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T he Marquess of Easton had decided to have a house party.

Georgina didn’t know why and frankly didn’t care to decipher his motivations.

She didn’t know the man. They were barely acquainted.

However, she was thrilled that he had organized the house party.

Not because she particularly loved social events.

In fact, she loathed them. Her innate shyness made it impossible for her ever to feel comfortable in such a setting.

If the party had taken place in London, or anywhere else, she would have dreaded it.

But this house party had one guest she hoped to see again.

She hadn’t had the opportunity to converse with him or be in his general company since she’d injured her ankle.

Thankfully her ankle hadn’t been badly injured.

It had healed quickly, and she was able to walk without any difficulty.

That would make it much easier to participate in any activities that the marquess and his mother had planned for the house party.

Now she just had to wait until they could all head over to Easton Abbey as a group.

They were all there, but they were missing one student.

Charlotte. She frowned. Where was she? They could not leave until she joined them.

Taking it upon herself, Georgina left and went in search of the other girl. She found her in their room staring off at, well, nothing. Her eyes had a glassy look in their amber depths, and that faraway look in Charlotte’s eyes did not bode well. What was bothering her?

“You’re not ready,” Georgina said. She had walked into the room they shared, concerned about her friend.

She held back a frown, not certain what to do.

She had no experience in such situations.

Before coming to Havenwood she had not even had another friend she could confide in.

This was beyond her capabilities, but she had to try.

Both Charlotte and Jaclyn had been dear to her.

If she could help either one of them in any way, she would.

“I’m mostly ready,” Charlotte countered. She smiled at Georgina. “I finished my coiffure.” She tapped her head. “Wouldn’t want my hair to be out of place at this soiree.”

Georgina’s lips twitched as she fought a smile.

Charlotte was not fooling her. She was as lovely, of course, but clearly troubled.

“You look beautiful,” she said softly, hoping that it would ease her into taking Georgina into her confidence.

“As always.” She sat on the bed and met Charlotte’s gaze.

“Why don’t you wish to go?” There had to be a reason for her reluctance.

She suspected she might know the reason, but she couldn’t be certain, and Georgina did not want to assume anything.

“I never said…” Charlotte didn’t meet her gaze as she stumbled over those words. Georgina couldn’t allow her to not answer her question, though. She had to let her friend know that she understood that she was reluctant, even if she didn’t comprehend her reasons why.

“You didn’t have to,” Georgina told her.

“It’s obvious if you look close enough. All the other girls at this school are ecstatic at the chance to attend the party.

You’re the only one taking your time.” She shrugged.

“They’re waiting for you right now, excited to walk over to that soiree.

But you’re here, and you still haven’t put your boots on.

” Georgina smiled. “So I am asking, again, why do you want to stay here instead of attending what should be a grand time?”

Charlotte pasted a smile on her face. One that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m scared if I go, I’ll do something foolish.

” There seemed to be a bit of truth to her words, but Georgina suspected that they were not the entire truth.

There was something that Charlotte was not saying.

She couldn’t make the girl confess anything though.

“The marquess and I do not always get along,” Charlotte explained.

“Well, then,” Georgina said encouragingly.

“There is only one solution to that dilemma.” She had to do her best to reassure Charlotte that all would be well.

She wasn’t certain if she was up to the task, but she would certainly try.

This had to go well. The whole day did. She had plans.

Many, many plans. All of them involved a certain earl she had become enamored with.

Charlotte took a deep breath and asked, “And what would that be?”

Georgina hoped that what she had to say would inspire enough to persuade Charlotte to come along.

For herself, and the rest of the girls still at the school.

They all wished to go, and she feared that if Charlotte did not attend the soiree, then none of them would be able to attend.

“One of us will have to stay with you,” Georgina said.

“To help you from doing something you will regret.” She glanced past her at the door.

“Isn’t that correct, Jaclyn?” She had heard footsteps in the hall, and suspected it was their other roommate.

“It is,” Jaclyn replied in a curt tone. “I’ve been sent to hurry you two along.

” She narrowed her gaze at Charlotte. “I suppose you’re to blame for this delay.

Considering your lack of foot attire.” Jaclyn had a harried look about her.

She didn’t seem to have any desire to attend this soiree either.

Why? What did both girls hope to avoid? Georgina glanced from one girl to the next but held her tongue.

Asking those questions now would not be to her benefit.

She could inquire later. When others were not waiting for them to join them.

“My apologies,” Charlotte grumbled. “I’ll rectify my lack of boots immediately.

” She slid her boots on, and once they were securely on her feet, she stood.

“There. Now I’m ready to depart. Shall we?

” She gestured toward the door. Now she displayed both irritation and impatience.

What a contrast to her earlier fears and reluctance.

Interesting. Was she now resigned to her fate or hopeful for something better than she had originally dreaded?

Again, not the time to inquire. Georgina held back a sigh, fearing that to ask might lead to further delays.

She did not want to provoke either of the other girls.

They didn’t want anything asked of them, and neither did she.

She supposed they all had their secrets.

“We shall,” Georgina said and flashed her the brightest smile.

“This will be a great day. I can almost feel it.” She hoped that she was correct.

What she hoped for most of all would be finally having some time with Lord Foxmoore again.

The earl had been so easy to talk with. She had been nervous of course, but not nearly as much as she had been in the past when she’d been around other gentlemen.

Georgina glanced at her friends. They were both a little fidgety, but Charlotte more than Jaclyn.

Charlotte appeared uneasy again—as if all those fears she had were bubbling at the surface reminding her of all that could go wrong.

There wasn’t much that Georgina could do to ease her fears.

They would have to try to stay by her side as much as possible at the soiree.

Hopefully, once they arrived her apprehension would ease.

Until then, she’d just be with her and support her in every way possible.

They left their bedchamber and headed down the stairs to meet the other students and their chaperones.

They strolled into the foyer. The other three girls still at the school waited for them with two of their instructors, Miss Spencer and Miss Abernathy, and the headmistress.

One chaperone for two girls. They were not taking any chances with their reputations.

Not that Georgina had any plans of aiding any gentleman into ruining her.

She had much more sense than to participate in such an endeavor.

Though Lord Foxmoore was far too tempting.

Perhaps she wasn’t as sensible as she surmised.

Clearly, she must have lost some of her inhibitions just by association with some of these students.

They were all far braver than she had ever dared to even imagine being.

Mrs. Havenwood smiled at them. “I’m glad you could join us.

” She glanced at everyone. “Now that we’re all here, we can depart.

” The headmistress glanced at each one of them as if assessing each one for something.

Georgina could only guess what. Then she nodded as if satisfied with what she saw in them. How odd…

Mrs. Havenwood gestured for them all to follow her out the door.

They walked in pairs toward the Easton estate.

Jaclyn was beside Charlotte while Georgina walked in front of them with another girl—Melisande.

Georgina didn’t know her well. But she hoped they would become more acquainted over the course of her stay at Havenwood.

The group walked in silence as they trod the path toward Easton Abbey.

They would be there in a little over a quarter hour if they kept their pace consistent.

Her heart raced inside her chest. Soon she would be near Lord Foxmoore again, and she couldn’t wait.

The walk continued in relative silence, and the closer they came to Easton Abbey, the heavier the air seemed to grow.

As they crossed over from Havenwood land onto Easton’s property, Georgina’s breath caught in her throat.

She could see the grand facade of the house ahead, the stone walls bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, and her mind quickly filled with thoughts of the man she would soon see—Lord Foxmoore.

*