Page 22 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 22

“ G ood morning, Your Grace. Did you sleep well?”

Georgiana startled awake and looked around in confusion.

She did not know why, but she had not expected to be alone in her bed. She ran one hand down her face with a sigh, breathing in deeply as she remembered falling asleep to Robert’s voice.

He must have gone back to his own chambers after I fell asleep.

She pushed away her disappointment and reached for the bell. She had barely rung it before Cecile was in the room, a huge smile on her face.

Georgiana looked at Cecile with a puzzled frown and asked, “Why are you using that tone?”

“Well, a little birdie informed me that His Grace was here until quite late last night. They saw him sneaking back to his own chambers in the early hours. It seems you had a particularly good night.”

Georgiana opened her mouth to protest and then closed it again, not really knowing how to explain what had happened. She also wanted to hold the events of the previous night close to her heart and save them for later inspection.

She chose to change the subject instead of answering Cecile. “My head is pounding. Would you ask Mrs. Green for some willow bark tea, so I can drink it as you dress me? I intend to go riding with Lady Galerton this morning.”

“Of course, Your Grace. I shall return with the tea and some hot water momentarily. But allow me to put a cool cloth on your forehead as you wait.”

She hurried to pour some water into the basin, dipped a facecloth into it and wrung it out.

Georgiana lay back in her bed, sinking into the pillows with a sigh, as Cecile placed the wet cloth on her forehead.

She closed her eyes, taking consciously deep breaths, and waited for Cecile’s return.

She just knew that riding in the fresh air would do her disposition a world of good.

Robert was not interested in company, not with such a pounding headache, but he wanted to see Georgiana. He dragged himself out of bed, performed some basic ablutions, and made his way downstairs for breakfast.

His heart sank with disappointment when he saw that it was Lady Daisy and not Georgiana seated at the breakfast table.

“Good morning,” he said, only to be polite.

She gave a faint smile. “Good morning Your Grace.”

He sat down and then looked to his right. “May I ask if you have seen your sister this morning? Is she on her way down?”

Daisy daintily speared a piece of sausage. “She left.”

Robert frowned. “Left? The house?”

“Yes.” She took a sip of tea, not looking at him.

He leaned toward her to meet her eyes. “Where did she go?”

She huffed in amusement, putting her teacup down in its saucer. “She went riding, I believe.”

“Riding?” Robert asked in disbelief. “Where?”

“Where else?” Daisy shrugged. “Hyde Park, of course.”

“Hmm…” His brow furrowed. “I was not aware she liked to ride.”

“I am certain there are a lot of things about her of which you are unaware.”

Robert stared at her in surprise. Were it anyone else, he might have mistaken her tone for insolence.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You leave her here alone to her own devices for a year, and then you are surprised that she has pastimes you know nothing about?” She shot him an incredulous glance.

He huffed, “If there is something in particular that you wish to say to me, I suggest you get to it. I am not one for subtleties.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and she sat up straighter in her chair. “Very well. You sought my sister out in marriage and then proceeded to ignore her for a year. Why?”

“What is it to you?”

“She is my sister!”

“Well, I am her husband and that means I am entitled to do as I please with her.”

“Do as you please? How dare…?”

He held up his hands placatingly. “All I meant was, that what happens within our union is our business.”

She leaned closer, looking him in the eye. “Her happiness is still my business. I ask respectfully that you treat her well, otherwise you will not enjoy what happens next.”

His eyes narrowed at her thinly veiled threat. For a small, quixotic woman, she was displaying a great deal of boldness. This was not the sister-in-law to which he had become accustomed. Then again, she resembled a certain fiery wife of his, and Robert reminded himself that Lady Daisy came from the same bloodline.

He nodded curtly, “I am a gentleman. I have no intention of mistreating your sister. I am sure she appreciates your concern, but I assure you it is unnecessary.”

She nodded, relaxing into her seat. “Good. I happen to like you, Your Grace. I would have hated to make you an enemy.”

Robert laughed. “I am relieved it has not come down to that. Now, if you will excuse me…” he got to his feet, “I think I shall take a ride.”

She nodded her head in acknowledgement and returned to her breakfast.

“Do you think that a man like the duke could ever love a woman like me?” Georgiana asked as she and Selina cantered along the cobbled pathways in the park.

