my question. Who has shared your London nightcaps for the past year?”

“That was not my choice.”

“Indeed. But it was your situation…” he smiled suggestively and silently entreated her to look at him, “Why do you refuse to answer my question? Is there another paramour I should know about?”

She laughed. “Of course not. I only share drinks with Selina. We sometimes stay late in each other’s homes and occasionally stay overnight. But I fear that you will be disappointed with me because I have been spending most of my evenings curled up with Robert Burns and Charlotte Smith.”

Robert’s face lit up when he heard the names. “Poets! You are an enjoyer of poetry?”

It was her turn to look surprised. “I do.”

“What is it about poetry that speaks to you?”

“Well, sometimes, the world we live in does not make sense to me.” She shook her head, pursing her lips, “When I read a piece of work and recognize that the writer took notice of a similar thing, thought, or sight and saw the poetry in it, the words help me make sense of the insensible.”

Robert grinned, a playful gleam lighting up his eyes. “You know, if I am being honest, I think you would be trouble if I ever allowed you to come too close.”

Georgiana’s lips parted slightly in surprise, and she glanced down at her lap, her fingers nervously smoothing the fabric of her gown.

“Trouble?” she murmured, her voice teasingly soft. “I am certain I do not know what you mean.”

He leaned closer to her, his voice low. “Oh, I think you do. You have that look. The one that says you possess the power to make any man forget his sense and his caution.”

Georgiana’s cheeks flushed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “I… I was unaware I left that impression.”

“I am still at a safe distance,” he teased with a sly grin, his gaze lingering on her. “But I suspect you could.”

She lowered her eyes, her lashes fluttering just enough to distract him from seeing the flush creeping up her neck.

“I do not think I am as dangerous as you believe me to be.”

“Ah, but therein lies the very danger, does it not?” he murmured, moving a step closer. “The quiet ones are always the wiliest.”

Georgiana looked up at him, her smile soft but her eyes steady. “I do hope you are not letting your imagination run away with you.”

He grinned, clearly amused. “Perhaps I am, but I do enjoy a bit of risk now and then.”

Just then, the door opened, and Sinclair entered, carrying their tray of hot toddies.