Page 39 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)
CHAPTER 39
THREE YEARS LATER
“ O f course, Grandmother, I shall do so first thing in the morning. Have you seen Robert?”
“Oh, I think he and Lionel are playing croquet on the lawn with some other young men.” She looked Georgiana up and down. “Are you all right? Tired?”
She opened her mouth to say no, but her calves were killing her and so was her back, and the dowager duchess was looking at her way too shrewdly. “A little.”
“You should sit down then. Lady Daisy and I are perfectly capable of seeing to the guests.”
Georgiana nodded absently, her eye on the Miller boys who were trying to do something under the table piled high with food. They seemed to be debating pulling the tablecloth.
“I will be right back, Grandmother,” she said before hurrying off in that direction.
Robert intercepted her just before she reached the boys. She looked up at him in relief. “There you are!” she said triumphantly.
“Here I am,” Robert repeated smiling widely. “What can I do for you, Your Grace?”
Georgiana pointed at the two boys. “Box their ears,” she said, “and it is almost time for speeches.”
“Never fear. Lionel and I have it well in hand.” He looked around the ballroom, spotting an unoccupied armchair by the window. He pointed to it. “Go and sit down, please. You have been on your feet all day. I know you are tired. I shall send Selina to keep you company.”
She thought about telling him that she was not tired, then shrugged inwardly, kissed Robert’s cheek, and went to sit in the armchair. She really was quite exhausted.
One of the footmen soon brought another armchair and placed it next to hers, while a serving girl brought her a drink and a piece of pigeon pie.
Her stomach rumbled and she realized she was quite hungry. She ate the pie in two large bites before delicately sipping her glass of port. Selina arrived and sat in the chair next to her with a sigh. She also looked worn out.
Almost as tired as Georgiana felt. She reached out, covering Selina’s hand with hers, and squeezed.
“Long day?” she asked.
Selina shook her head slowly. “Long month,” she smiled wanly at Georgiana.
For the past month, Selina had been in a tussle with a newly found heir for her late husband’s title. He insisted that everything her husband had left her belonged to him as well.
Selina had tried to fight it, but the courts had recently sided with him, leaving Selina with just a small stipend.
Georgiana had immediately offered to accommodate Selina, but she had refused.
“You and Robert have just found each other. I will not be the one to interrupt your happiness with my problems.”
“After everything you have done for me, the least I can do is offer you somewhere to stay until you can find more suitable accommodations.”
Selina sighed. “I am fine, Georgiana.”
It was only after Georgiana announced that she was going to Emberford, and the house would be empty anyway, that Selina agreed to move in.
“How is London?” Georgiana asked.
Selina shrugged. “I have received an offer from my father’s old friend. I told you everything would be all right.”
Georgiana squinted at her. “And this is what you want?”
Selina shrugged again. “They say he is senile and impotent. I suppose I cannot ask for more than that.”
Georgiana’s mouth turned down. Now that she knew exactly what Selina was missing, she felt even sadder for her friend.
Life was so unfair for some.
They were sitting next to a group of older ton ladies when Georgiana overheard one of them mention Thomas Newston’s name. She tuned in to the conversation, wondering if he had decided to return to England.
“They say he’s living in a hovel in Paris, off the proceeds of a…” the woman lowered her voice, “ harlot .”
“No!” the second woman clutched her pearls in shock. “Surely not.”
“Yes! Gambled away his fortune it is said. Nobody will deal with him. He is now an outcast. They say he tried to steal from the King’s nephew!”
The other women gasped.
“Yes! It was quite the scandal. Everyone has shunned him.”
“I am surprised he did not return home,” another woman said.
“Well…I heard tell he did not leave of his own volition; that it might be even more dangerous for him here than it is in Paris.”
“His mother must be devastated.”
“It cannot be easy for her.”
“Poor thing.”
“He always was a bit of a troublemaker,” the first woman ventured.
“Yes. Always getting into something, even as a lad.”
“I suppose he will find his way out somehow.”
“One would hope so, if only for the sake of his mother.”
