Page 8 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 8

“ H ow are you feeling?” Georgiana asked her sister.

Arriving back in London was such a relief for Georgiana.

The first thing she did was take a long bath and allow Cecile to pamper her endlessly, but only after she had made arrangements for Daisy’s care. She did not want her sister to worry about anything other than rest.

After luxuriating in the lavender-scented, steaming water while Cecile brushed her hair, she once again felt calm and rejuvenated. After her ablutions, she donned a simple muslin gown and went in search of her sister.

She found her curled up with a book in a large, plush wingback chair before the library’s fireplace and sat down in the chair next to her.

Daisy sighed, looking up from her book. “I am a little sad. I do not know what is going to happen next.”

“Well, I doubt any of us know what will happen next. We are all simply trying our best to get on, how are we not?”

“No, Georgie. You know what I mean. I do not know if Lord Newston will come up to scratch.”

“Well, if he does not, I am certain there is someone else who will.”

“Are you certain? Because I am not.”

Georgiana reached out and grasped her sister’s hand, squeezing gently. “I am positively certain, darling,” she said quietly.

Daisy emitted a deep sigh but did not protest her words. She looked around. “And your husband? Where is he?”

Georgiana pursed her lips. “Well, I believe that after he dropped us off, he drove to Emberford.”

Daisy frowned. “So quickly?”

Georgiana shrugged. “He never stays in town for long. I imagine running after you two was the longest he has been away from there.”

She could not quite keep the bitterness from invading her tone.

“But…why? Does he not know that you miss him?”

Georgiana snorted derisively. “Oh, I imagine such matters do not concern him much.”

“Why not?” Daisy’s tone was filled with pity, and it annoyed Georgiana greatly.

She shot to her feet, eager to change the subject. “I need to see about dinner. Will you be all right on your own?”

“I shall be fine. Thank you.” Daisy frowned in concern. “Are you angry with me, sissy?”

Georgiana tried to smile. Daisy only called her sissy when she was nervous or afraid. She did not want her to feel that way.

“I am not angry with you, dear. Just with myself. Do not worry your pretty head about it.” Georgiana left the library before Daisy could ask any more questions.

She was not yet ready to face the answers.

As the sisters quietly ate dinner together, Georgiana felt consumed by guilt for being so abrupt with Daisy earlier.

It was not Daisy’s fault that her marriage was lacking. If anyone was to be blamed, it was Georgiana herself. She knew that she was pushing Robert away, but some contrary part of her was angry that he did not make an effort to stop her; to fight for her.

Though his eyes often seemed to smolder with desire when he looked at her, his comportment made her wonder about his true intentions.

“Are you sure that Robert has left?” Daisy asked, giving Georgiana such an intensely concerned look that she could not feel annoyed.

“He dropped us off at the gates and rode off. Where else could he have gone?”

“Perhaps he had some business in town.”

“Perhaps he did. But he would have probably said as much before driving off.”

“Well… I noticed a bit of tension between the two of you during the drive home. I thought perhaps it was my fault, but now I am wondering if it is in fact something else entirely.”

Georgiana sighed. “Daisy, I am going to tell you something and I do not want you to take it as a rebuke. What goes on between a man and his wife is nobody’s business but theirs.”

Daisy blanched, her eyes dropping down to her plate, cheeks filling with color. “Of course. I am sorry. I did not mean to pry. I only had your happiness in mind.”

Georgiana silently berated herself at her sharp words, knowing that she had made Daisy feel ashamed for intruding. With a resigned sigh, she turned her attention to her food.

The clink of cutlery on the plates grew very loud in the silence of the dining room. Once she had eaten her dinner, Georgiana politely refused the offer of dessert, excused herself, and rose from her chair to leave the dining room. Daisy opted to stay and eat her chocolate cake.

Georgiana paused at the door to look back at her sister. “You should stay here for a while. I have already sent a letter to Father and Mother informing them that you are staying with me. Did anyone from the ton see you during your… trip?”

Daisy shook her head. “No.”

“Good. If there are any inquiries, we shall simply say that you came for a visit and felt somewhat ill, so you extended your visit by several days.”

Daisy looked up at her. “Please do tell, who informed you that I had left? No one was told about our plans.”

“Cousin Jonah saw you in the company of Lord Newston. Lucky for you, I had called on our parents that day and met up with him before he could get to Father. When he told me what was going on, I offered to bring you back before anyone took notice. I made him swear not to tell a soul until we returned. I shall see him tomorrow and ensure that he has indeed kept his word.”

Daisy shook her head in embarrassment, putting down her fork and looking up at Georgiana. “I have made a mess of things, have I not?” she said miserably.

Georgiana pressed her lips together. “No use crying over spilled milk. You said that you and Thomas kept separate beds, did you not?”

