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G eorgina sat on the blanket and nibbled on some of the blueberries and cheese from the basket of food she had packed.

She kept sneaking glances at the Earl of Foxmoore.

He was a truly handsome man. Perhaps even the most gorgeous gentleman she’d ever been introduced to.

His blond hair had been kissed by the sun.

It shimmered beneath the golden rays that bounced upon his glorious locks.

And his eyes… She nearly sighed at the sight of those warm chocolate depths.

They were as decadent as her favorite morning drink, and she wanted to become lost within them.

She would never be able to have any sort of conversation with him though.

Her innate shyness wouldn’t allow for such a marvelous endeavor.

“We shouldn’t stay too much longer,” Jaclyn said. “We’ve already been gone from school longer than we should have.”

Georgina started at her words. She could not have heard Jaclyn correctly.

They could not leave yet. If they did, she may never have an opportunity like this again.

She wanted to know more about the Earl of Foxmoore.

She might be incapable of conversing with him, but she could still listen, even observe him at a distance.

Only by being near him could she come to know him.

“Go back now?” Georgina asked, in a confused tone. “But…”

“Jaclyn is correct,” Charlotte said, interrupting Georgina.

She stared at Charlotte in bewilderment.

What was she missing? Why did both of her new friends wish to escape the company of the gentlemen?

“We wouldn’t want the headmistress to be upset with us.

” She stood. “I’ll pack up the basket.” How could she prevent them from leaving?

Especially when it was clear that Jaclyn and Charlotte did not wish to remain.

She sneaked a glance at the earl and nibbled on her bottom lip. She had to do something. But what?

“No, I can…” Georgina scrambled to her feet and rushed to take the picnic basket from Charlotte.

She lost her balance and stumbled in her haste.

“Oh,” she shouted as she fell. Unfortunately, no one was close enough to catch her, and she hit the ground hard.

She had not been thinking clearly, and it landed her in an awkward position.

Her mind kept wandering to the loss. How she would lose that time with the earl and she may never have the fortune of being in his company again.

Look where that had landed her—on the ground with more than a bruised ego.

“Are you all right?” the Earl of Foxmoore asked. He leaned over to examine her. “Did you hurt anything?”

“My ankle,” Georgina said, surprised she could even form words.

With him so close, her heart beat rapidly inside her chest. She had the urge to reach up and trail her fingers through those golden locks and see if his hair felt as soft as it looked.

He would be shocked of course, and rightly so.

For that reason, and that one alone, she kept her hands safely at a distance from his person.

“It turned when I fell. I’m not certain I can walk. ”

“Does it hurt very much?” Charlotte asked. She stared down at Georgina in concern.

She wanted to reassure her friend, but she wasn’t certain how much she had hurt herself. Georgina attempted to stand but winced and sat back down. “I definitely cannot walk.”

“She will have to be placed on one of our horses,” the marquess said in a firm tone. “And escorted back to the school.

Charlotte glanced at the Marquess of Easton, and then back at Georgina. “Yes,” she agreed. “Are you all right with this, Georgina?” Her concern was palpable as she stared down at Georgina.

She glanced up at her friend, then over to the marquess. Georgina nibbled on her bottom lip as she considered how to answer. She wasn’t averse to riding on one of the horses. She was more concerned about the company and her inability to speak.

“I can escort her back,” the earl said.

Georgina swung her gaze toward him and blinked in surprise. That had not been what she had expected. This was an opportunity, but she had to make sure he had actually spoken. Surely, she had not heard correctly. “You will?” she asked.

“I will,” he said. Then Lord Foxmoore turned to the marquess. “May we borrow your horse? She can sit upon mine better. My mare is more sedate than your stallion. I’ll ride yours and she can ride mine, if that is all right with you.”

Lord Easton nodded. “Of course.” Then he smiled at Georgina. “You never said if you’re all right with accepting our assistance.”