The sound of a bell ringing drew Georgiana’s attention away from the women and towards the dais where Robert, Lionel, Daisy, and their parents were standing.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “Today we have gathered together to celebrate the engagement of my good friend, Lord Lionel Stanmore—” he gestured to the man to loud applause. “—and my sister-in-law, Lady Daisy Milton.”
There was equally loud applause for her.
“It is indeed a happy day, and one which my wife and I are only too happy to host.” He indicated to Georgiana, still in her seat, and everyone applauded obligingly.
“I shall leave the floor in the capable hands of Lionel, as each of them give their speeches.”
He stepped down from the dais and Lionel promptly took his place.
“I would like to start with a word of thanks to all of you for coming all the way to Emberford to celebrate with us. We are grateful for your support. Next, I would like to thank Lord and Lady Milton for accepting my suit. Your daughter is very precious to me, and I intend to nurture and protect her for the rest of my days.”
His speech was met with thunderous applause, and Daisy blushed becomingly at guests’ hearty response.
“I also wish to salute your sister Georgiana, to whom you credit the majority of your upbringing. There are no words that can encompass our gratitude to you for the exemplary job you have done.”
Georgiana ducked her head in embarrassment as the room exploded in applause.
“I know you expect no thanks for what you would consider to be your duty. But we would like to show our appreciation all the same.”
The clapping went on for so long that Georgiana thought her burning face might melt from the heat. To her relief, Lionel moved on to speak about his hopes for their future.
Selina squeezed her hand and smiled when Georgiana looked her way.
“You deserve all the accolades,” she whispered.
Georgiana only shook her head and smiled.
Once the speeches were done it was time to open the dance floor. Lionel and Daisy glided onto the floor, their eyes only for each other as the orchestra played a waltz.
Robert marveled at the look on his friend’s face. He had never seen Lionel look that way at anyone.
He smiled and nodded, able to relate to his friend’s feelings. His eyes scanned the room looking for Georgiana. She was still sitting where he had placed her, deep in conversation with Selina. He immediately began to make his way towards her.
He held out his hand as she looked up at him. “Will you honor me with this dance, Your Grace?”
Her mouth turned down. “Oh no, I am afraid my dance card is full.”
He laughed. “Then I am afraid you will have to cross off everyone’s names.”
She sighed theatrically. “I suppose I shall.”
She put her hand in his and let him help her to her feet. He could not help but notice how much her skin glowed, and that her eyes were like crystal blue pools on a summer’s day. She was breathtaking.
He led her to the ballroom floor and turned, circling her waist with his other arm as he lifted their linked hands. He stared into her eyes as he propelled her around the floor.
“Mama and Papa will be displeased by the toast Lionel made. I shall not hear the end of it, I am sure.”
“Well, Lionel cannot be faulted for speaking the truth. They will just have to get over it.”
She expelled a breath and then grinned. “That is as likely as it is them suddenly having a good relationship with your grandmother. Thank heaven for guest cottages, otherwise these last few days would have been a nightmare.”
“Grandmother just does not like how they treat you. And who can blame her?”
She shook her head slowly. “Not me.”
As soon as Georgiana’s parents had arrived, they had been unreasonable in their demands and expectations. Robert had managed to convince them that as guests of honor, they needed their own abode and had banished them to the bottom of the garden with their own group of servants so they would not be too much of a bother to the other guests.
He knew it was a great relief for Georgiana to have them out of her immediate sight. He had enjoyed the last few days with the Stanmores and all their London friends, but he was ready to be alone again with his wife.
Their last three months together had been a study in wedded bliss. For the life of him, he could not understand what he had been so terrified about. He was looking forward to spending his very first Christmas with his wife. He had a feeling it would be an incredibly special one.
Before that, however, they had to get through the celebration.
A few dances later Georgiana and Robert were ready to call it a night. Daisy’s younger friends were just getting started on their night and Robert was inclined to leave it to them.
He waved goodnight to Lionel and kissed his grandmother on the cheek before taking Georgiana by the hand and leading her away to their joint chambers.