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G eorgina woke up with a smile on her face.

Her dreams had been full of wonderful things—most of them involving Adrian.

Their night together had been far better than she could have ever imagined.

She sat up and stretched to work out some of the aches in her muscles.

She was deliciously sore in places she never believed possible.

It was time to get out of bed and start her day. Adrian would be there soon to say goodbye before he left to visit her father. She probably would not see him for several days and she did not want to miss the opportunity to be with him before he departed.

She slipped out of bed and began to dress for the day.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she needed to break her fast as well.

She would have to take time for a morning meal before she visited with Adrian.

After she finished her coiffure, she left her room and went down to the dining room.

When she had woken, she had been alone in her bedchamber.

Jaclyn must have risen early for some reason.

Perhaps she was already in the dining room enjoying something to eat.

When Georgina reached the bottom of the stairs, she halted in surprise.

The last person she had expected to see was standing there with Mrs. Havenwood, the headmistress.

She frowned as she met her brother’s gaze.

“Thaddeus…” She took a step forward. “I do not understand. Why are you here?” She brought her hand to her chest as her heart raced.

“Is it Father? Is he all right?” She might not always agree with her father, but she did love him and did not want to see him harmed.

Thaddeus smiled. “Hello, sister,” he said. “Father is all right. There is no need to worry about him.”

Georgina was so confused. If there was nothing wrong with their father, then why had Thaddeus come to Havenwood? “As lovely as it is to have you here,” she began, “I must admit I am surprised to see you. What has brought you so far from home?”

“I am here for you,” he said. “I have convinced Father that you should never have been sent here. I am to take you home.”

Home… If he had come sooner, she would have been grateful to hear this news.

But now? She did not wish to go home. She wanted to remain at Havenwood.

At least until after Adrian had time to talk to her father and ask for her hand.

If she went home, her father would be controlling about who visited her and she would not have the freedom to spend time with Adrian.

She did not want to be confined to her father’s estate.

She wanted to be with her friends and have more opportunities to be with Adrian.

She swallowed hard and then finally found the ability to speak. “And if I wish to stay?”

“Don’t be silly,” he said. “You do not need refinement.” He nodded at the headmistress.

“I mean no disrespect,” he explained to Mrs. Havenwood.

“I am certain your school does well, but Georgina is not a hellion. She does not need to learn how to be proper. There is no lady with better manners than my sister.” He smiled at her.

Georgina and Thaddeus had always been close.

She knew that her brother meant well, but she really wished that in this instance he had not decided to come to her rescue.

He had been a buffer between her and their father all of their lives.

He was a wonderful brother. “You are correct, of course,” Georgina said. “I do not need refinement.”

“Then it is agreed,” he said. “You will come home with me today.”

She shook her head. “I need to stay here,” she said softly.

“You know I do not do well in society. This school has helped me overcome my shyness. I need to be here.” She had to find a way to make Thaddeus understand.

In this, he could not save her. She had to do the work herself.

Georgina was finding ways to be brave. With the help of Charlotte and Jaclyn she had begun to open up and be more than the timid girl she had always presented to the world.

That had led her to Adrian. She loved him, and she could not imagine a life without him in it.

“I understand,” Thaddeus began. “But I cannot return home without you. Father insisted I bring you home, and you know how he is. If I return without you, he will be livid.”

And he would take out his anger on Thaddeus.

She did not want to be responsible for what might happen to her brother if her father was displeased.

He would never physically hurt him. Thaddeus was the heir, and he could not be harmed.

But he could cut off Thaddeus’s allowance or take away something from him that he cherished.

They had learned early on not to disappoint the viscount or they would regret it.

Georgina’s heart clenched at her brother’s words. Thaddeus had always protected her, always shielded her from their father’s sharp tongue and iron will. And now, he was here, asking her to walk willingly into the very world she had been desperate to escape.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “I appreciate what you have done, truly I do,” she said, her voice softer now. “But you must understand—I cannot leave Havenwood. Not yet.”

Thaddeus frowned. “Georgina, be reasonable. What possible reason could you have for wanting to stay?”

She hesitated, glancing toward Mrs. Havenwood, who stood silently observing the exchange.

The headmistress’s expression was unreadable, but Georgina suspected she would not intervene unless necessary.

This was Georgina’s battle to fight. She had to make her brother understand, but what could she say that would convince him to allow her to remain at the school?

“I have found a purpose here,” she said carefully. “For the first time, I feel as though I belong somewhere. That I am not simply a quiet shadow in a grand house where no one listens to me.”

Their father had never truly wanted her. They both knew that she was a constant disappointment to him. Her shyness had not helped the matter either.

Thaddeus sighed. “You are listened to. You are loved.”

She met his gaze with quiet determination. “I am controlled. Managed. Father means well in his own way, but he has never allowed me to do anything. Here, I have found the courage to break through my shyness and make friends. I cannot leave. I just can’t.”

Her brother’s brow furrowed. “What is this really about?”

Georgina stiffened. “I told you…”

“That you are overcoming your shyness,” Thaddeus said. “I do not believe that is the entire truth. There is something you are not telling me.” He crossed his arms. “Why do you really wish to stay here?”

She could not tell him about Adrian. He would not understand.

In fact, he would probably become even more obstinate about her leaving the school.

It would be best if she kept that part to herself.

At least until after Adrian spoke to their father.

“I have told you the truth. I do not want to go home.”

“I wish I could allow you to remain,” he said. “But you are returning home. You can plead with Father to allow you to return. It is not up to me.”

She flinched but did not waver. “Surely you can explain to him…”

Thaddeus exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Damnation, Georgina. We are done discussing this. Have your trunks packed. We can send for them later, but you are coming with me now. If you need something from your bedchamber, you have a quarter hour before we depart.”

Georgina’s hands curled into fists. “You cannot make me leave.”

“I assure you, I can,” Thaddeus snapped. “I have given a missive from Father to the headmistress. He expects me to bring you home and I fully intend to do just that.”

“Have it your way,” she shot back. “But I am returning. As soon as I speak to Father, so you best be prepared to bring me back immediately.”

Her brother studied her, his frustration warring with something else—concern, perhaps even fear.

He sighed. Thaddeus closed his eyes briefly, then muttered a curse.

When he opened them again, his gaze softened as he stared at her.

“If that is what Father wishes, then I will return you. But until then, you should accept that you must return and stop arguing with me.”

“I should be furious with you,” she said. “And yet, I cannot be. Because you have always protected me. I know you meant well—but I am not happy.”

“If I had known this school would come to mean something to you, I never would have insisted you should return. I’m sorry.” Thaddeus let out a slow exhale, then finally, reluctantly, nodded. “But it’s done. Now we must go. Do you need something from your room?”

She nodded. Georgina did not want to go home, but she had little choice.

She would pack a small valise and then, if need be, send for the rest of her things.

There was still hope that she would not have to do that.

If she could convince her father that she should return to Havenwood, then she would still need it all to remain there.

“I won’t be long,” she said, then left Thaddeus alone with Mrs. Havenwood.

*

Adrian had woken up prepared to see his plan through.

He would visit with Georgina and then he would depart immediately to visit her father.

He would ask for her hand properly and go about this marriage thing the way a gentleman should.

For Georgina he would do anything—even be someone she found honorable.

For far too long he had been a rogue and had no qualms about utilizing seduction for his own end.