“I am, thank you, my lord,” Georgina replied demurely. She swallowed the lump in her throat. This was perfect. Absolutely perfect. She would have more time with the earl, and she could come to know him. She hadn’t meant to hurt herself, but she couldn’t have planned it better if she had tried.

“Then that is settled,” Lord Easton declared. “Foxmoore will escort Miss Georgina back on horse. We will remain with the other two ladies.” He nodded at Charlotte and Jaclyn. “And walk with them.”

“That is unnecessary,” Charlotte told him. “Jaclyn and I will be all right walking on our own. We walk these paths every day and do not meet any harm.”

“Nevertheless,” Lord Easton replied in a tone that suggested arguing with him would be futile. “We will walk with you. Besides, I will have to retrieve my horse at the school. We may as well accompany you.” He motioned toward the duke. “If you don’t mind, you can lead your horse as we walk.”

“I think that is a perfectly acceptable solution,” the duke replied casually.

Georgina glanced at her friend. Charlotte did not want to spend any more time with the marquess.

She couldn’t help wondering why. She didn’t wish to press the issue at the moment.

She would have to wait until later when they were alone.

Then she would ask Charlotte. She had a lot of questions.

There had to be many reasons that her two friends had wanted to end their picnic so abruptly, and she suspected the gentlemen had much to do with it.

“Now that we’ve settled what we are to do,” Lord Easton said. “Let’s assist Miss Georgina onto the horse.”

“I’ll do it,” Lord Foxmoore replied. “If you’ll hold the mare’s reins while I help her onto the saddle.”

Lord Easton nodded and complied. Lord Foxmoore lifted Georgina into his arms and carried her over to the horse and then helped her mount it.

She sat stiffly on the saddle as the marquess handed her the reins.

For the brief moments that the earl had held her, Georgina’s heart had raced inside her chest. She wanted to be that close to him again, and soon.

That didn’t seem likely to happen though.

“Go slowly,” the duke said. “If she falls off the saddle, she’ll be in a far worse condition.”

The three gentlemen were clearly good friends.

The marquess and the duke were lovely men as well.

They were all gorgeous in different ways.

Where the earl was all golden and light the other two were dark.

She much preferred the earl’s handsome features.

She was grateful he was the one who had decided to escort her back to the school.

It would end far sooner than she would have liked, but at least she had this time with him.

If she were fortunate enough, they might even have more later.

She might be reading far too much into their situation, but she’d never dared to dream before.

Georgina found that she wanted something, someone, for the first time in her entire life.

Her shyness had prevented her from doing much in society.

It might be difficult for her even now with him.

However, she now had a reason to overcome it.

One that she had never thought to have. He was her reason, and she would try to move past her constant malady for him.

She shook herself out of her reverie and glanced over at the earl. He was still talking with the marquess.

Lord Foxmoore rolled his eyes. “I’m aware of what needs to be done,” he told Lord Easton. He mounted his horse and then nodded at Georgina. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“I am,” Georgina replied. More than ready… She couldn’t wait for their short trek to the school to begin. Only once they were alone would she be able to attempt to move past her shy nature. She sat on the horse and took a deep breath. It was time to begin.

They started down the path together, leaving Jaclyn and Charlotte alone with the other two gentlemen.

Whatever Charlotte and Jaclyn had against the marquess and the duke would have to sort itself out.

Georgina had other goals. Her desires were in direct contrast with her two new friends.

As they began their slow journey down the path, the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves on the soft earth filled the air.

Georgina tried to steady herself. The horse moved at a slow, easy pace, and she found herself glancing at him often, unable to resist the draw of his golden gaze and the quiet confidence he exuded.

She would not apologize for seizing this opportunity.

One never knew when a second one might arise.

*

Adrian sneaked a glance at Miss Georgina Williams. She sat stiffly in the saddle as they led the horses down the path to Havenwood Academy.

Clearly, she was not comfortable with horses.

She must not have ridden much, but she did appear to at least know what to do.

Perhaps the opportunity to ride didn’t present itself to her much.

He couldn’t know for certain, and it seemed rude to ask.