Page 26 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 26

“ H ave you seen His Grace this morning?” Georgiana asked the butler without preamble.

After a restless night, Georgiana was eager to go down to breakfast and speak with her husband.

She did not like to live in a cloud of uncertainty and after a year of not knowing when she would next see her husband, she was sick and tired of it. She decided that she would give him a piece of her mind for leaving her alone and going to bed without saying a word.

What was I supposed to think? Not only was it a tremendously thoughtless thing to do, but it was also ill-mannered.

She had prepared herself to speak her mind, only to walk into the dining hall and find it empty.

“Yes, Your Grace, he left earlier for a meeting, I believe,” the butler answered.

“Very well then. I shall have my breakfast in my room.”

The butler bowed low. “Yes, Your Grace.”

Georgiana stomped up the stairs feeling frustrated and annoyed. She was also somewhat broken-hearted, which only deepened her displeasure.

She did not want to care about where Robert had his breakfast or with whom.

Too late.

She already did care, and that was very aggravating to her spirit.

Throwing herself onto her bed, she let out a long breath as she stared out of the window. It was shaping up to be a fair day, with no sign of rain.

She sat up just as someone knocked on her door.

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened and a maid came in carrying a tray laden with food. Daisy trailed directly behind her.

“Good morning, sister. I went down to breakfast, but they told me you were having yours in your room; I decided to join you.” She threw herself on the bed beside Georgiana, not bothering to ask for permission.

With an inner sigh, Georgiana realized that she would not be able to brood while she ate.

Perhaps it is just as well.

The servant placed the tray on the bedside table and left the room.

Daisy immediately shimmied off the bed and picked up the kettle. “I shall be mother,” she said as she poured the tea.

They sat on the window bench, eating in companionable silence as they watched the traffic below. Daisy sighed audibly several times until Georgiana was compelled to ask her what was wrong.

“Did you enjoy yourself last night?” Daisy asked.

Georgiana blinked in surprise. “Why do you ask?”

Daisy shrugged. “I heard some men remark that you and His Grace enjoyed yourselves a bit too much, and I wondered what they meant.”

Georgiana felt her cheeks redden. “Umm, you know that Robert broke protocol by dancing with me twice.”

“They were laughing in a rather mean way. Surely an extra dance would not provoke that?”

Georgiana bent her head towards the plate. “Well then, I cannot imagine what they meant. Why do you let it bother you so much?”

Daisy frowned. “I did not like it, but I felt as if I was missing something and therefore could not reprimand them.”

“You cannot go around chastising people, especially since you have just come out.”

Daisy giggled. “I do not care. I had ever so much fun. My dance card was full.”

“And I should have done a better job of chaperoning you. I am sorry.”

“No need for that.” She waved her hand airily. “I was perfectly safe. Ariana’s mother was hovering enough for the both of you.”

“I must remember to thank her,” Georgiana said, mostly to herself.

Daisy snorted. “She appeared to enjoy it. She was not eager to consort with the gossiping mamas. She said they were likely put out because Ariana and I are so recently out, and this is our first debutante ball.”

“I suppose some people would look at it as trying to cut the line. You must be very careful, my dear. I think we shall refrain from attending any further soirees until we have held one for you and Ariana.”

“No,” Daisy wailed. “You do not have to do that. You and His Grace can go to as many balls as you please. I promise I shall not make a fuss about staying behind.”

Georgiana squeezed her arm affectionately. “I know you will not, but I have had my fill. I am used to smaller parties and quieter pursuits with Selina. The older mamas look askance at her because she is a young widow and therefore presumably more experienced than their daughters. We usually refrain from attending debutante balls.”

“Well, I am glad that we appeared at the Windermere event. Over the years I have heard so much about their elegant displays and sumptuous decorations. It was not at all disappointing.”

Georgiana nodded her head in silent agreement.

She suddenly realized that she had not given Robert a single thought since breakfast began.

Hmm, perhaps Daisy can distract me for the rest of the day.

“Do you want to go shopping after we are done here?” she asked her sister.

Daisy clapped her hands excitedly. “Yes please!”

Robert returned home in the late afternoon to find that Georgiana and Daisy had gone out.

He swallowed his disappointment, reminding himself that she could not have known what time he would be home, and he could not expect her to sit around twiddling her thumbs waiting for him.

I shall not let our next meeting come down to chance .

Going to his study, he summoned Mr. Sinclair and Mrs. Green.

“I wish to arrange a special dinner this evening for myself and my wife. Please make sure that Lady Daisy is served her dinner in her chambers.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the butler said.

“I also ask that the dining room be lit up with the decorative candles. Not too many of them; just enough to create an inviting atmosphere. Light the fireplace and set the table so that we may serve ourselves. I would like a roast, be it of chicken, turkey, or duck, whatever is on hand.”

Mrs. Green nodded. “We have chicken and duck. Cook was planning to roast a chicken for dinner. Will that do?”

“That will do nicely.” Robert smiled in approval.

“That will be all for now. Please fetch me Her Grace’s lady’s maid.”

The housekeeper curtsied. “Yes, Your Grace,” she said before backing out of the room, followed shortly by the butler.

Cecile entered the room with downcast eyes and executed a neat curtsy.

“Your Grace. What can I do for you?”

“I wish to have dinner with my wife today. When she returns from her shopping trip, I want you to get her ready. The bronze and gold gown, I think. A massage, perhaps. Ensure that she is relaxed.”

Cecile smiled. “I understand, Your Grace. If you do not mind me saying, it is high time.”

Robert snorted, shaking his head. “Go. When are you expecting the duchess to return?”

She shrugged. “Soon, I suppose. She went out with Lady Daisy to shop, but she does not like shopping very much.”

“Good.” He reached over to his drawer and extracted a bottle of lavender extract. “Put some of this in her bath. It will help her relax.”

Cecile took it with a smile and a nod. “I will not fail you, Your Grace.”

“I know you will not.”

Georgiana returned to her chambers later that afternoon to discover a steaming tub of scented water awaiting her, a gown laid out on her bed and Cecile standing by the vanity, smiling cheekily.

“What is all this?” she asked in wonder.

“Your husband has asked me to help you prepare for dinner. I think he has something special planned.”

Georgiana felt her cheeks warm up. “Oh?” she said faintly.

Cecile nodded excitedly. “Yes indeed.” She skipped a little and clapped her hands. “Come, you are late. We must hurry.”

Georgiana put a hand on her chest, where her heart was beating elatedly. “All right. What…where do you want me?”

Cecile hurried forward to assist her with removing her gown. Georgiana tried to help as much as she could but found that her hands were shaking too much to be of use.

She felt dizzy with anticipation; the prospect of sharing a special dinner with Robert was more than she had expected.

What has he prepared? What will we talk about?

She looked up and her eyes met Cecile’s in the looking glass.

“You look nervous, Your Grace.”

“I have never…” she shook her head, “this is my first time…”

“You have never…what? Been courted by a man?” Cecile asked gently.

Georgiana nodded slowly.

Cecile offered her a small, wistful smile. “Never fear. It is no different from conversing with your husband. Let him entertain you, offer amusing anecdotes, and all you need to do is laugh. Tell him he is incorrigible.”

Georgiana laughed. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Ach.” She threw her hands in the air. “Men are simple.”

Georgiana laughed again, feeling much better. “What would I do without you, dear Cecile?”

“Oh, you would manage just fine, Your Grace.”