Page 6 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 6

“ W hat is it?” Robert asked her as they settled into the plush cushions of the carriage.

After a fitful night during which she hardly dared move lest she unintentionally touch some part of Robert, Georgiana woke up feeling tired and disoriented.

The rain, at least, had stopped, meaning that they could continue their journey.

After a hearty breakfast, they set out in the carriage for Gretna Green.

“Oh, I was just thinking how well the gown fits. At first, I had thought it would be either too big or too small for me, considering the circumstances,” Georgiana answered.

“The seamstress said she got a good look at you while we were in the tavern, and it was enough for her to know your measurements and alter what she already had.”

“That is quite the feat.”

“Yes, I thought the same. Quite fast indeed.” He looked her up and down. “But it seems she was right.”

Georgiana nodded in agreement. The bit of awkward conversation between them died and they rode on in silence.

“It is likely that they were also stranded by the storm, do you not think? Surely, they must have also made a stop along the way?” Georgiana blurted after the silence got a bit too heavy for her.

Robert nodded. “Indeed. We will find them, do not worry.”

Georgiana swallowed. She wanted to agree with Robert just to be amiable, but she was too worried about Daisy. She would only feel better once she laid eyes on her sister and knew for certain that she was all right.

She was even willing to overlook it if Daisy had compromised her purity. There were always ways around that. She just wanted Daisy to be safe.

For she could not bear any other possibility.

They rode into the village on the outskirts of Gretna Green, stopping at the square to look around and devise a search plan.

“I think that if you go east and I go west we can cover the entire village by the end of the day and quickly determine if Daisy and Newston are here,” Robert said.

Georgiana hastily agreed. She wanted to find Daisy on her own to afford them a few minutes to speak privately. Whatever had happened, she knew that Daisy would be honest with her, but she worried that the duke’s presence would impede her from speaking freely.

“I will talk to the shopkeeper,” she said.

“And I will visit the tavern,” Robert replied.

They gave each other a nod and went their separate ways.

Georgiana walked around for a bit, searching for the kind of woman who made it her business to know everything that went on in the town.

At midmorning, everyone was busy with their shops, and the market’s vendors shouted out their wares amidst the throng of shoppers. The town also boasted a church, a blacksmith’s, a tannery, and a tavern.

It was a small place, and Georgiana could see Robert at the tavern’s entrance, in discussion with a man who appeared to be the tavern keeper.

She turned away quickly, heading towards a shop with a tentative smile on her face.

The shopkeeper was a taciturn man who spoke in grunts and hums. He barely looked Georgiana in the eye.

“Pardon me, sir. Have you seen a lady and a gentleman—” she began to say before he cut her off.

“Plenty of those around. Eloping, eh?”

“Yes, yes,” she answered impatiently, with a wave of her hand, “the couple I am looking for would be quite well dressed. The girl has strawberry blonde hair?—”

The man cut her off again, “I havena’ seen them.”

Georgiana sighed in defeat. It was clear that the man was not interested in helping her in any way. She walked out of his shop, dragging her feet.

“Excuse me, miss?” She heard running footsteps from behind her and wheeled around in the direction of the voice.

A young girl in pigtails and an apron that marked her as a milkmaid was running towards Georgiana, her face eager.

“Ye were asking for th’ girl with the beautiful hair, were ye no?” she asked breathlessly.

Georgiana nodded eagerly, hoping they were talking about the same person. “Yes. Did you see her?”

The girl nodded. “She was wi’ a dandy young fellow. Loud.” She wrinkled her nose.

“Yes! Yes, that was her!” Georgiana said with relief. “Where are they?”

The girl shrugged, “They was talkin’ aboot agoin’ to wed at Gretna Green.”

Georgiana nodded impatiently. “Yes, but did they already depart, or are they still here?”

The girl frowned in thought. “I believe they went to the blacksmiths. One of their horses might have needed a shoe.”

Georgiana sighed with relief. “Thank you.” She dug in her reticule and handed the girl a gold coin, with a smile. “For your troubles.”

The girl stared at the coin as if she had never seen one, reaching out for it slowly.

“Th-thank e’, ma’am.” She stared at the coin in awe before closing her fingers around it.

Georgiana left her to it, eager to get to the blacksmith’s shop before her sister left.

On the way, she bumped into Robert, who seemed to be heading in the same direction. She raised an eyebrow at him in inquiry.

“Were you told about the blacksmith’s too?” he asked.

She nodded. If two different people had seen her sister at the blacksmith’s, then the information had to be correct.

They were finally going to rescue Daisy.

The blacksmith’s shop was a hot and smoky, noisy place. She walked quickly through the establishment and examined each person she passed, but did not find Daisy.

Her shoulders dropped in disappointment as Robert hailed the blacksmith.

He came out from behind his forge with an inquiring look on his face. “Can I help ye?”

“Yes, we are searching for a gentleman and a lady. The lady would have been very youthful, with blonde hair and eyes similar to my wife’s here,” Robert gestured, much to Georgiana’s surprise.

She had not realized that he knew what her sister looked like.

The blacksmith looked suspiciously between them. “Aye, I seen people that migh’ answer that description. What do ye be wanting wi’ ‘em?”

“Well, with all due respect, my good man, that is none of your business,” Robert said with aplomb.

Georgiana’s eyes widened and she cleared her throat in horror. There was no need for Robert to be so rude to the man, especially since they needed information from him.

Robert ignored her, unfazed.

Strangely enough, his answer seemed to appease the blacksmith.

“They seemed in a great big hurry,” he said. “They was wanting to get to Gretna Green today so they could be wed.”

Robert and Georgiana exchanged urgent looks.

“How long ago was that?” Robert asked.

The blacksmith shrugged, “No more’n two hours.”

Georgiana gasped. “We can still catch up, but we have to hurry.”

Robert gave a put-upon sigh. “Indeed.” He shook his head. “How you and your sister are so different, I do not understand.”

She glared at him. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

He shook his head. “You have to admit that you are very different when it comes to common sense.”

Georgiana’s eyes narrowed further. “There is nothing wrong with Daisy’s common sense. Just because she has an expectation that a gentleman will act like a gentleman, does not mean she lacks common sense. Unless you are saying that no gentleman is honorable and worthy of trust.”

He rolled his eyes. “That is not at all what I meant. And in fact, I meant it as a compliment to you .”

“And do you think I should take compliments at the expense of my sister?”

He huffed, expelling a breath loudly. “Certainly not. I have clearly offended you, and so I apologize.”

She favored him with a sidelong glare. “Your apology seems quite insincere.”

“Well, I do mean it, Duchess. Nevertheless, we have a more pressing issue to deal with at present. So, shall we focus on finding your sister?”

Georgiana whirled around and stormed off towards the carriage. She had had quite enough of everything and was ready to return home. As soon as she found Daisy, she intended to return to London without stopping.

Robert ambled towards her, seemingly unmoved by her annoyance.

He hopped inside the carriage, snapped the reins, and began their trip to Gretna Green.