“Yes, of course! We both wanted to wait for the wedding night.”

Georgiana nodded skeptically but said nothing further on the subject. “Well, all right then. All is well that ends well. Now if you will excuse me, I am quite weary and would like to retire for the evening.”

Daisy smiled. “You must have been worried sick. I am so sorry for doing that to you, Georgie. Good night.” She blew Georgiana a kiss.

Georgiana laughed softly, shaking her head.

She had always loved her sister’s spirit and determination. It was mostly harmless and usually quite entertaining.

“Good night,” she said, closing the door behind her.

Georgiana continued smiling all the way to her bed chambers.

Two hours later, Georgiana was still tossing and turning. Her body was restless, and her throat was scratchy and dry.

Cecile had neglected to fill the water carafe at her bedside. With an irritated huff, she threw off her bedcovers, donned her robe and slippers, and padded across the room and down the long stone corridor to fetch it herself.

She was not self-conscious about entering the kitchens; the servants were quite used to her frequent comings and goings.

She paused as she reached the landing, noticing light filtering through the bottom of the library door. She frowned, wondering whether Daisy had decided to return to her reading. She hesitated between ignoring the light and going on her way, or investigating the situation.

Her curiosity got the better of her and she walked with soundless steps towards the library doors.

She let out a breath, clutching her empty carafe tightly in hand, and opened the door. With a sharp intake of breath at the sight before her, she asked, “What are you doing here?”

Robert whipped around to look at her, his eyes shining in the firelight.

On the table before him lay a small stack of papers and a candle. She frowned and stepped closer to where he was seated.

He arched his eyebrow at her. “The last time I checked, this is my house.”

“Yes, well, I had thought you drove off,” she said curtly, moving closer, “and left me alone. So, what are you doing here?”

He stared at her, clearly taken aback by her rudeness. She lifted her chin, looking at him with defiance as she waited for his response.

Finally, Robert huffed. “I have business in London,” he said.

“Really?” she said skeptically.

“Why would I lie to you?”

“I do not know, but you have never had business in London before. What has changed?”

He laughed shortly. “How would you know? Do you think you know everything about me?”

She took a step backward, feeling that she might have gone too far. She realized that she was annoyed with him, but could not identify the source of her displeasure. Perhaps it had something to do with the pity she had seen in her sister’s eyes or the rejection she had felt when he had simply dropped them off and driven away without a word.

“I think by now I should know something about you, Your Grace, but you continue to treat me like a stranger or an interloper.”

“I interact with you the way in which you have made it abundantly clear you wish to be treated: at arm’s length. Or is it my imagination that you flinch anytime I come anywhere near you?”

Georgiana’s mouth silently opened and closed. She could not find the words to combat his accusation. She was not comfortable enough with him to confess that she was simply lost, with no idea how to behave in his presence. She did not know how to confess that she wanted him to guide her.

She fought the overwhelming temptation to lash out at him; to keep provoking him until he lost his temper and lashed out at her. She knew how childish it was, but she could not help herself.

She looked him up and down. “Well, at least you are not unclothed on this occasion.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “If that is a problem, just say the word and I will oblige you.”

She snorted disdainfully. “You rate yourself too highly, husband. I have no interest in seeing your naked body.”

Robert stood up and took several steps toward her until his lanky frame overshadowed hers. “Is that so?” he said in a deep voice, his eyes capturing hers in an intense, searching stare.

She took a deep shuddering breath. “Yes, that is so.”

Her cheeks were heating, and she wanted to look away from him, but she felt powerless. It was as though he had hypnotized her, and was holding her captive with his eyes.

He took one step back and straightened up with a sigh. Georgiana swallowed what tasted distinctly like disappointment.

“Well, your demeanor is certainly different from the last time you saw me. You barely took your eyes off me. In fact, you seemed quite flustered by me.”

“Forgive me for being flustered by the first naked man I have ever seen,” she snapped.

“First naked man?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Well, well, and here I thought you were running around town with Lady Galerton, looking at whatever naked bodies caught your attention.”

She gasped in shock. “Why would you say that?”

He shrugged. “A widow, that young, and wealthy? What else has she to do with her free time?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I shall have you know that Selina is still a maiden !”

She jerked back with a gasp and covered one hand over her mouth, mortified that she had been provoked into revealing Selina’s secret.

Gauging by the shock on his face it was clear that Robert had not known.

She poked him in the chest. “Tell anyone about that and I shall chop off your head!”

He barked in surprised laughter. “Oh, you shall? On whose authority, my queen?”

She narrowed her eyes further. “I mean it, Your Grace,” she hissed.

He lifted his hands in surrender. “Very well. On my honor, I shall not breathe a word to anyone..”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“But…I have questions,” Robert said.

“No.” She shook her head emphatically. “No questions.”

