Page 36 of The Colonist’s Petition (Heirs & Heroes #2)

Twenty-Six

L arge flakes fell, blanketing the world in white. George should have followed her aunt from the room, however the few moments in the stable with Johnathan were not enough. Since the boys were still in the room, she was chaperoned enough, was she not?

“This reminds me of home. I am glad I do not have chores in the morning, as surely there will be more than a foot of snow.” Johnathan stood far enough away to keep the image of propriety.

“Not that much. Aunt says they never have more than a few inches.”

“At home, we often receive more than a foot and a half in a single night.”

George turned to him. “You jest.”

“Do you not have great blizzards where the wind howls, and it snows so violently that one can hardly see his hand in front of his face?”

She searched for signs of teasing in his face and found none.

“There was a storm in my youth with snow so deep we could barely get to the barn to see to the animals.”

“When?” There would not be a quick answer to such an imagined story.

“November of ’97, it was my tenth birthday. I shall never forget it with the drifts taller than me.”

“You celebrated a birthday last month?”

“Not exactly celebrated. I dare say only your grandfather knew.”

George stepped back. He was nearly ten years her senior. She’d known he was older but they never discussed age. “You must think me terribly young.”

“Does my age bother you?”

Most women married men a few years older than them. He was the same age as Phil’s husband and she was not two years younger than her sister. “No. It is not so unusual.”

He stepped closer. “I am glad to hear it.”

“I am rather disappointed you did not tell me of your birthday in your letters.”

He held the fingers of her right hand in his. “It was an oversight. With everything happening in Town, it seemed rather unimportant. May I ask, when is yours?”

“April third.”

“You’ll be eighteen?” He leaned closer as if asking a secret.

George swallowed. Unable to answer under the gaze of those very blue eyes of his, she lowered her face.

Johnathan slid a finger along her jaw sending the most delicious tingles down it to where he stopped at her chin and lifted it. “I believe that is the perfect?—”

A loud clatter caused them to jump apart.

“Back you fiend!” Timothy brandished a fire poker as one would a sword, coming uncomfortably close to Johnathan’s face. “Step away from her. You are acting most ungentlemanly.”

Lord Banbridge rushed into the room. “What is going on here?”

“This man was about to ravish my cousin.” Timothy jabbed the poker at Johnathan. Who jumped back.

Aunt Elaine gasped.

Heat rushed up George’s face and she stepped further from Johnathan.

Ravish? Where did he learn that word and how did he misunderstand its meaning.

A near kiss was far from ravishment. If that is indeed what it was.

Was it? She should not have allowed his touch.

She raised her hand to where her jaw still buzzed.

Oh, but what sensations filled her. She forgot entirely about the boys in the moment and only Johnathan existed.

“May I have the poker?” Lord Banbridge’s jaw twitched as if he was trying not to smile.

Timothy handed over the poker without breaking his glare aimed at Johnathan.

“Now what do you mean by ravish?” asked Lord Banbridge.

“They were about to kiss!” Patrick shook with disgust.

Was it possible to burn to ashes from shame? George pressed her back against the window hoping it would cool her.

“Thank you, boys. I believe it is time for you to go up to bed. I’ve already sent Anne Charlotte up.”

Patrick responded immediately and left the room.

Timothy stood with his arms crossed. “This American must be punished. He cannot take liberties with my cousin.”

Aunt Elaine covered her mouth with her gloved hand. Perhaps George might not be punished too severely for nearly forgetting propriety.

Still holding the poker, Lord Banbridge bent until he was eye to eye with Timothy. “It is very valiant of you to protect your cousin. Would you allow me to meet out his punishment?”

“Will you challenge him to a duel?”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Johnathan stiffen.

Aunt Elaine coughed a strangled sort of sound.

“No, besides being illegal, I do not believe that is the proper punishment.”

“Will you punish him?”

“I will.”

Timothy cast one last glare at Johnathan before marching from the room.

Lord Banbridge returned the poker to the fireplace. “Mr. Whittaker, will you join me in my study?”

Johnathan left without a word.

Aunt Elaine sat on the settee, no longer bothering to hide her amusement. “Come. I believe we need to talk.”

“We did not—” George shuffled toward her aunt. “I—we—did not?—”

“Obviously not.” Aunt Elaine smiled. “You looked positively mortified. Take my fan, your cheeks are still burning.”

