Page 59 of His Stolen Duchess

“Excuse me,” he said abruptly. “I need to find the Duchess. She may be looking for me.”

Thomas gave a dramatic sigh. “Go to her, then. Duty calls—or is it affection?”

Lysander ignored the jab and strode off.

Thomas can believe whatever he likes.

The truth was, he didn’t care if people talked abouthim. They always had. But Georgina was unaccustomed to society’s games. If whispers followed her through the ballroom, if eyes tracked her with speculation or suspicion, then that was his fault.

And he would not let her bear the cost of his reputation.

If anyone dared speak ill of her, if she felt even a moment of discomfort…

He would see to it that it never happened again.

Chapter Eighteen

Georgina stood on the balcony looking at the stars that twinkled in the inky black sky. She took deep breaths as she worked on stopping the tears from coming. She tried to tell herself that she didn’t care about people speaking behind her back, but she did care. The next best thing after not caring about it was pretending she didn’t care. As long as no one saw her crying, she might be able to walk through the hall again to the Duke.

I can’t dance with him again after this. That’s why they were all looking at me. I only overheard two of them, and I don’t want to hear what any others are saying.

She leaned on the balustrade at the end of the wooden veranda, wishing she could float off into the sky and not care about what other people thought. The Duke didn’t care, and perhaps over time, she would learn not to care either.

Is that better? To be numb to the world so no one can hurt me?

The sound of footsteps behind caused her to quickly straighten and whirl around. She was disappointed not to see the Duke standing before her, but glad to see that it was a woman and not a man. It would only make things worse if she were caught alone with a man when people already thought she had engaged in an affair with the Duke.

With great disappointment, she realized that Lady Eastbeck had joined her outside.

“I was out to get some fresh air,” Georgina said.

Lady Eastbeck stepped closer. She was tall and elegant, and she wore her pale pink dress very well, but there was something harder below her soft exterior. Her eyes gleamed like sharpened daggers, and her lips were tinged with barbs ready to be spilled.

“I wanted to do the very same,” Lady Eastbeck said. “I’m glad to have some company out here. I try not to put myself in a position where I am alone and a man might take advantage of me.” She looked around and frowned. “You don’t have a chaperone out here with you?”

“I only stepped out for a moment. I was about to go back in.”

Why am I justifying myself to this woman?

“Yes, quite,” Lady Eastbeck commented. “Don’t step back in on my account, Your Grace. You wouldn’t wish to leave me all alone out here, would you?”

I would wish that very much.

“No, of course not. I am also happy for the company.”

“Good.” Lady Eastbeck stepped closer still. “It truly is a fine night. Not too cold and not too hot. Exactly right, don’t you think?”

“Yes.”

Lady Eastbeck looked out into the darkness. Georgina turned to face the same direction.

“I don’t envy you.”

For a moment, Georgina didn’t realize that the comment had been meant for her. The lady had whispered it out into the night as though she was ruminating about something personal.

“I don’t understand,” Georgina replied, genuinely perplexed.

“I can only imagine how difficult it must be to step into a marriage with such a… complicated history,” Lady Eastbeck said softly, as though she were consoling a small child.