“Just one?”

“No,” she hissed angrily.

He sighed in disappointment. “I suppose…well, it is a relief to know I am not the only man who has not managed to deflower his bride.”

“Indeed,” Georgiana responded, her tone more cutting than she had intended.

Robert glanced at her curiously, tilting his head to the side, as if wondering whether that bothered her.

Did it bother me? Yes… no… our is solely a marriage of convenience. But still…

She hardly knew.

The ticking of the hall clock dominated the silence.

Georgiana looked down are the stack of papers on the table and realized that they were drawings.

She indicated them with her hand. “What are these for?”

Robert looked her up and down, his gaze so penetrating that she felt he could read her innermost thoughts. She shivered involuntarily and wrapped her dressing gown around herself more tightly to stifle the sensation.

He nodded nonchalantly towards the papers. “My advisors informed me that my business in London involves the purchase of a building. I wanted to look over the plans to determine the integrity of the structure before my meeting.”

She looked up at him, suddenly seeing him in an entirely new light. “Do you know much about building structures?”

He nodded. “While I was in Germany, I studied architecture under the tutelage of some of the world’s best builders.”

She frowned. “So, you lied to me about never having left the country.”

He looked startled for a moment, then grinned at her ruefully, shrugging at her with his right shoulder,

“I meant to distract you,” he spread out his arms, “and I succeeded. I did not know about your fear of thunder. Have you always suffered from it?”

She gave him a cynical smile. “Now you are changing the subject.”

“I am not. I shall be glad to tell you anything you want to know about architecture. But first, tell me about your fear. Did something occur when you were younger? Did you get lost in a storm, perhaps?”

“Why do you care, Your Grace?”

“Just humor me, Duchess.”

Georgiana sighed, then shook her head slowly. “I do not know why, and I cannot recall when this fear began. But yes, thunder does terrify me.”

“Well, that is good information for the next time.”

Her lips formed into a bashful grin. “Why would that be?”

“Because I will be better prepared to assist you in your hour of need.”

“Oh, will you?” She took a step closer, smiling up at him with amusement. “Better prepared for what?”

“I shall have devised better ways to distract you.”

“Is that so? How would you distract me from my fear?” she asked, looking coyly at him from beneath her lashes, unable to wipe the grin from her lips.

“Like this.”

His head swooped down, and his lips pressed feverishly and searchingly upon hers, asking a silent, pressing question, awaiting her response.

Georgiana gasped at the warmth of his full lips, the heat of his breath mingling with hers, and inhaled deeply, parting her lips and tilting her head upwards to capture his waiting mouth. Robert gently placed his hands on each side of her face and pulled her towards him, tracing his tongue along her lower lip before nipping it with his teeth. He bit down softly, pulling her lower lip into his mouth.

She let out a low moan, her hands rising tentatively and landing on his chest. She pressed down, reveling in the hard muscle, so different from her soft and yielding bosom, which heaved fitfully as her ardor grew.

“Robert,” she whispered his name into his mouth, and he captured her by the waist, pressing her body against him possessively.

His mouth became more insistent against hers, and she opened her own to let him in. With a boldness she did not know she possessed, Georgiana threaded her fingers through his rich, dark hair, pulling him to her. She could taste the mild, enticing flavor of brandy and cigars, and smelled the musky scent of sandalwood emanating from his skin.

He groaned into her mouth, drawing her against him, her breasts flattening against his chest. His tongue danced and flitted across the insides of her mouth, touching, lifting, and settling like a butterfly, flicking her searching tongue.

Georgiana’s hands curled greedily around his neck as her knees weakened and desire raced through her veins. She wanted more of him, his hands, his luxurious hair, his scent, his mouth; every part of him beckoned her.

With wild abandon, she dug her fingernails into his firm, bulging biceps, needing him to become part of her, to become one, erasing the thin barrier that separated them from each other.

The hall clock suddenly chimed the midnight hour, shocking them both, and they jumped apart, their chests heaving, and their eyes luminous and wet with desire.

Robert let out a long shuddering breath and stood, unspeaking, in the room’s stillness. The clock ticked off the seconds as they stared at each other with shock and amazement.

“Is that how you mean to distract me? I am not certain it would work,” she blurted.

He flinched as though her words pained him and turned away from her to gather up the drawings.

“Well then… I shall bid you goodnight. Tomorrow is another day,” he said.

Tucking the drawings beneath his arm, he bowed towards her. Georgiana blinked at him speechlessly and watched as he walked stiffly towards the door, the tent in his breeches apparent.

Robert stopped at the door, turning his head slightly, but not looking at her.

“You can only pretend for so long, Duchess,” he said, before walking out of the room.

She stood still, trying desperately to get her racing thoughts and heart under control.

Oh Georgie, what have you done?