Selina inclined her head in thought. “It is difficult to say. His Grace has always held himself apart, even before the tragedy of his fiancée’s death. Heavy is the crown and all that…He is a difficult man to know.”

“Yet…” Georgiana shook her head slowly, “Last night I saw another side to him. So sweet, Selina. We laughed together, we talked, we…” she sighed deeply.

“And now you do not know what will happen next?” Selina asked.

Georgiana nodded. “I wish it were that simple. This marriage… it has been confusing from the beginning. I feel as if the duke just makes decisions arbitrarily, without even speaking with me. He leaves me out here, blowing in the wind, simply cast adrift with no information, left to navigate on my own like an outcast.”

Selina frowned. “Can you not speak with him? I hate to even imagine going through that. I urge you to confront the duke and tell him clearly how you feel. How else will you ever trust him?”

Georgiana sighed deeply. “That is indeed the question.”

“Good morning, ladies.”

They both jumped and turned to see Robert on a gray horse, standing behind them on the path.

Georgiana’s jaw dropped. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Well, I fancied a ride this morning. Your sister told me you had the same idea, so I thought I would join you.”

Her brow furrowed. “I do not think so. We have ridden quite enough this morning. Selina and I are tired. I think we will take a sedate walk from here.”

She swung herself off the horse. Selina hastened to join her.

“That is fine. A walk is probably better for all of us. I imagine you must also be quite tired from last night’s activities,” Robert grinned as he too swung off his horse.

Georgiana huffed in frustration as Robert approached. He took hold of her reins, as well as Selina’s, and gestured for them to start walking.

“Oh!” she said with a start before beginning to walk.

Selina took her arm with a smile, and they ambled along self-consciously, Robert following behind.

Georgiana wracked her brain for something innocuous to discuss. It was not easy to pivot from her handwringing conversation with Selina to something cheerful and suitable for a walk in the park.

It was Selina who saved them. “Quite tired, you said?” She asked Robert, “What was the occasion?”

Robert laughed. “No occasion, merely a late supper and good conversation accompanied by one too many drinks.”

“How lovely. If you do not mind my saying so, it does my heart glad to see you and Georgiana experiencing a rapprochement. Long may it continue.”

He looked abashed, shrugging one shoulder. “If I have anything to say about it, we certainly will.”

Selina nodded approvingly. “Good.”

She paused, her mouth half open as she caught sight of a group of women who were also taking in the morning air. Georgiana recognized some of them.

Three daughters of the prominent Windermere family and their two dearest friends. Georgiana had seen them at many balls, but they had never condescended to speak to her. Even as the wife of a duke, she was still considered to be beneath them.

Georgiana did not blame them. In their eyes, she had come out of nowhere and stolen one of the most prized catches in the marriage mart. If she was in their position she might also be resentful.

The ladies caught sight of them and to Georgiana’s surprise, they approached… smiling .

What is happening?

She froze, not knowing what to do as they drew near.

“Your Grace!” the oldest sister with the strawberry blonde hair exclaimed. “What a surprise to see you here. You are not often to be found in the city.”

She brushed past Georgiana without so much as a glance, wiggling her fingers at Robert so he could kiss them.

Robert executed an elegant bow towards her and her sisters, ignoring the proffered hand. “Lady Susan, Lady Caroline, Lady Victoria, how lovely to see you. It has been a long time.”

Lady Susan took back her hand, looking a bit miffed. “Yes, I do believe the last time was a year ago when you came to dine with us at Heron Hall,” she said stiffly.

“Ah yes. I do recall. I have since wed.” He held out a hand to Georgiana, and she took it, still in a daze, allowing him to pull her to him. “This is my dear wife, the Duchess of Emberford. I do not know if you have met.”

Lady Susan cast Georgiana a contemptuous glance before looking back at Robert. “I do not believe I have. How remiss of me.”

She put her hand on Robert’s arm, leaning in to speak confidentially. “I would surely have given you a wedding present.”

Robert laughed uncomfortably. “No need for that.” He moved back so that she was no longer touching his arm.

Georgiana felt a blush rise on her cheeks at the other woman’s brazen behavior. She wondered if Robert had noticed.

“Of course. You should call upon us soon. We have missed you terribly. We had such fun with our Pall Mall games back in the summering house.”

Robert’s face was blank, but he pulled Georgiana closer to him. “Well, I would accept your invitation, but your rudeness towards my wife has frankly soured such memories. She is my duchess, and she deserves an equal amount of respect. Now, if you will excuse us, we shall continue our walk.”