George pressed a hand to her warm cheek. “I can never—Oh.”

“As you know, I do not have a daughter, but I am not so old as to have forgotten my youth. First, I must know, do you wish for Mr. Whittaker’s attentions?”

She fanned faster as the heat rose again. “Yes. He asked if he could court me before I came here.”

“Am I correct to assume that my ignoramus of a brother does not approve?”

“He does not know.” With effort, George set the fan in her lap. “Father was so angry and just declared I should come here. We did not dare ask. Johnathan and I have been writing.”

“Ah, that explains your determination to get the post so often. And the many letters from your grandfather.”

“He writes too.”

Aunt Elaine laughed. “I am sure he does. Does the earl know you are writing?”

“I have not told him. However, Grandfather seems to know everything.”

“That he does. Now for my next question. Were you about to kiss?”

George bit her lip. Was she? The tingles which raced along her jaw already faded to a memory. Were they a prelude to the touch of their lips? “I do not know. I could not think. He was standing close. I wanted him to.”

“Hmm.” Aunt Elaine sat back. “I see. And here I thought I was the one who needed a chaperone.”

“What?” George raised her head.

“I thought you would follow us into the music room. Surely you suspected that Lord Banbridge and I…”

“Anne Charlotte was with you.”

“And fortunately, you had the boys. We are a pair.”

“Is staying the night wise?” asked George.

“We have little choice at this point. We shall have to chaperone each other, it appears.” Aunt Elaine giggled, the sound starting as a tiny bubble and building to a full laugh.

George could not help but to join in.

Perhaps at some future date, Johnathan would laugh about this evening and the denied kiss. Lord Banbridge handed him a brandy as punishment.

“I am duty bound to ask if you dishonored Miss Georgiana under my roof.”

“I did not intend to. We were only talking.”

“Talking can lead to much more.”

“I have asked her to court me.”

“I wondered as much. Lord Ryeland is eager to put you forward.”

“Unfortunately, Sir Lightwood is not.”

“Understandable. If your petition to the Crown is successful, he loses a fortune he has coveted for many years. You should know as his neighbor I hold him in no esteem. Even less so witnessing his neglect to my dear Elaine since her husband’s passing.

” Mrs. Hale’s Christian name slipped so easily from his tongue as to leave little doubt about the lord’s feelings for the lady.

“We are in a similar position when it comes to romance it seems. However, given Miss Georgiana’s age and innocence, I must insist that she is not to be trifled with under my roof. ”

“Agreed. I have nothing but sincere feelings for her.”

“Still until there is an understanding, at least sanctioned by her grandfather, you will keep your distance.”

It rankled to have another man call him out for his behavior which was barely above reproach.

If the moment ended in a kiss, it would have been the nearest of touches.

Enough to know if she returned his affection.

Johnathan lashed back in the only defense he could think of.

“I should say Mrs. Hale is to be under some protection as well.”

“Not quite. As I am willing to propose as soon as she will allow me the conversation. One we were on the verge of starting after having sent my daughter off with the nurse.”

“My apologies.”

Lord Banbridge chuckled. “I assume that in all the history of interrupted interludes in England, yours is of historic proportions. Timothy was genuinely distraught. I’ve never met such a dedicated chaperone, and I found my first bride after three Seasons in London, so I met more than a few chaperones. ”

“I promise not to?—”

Lord Banbridge held up a hand. “I will not stand in the way of love. So make me no promise other than you will not dishonor Miss Georgiana.”

“Of course.”

“And you will assist me in finding a few minutes alone with my Elaine, so I may ask for her hand.”

“I am acquainted enough with the situation to know if you marry Mrs. Hale, that Sir Lightwood will do little to provide for her son, including schooling. Since Mrs. Hale has no champion, I feel compelled to ask if you will care for the boy.”

“Felton and I have known each other for many years. His character is as poor as it ever was. Be assured, I will provide for Timothy the same as Patrick until he reaches maturity. I cannot do more than that.”

“Such an offer is more than generous and more than I expected. I will do what I can to provide you with time with Mrs. Hale.”

The glass clinked as Lord Banbridge set it on the silver tray. “Then we should go rejoin the women before they have a chance to undermine our plans and go into hiding.”