He bowed to all of them before placing his hand on the small of Georgiana’s back and urging her along.

Georgiana was silent as they walked, mulling over the encounter.

“Was she one of your prospects?” Georgiana asked, her tone deliberately light, but the sharpness in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. “Before you settled on me?”

Robert’s laugh was deep and unapologetic. “Lady Susan? Do not be ridiculous. A woman like her cares for nothing but her reflection in a gilded looking glass. She has all the depth of a puddle after a light rain.”

Georgiana arched a brow, her lips curving in a sardonic smile. “And I suppose I am the muddy ditch by the roadside?”

His gaze snapped to her, sharp and unwavering. “Do not insult yourself—or me,” he said, his voice firm, but tinged with warning. “Lady Susan may glitter, but there is nothing beneath the surface. You? You would cross the country for someone you love. You are fire and grit, Georgiana. You have lived and fought for things that matter.”

“You make me sound like some… overworked carthorse,” she muttered.

Robert moved closer, his presence impossible to ignore, his voice dropping to a low, commanding murmur. “You are not a carthorse. You are a damn warhorse—strong, unstoppable, and born to manage life’s battles. You do not drain me like she would. You challenge me, push me, and remind me that I am alive.”

His hand brushed hers, the touch light but electric.

“And if you think for one second that I would ‘settle’ for you, then you know nothing about the man standing in front of you.”

Georgiana stared up at him, captured by the candidness of his words.

“You are impossible,” she said, her voice softer now.

Robert’s mouth drew into a satisfied smile. “And you are mine.”

A soft but pointed clearing of a throat made them both turn.

Selina, who had been trailing a few steps behind, regarded Robert with a raised brow, her tone cool.

“Well, it is a relief to see you are capable of something resembling charm, Your Grace. Georgiana deserves no less.”

Robert inclined his head, his smirk unfaltering. “And I intend to give her no less.”

Selina’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing further, her wary gaze turning to Georgiana as if to gauge her reaction.

Georgiana, still flustered, gave Selina a small smile as they continued walking.

“I suppose I should be grateful for your approval.”

Selina sniffed lightly, her parasol swinging in her hand. “Let us just say that I am reserving judgment—for now.”

They rounded the hill and came across the Bentleys sitting by the river with another family that Georgiana did not recognize.

Lady Stark waved to her merrily. With a glance at Selina and Robert, Georgiana changed directions to go and greet them.

“Lady Stark, is it not a bit early for a picnic?”

The marchioness laughed. “Indeed, it is, but my Ariana wanted to show our cousins the ducks she loves to feed.”

She indicated towards two ladies who sat haughtily upon one side of a blanket that had been spread out to protect them from the wet grass.

“Lady Miriam and Lady Samantha are relatives on my mother’s side.” Lady Stark looked at the duke, “I do believe you are familiar?”

Robert smiled. “Yes. We grew up in the same neighborhood. Lady Miriam, Lady Samantha, it is good to see you.”

They both got to their feet, smiling. “Robert! Why stand on such formality? Are we not friends?” Lady Samantha exclaimed.

She reached out to embrace him, but he pulled back, holding her at arm’s length.

“This is my wife, the Duchess of Emberford. I do not believe you have met,” he said, putting an arm around Georgiana’s waist and squeezing.

Georgiana raised an eyebrow, but he simply smiled at her.

“Hmm.” Lady Samantha came up to her, examining her closely as she looked her up and down. “Charmed, I am sure,” she said snootily, not sounding the least bit enamored of Georgiana.

Georgiana grinned. “I am always pleased to meet Robert’s old friends.”

Lady Samantha pinched her face together, as though she had smelled something unpleasant.

Lady Miriam pulled her away. “Yes, likewise. You are a lucky lady to have made such a catch. You must be extremely happy.”

Georgiana did not know what to say to that.

“Yes, she is,” Selina cut in. “If you will excuse us, we must be going.”

She tugged at Georgiana to get moving and Robert followed behind, not giving his friends so much as a backward glance.

“It seems you are a… popular man. Who knew?” Georgiana said to him.

He snorted self-deprecatingly. “Hardly. It is my title that is popular. The man behind the title is of little interest to anyone.”

Georgiana looked up at him in a whole new light.

Robert’s arm did not leave her waist for the duration of their walk home.