Page 41

He wanted to snarl, but one didn’t snarl at one’s grandmother, particularly one as impressive as the Dowager Duchess of Ormond. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“She couldn’t keep her eyes off you this morning. And you couldn’t keep your eyes off her. I can hardly approve, but at least she seems to be better quality than the rest of her family.”

“You’re a snob.”

“Of course I am. Would you expect anything less? So, when are you going to cease this ridiculous masquerade and come home? You may marry the girl if that’s what you really wish—I’ll talk to your uncle about it.

Since he’s the current duke, he’ll have something to say about it, but I can handle him. ”

“Grandmama...” he said, then stopped. He hadn’t used that word in over fifteen years, and he wasn’t going to start now. “Your Grace, I have no interest in marrying.”

“I like ‘grandmama’ better. Are you planning on breaking that girl’s heart?

She’s clearly set on you, and while you can do better, you could also do a lot worse.

There’s something pleasing about the girl, and I’m certain the rest of our family will welcome her with open arms. As they’ll welcome your return. ”

“I’m not returning.” His words were short, clipped.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Sooner or later, someone is going to recognize you, and the scandal would be appalling.”

“You’ve never been worried about scandal in your life. You simply rise above it. And I expect my disappearance at age sixteen caused enough of a scandal already.”

“And just why did you leave?” she demanded. “You left no note, you were just gone.”

“I didn’t want to join the church or the army, and my uncle was determined to whip me into shape. Besides, no one needed me around—I was just one of too many cousins.”

She pressed her thin lips together in rampant disapproval, eyeing him, and then her mouth softened. “I want you back, Jamie,” she said in gentle voice. “I don’t think I could bear it if you were to disappear again.”

“I won’t.” He’d made his decision, and abandoning his grandmother wasn’t in the cards. “I’m not going to rejoin the family, but I’ll keep in touch, visit.”

“From the Mannings’ house?”

“No. I’m leaving that job. I’ve been there too long.”

“You’ve fallen in love.”

“No!” The denial was forceful, too forceful. “I have a job to do in that household, something that had nothing to do with being a butler. It’s almost finished, and the sooner I’m away from Georgie, the sooner she’ll be over her little crush.”

“Georgie? What an extraordinary name. Still, she has a certain charm about her. And you’ve decided to break her heart.”

“Her heart is none of my concern,” he said sharply.

His grandmother said nothing for a moment, but her disapproval was rampant. “You were always a kind boy, even if you were wild. I’m sorry to see you’ve lost that quality.”

He had no intention of feeling guilty. The women in his life tended to come and go—there was no room for a wife. It would be easy enough to steer Georgie’s affections in another direction. As soon as he found someone worthy of her.

“You don’t know her—I do. She’ll get over it quite quickly.”

His grandmother’s bright blue eyes, so like his own, were dark with disappointment, but she accepted her defeat gracefully. “You’ll quit this absurd job?”

“Soon.”

“But you refuse to come home. Where will you go?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Where will you go?” she persisted in a flinty voice.

“I’ll let you know.”

“You’ll disappear for fifteen years again. I hate to tell you, my boy, but I don’t necessarily have another fifteen years to wait for you.”

He said nothing for a long moment. “You’re a worthy adversary, Your Grace.”

“Grandmama,” she corrected.

“I promise I’ll tell you where I’m going. In truth, I have an old farm in Hampshire where I usually hole up. I imagine I’ll be going there.”

His grandmother said nothing for a long moment. “And I can’t dissuade you otherwise?”

“No.”

She sighed. “You always were a stubborn boy. The tea should be here by now—I don’t know what’s keeping them.” She looked around her.

“They’re probably listening at the door.”

The speed with which the door opened attested to the accuracy of his supposition, and his grandmother gave the butler a ferocious frown.

“It took you long enough,” she said flatly.

Rafferty surveyed him with professional interest. He was a much better butler than Rafferty was—adept at handling his grandmother and serving tea.

Rafferty always managed to slop the tea slightly.

“I beg your pardon, Your Grace. There’s a young lady wishing to see you.”

“A young lady? How extraordinary! Did she come alone?”

Rafferty closed his eyes in frustration. There was only one possibility.

“Yes, Your Grace. She’s insisting?—”

The door pushed open behind him and Georgie rushed into the room, her hair coming down from its simple arrangement, her cloak barely clinging to her. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace,” she said, hurriedly curtseying, “but we need Rafferty back home. Immediately!”

Georgie was no match for his grandmother. “Do you indeed, child? I collect you’re the youngest Manning child. What urgent need do you have for your butler?”

Georgie blinked. “My mother requested him,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. “He’s needed.”

“So you said and your mother sent you out to procure him. How very strange. Sit down, child.”

“I can’t.”

“Sit down.” His grandmother didn’t raise her voice, but Georgie immediately sat, cowed, and it took a lot to cow Georgie.

“Never mind the tea, Adams,” she instructed the butler.

“It appears that Mr. Rafferty is needed at home for some desperate assignment, and he and Miss Manning won’t be staying. You may go.”

“But Your Grace...” Adams was horrified at this breach of good behavior.

“That is all.” The door closed behind the man with a little more noise than expected, as the butler evinced displeasure at his summary dismissal.

“And now you,” his grandmother said, turning to look at Georgie. “Do you always barge into things like a harum-scarum young lady? It won’t do at all, I’m afraid. You’d best learn to behave as soon as possible, and I doubt your mother could put any sense into you.”

“Why must I learn to behave?” Georgie asked, completely without guile. “I don’t matter.”

The Duchess sniffed. “I’ll have to leave it up to you, Rafferty, to calm her wild Indian ways.”

“I’ve tried,” he said wryly.

“Try harder. Otherwise even I can’t persuade the Duke.”

In another minute, she’d claim him as her grandchild, and he couldn’t afford to let that happen. Not if he were going to escape the trap he’d set for himself by coming here.

“I should take Miss Georgiana home,” he said, rising. “It’s growing late...”

“Very well. But bring her back to me when she’s civilized. I was always a harum-scarum child myself.”

Belatedly, Georgie rose, managing a clumsy curtsey, and he was about to take her arm and escort her out of the room when the Duchess spoke again. “Come here, child.”

Georgie cast a questioning glance at Rafferty, and he nodded. She approached the Duchess carefully, as if she were a basket of snakes.

“Closer!” the woman demanded. “My eyes are still strong but I want a good look at you. You have a stubborn chin.”

“Yes,” said Georgie meekly.

“But you’re pretty enough, though no great beauty like your sister.”

Georgie swallowed. “Yes, Your Grace.”

“But I think you’ll do,” she pronounced finally. “Though it won’t be easy for you.”

“What won’t?” she asked, but Her Grace had had enough.

“Take her away, Rafferty. It’s time for my nap.” And he ushered her from the room.

There was no question whether they should leave by the main entrance, and he didn’t say a word to her until they were well on their way. He looked down at her, glowering.

“Have you run mad? What in the world made you come after me, and without Martina to keep you company. My...the old lady must have thought you were a perfect hoyden.”

“Not perfect,” she said with a trace of her old impudence. “But I couldn’t leave you there. I know what she wanted.”

“You do?”

“She wants to hire you as her butler!” Georgie said. “And I know why!”

“Why? My charm of manner? My stalwart frame?”

“Your eyes. You both have the same eyes,” she said.

He didn’t show his reaction. “And why should that matter?”

“Because you’re clearly related to her. You must be some bastard offspring of her family, and she wants you there because?—”

“If I were an Ormond bastard, they’d want me a thousand miles away,” he said. “Not living cheek by jowl. You’re wrong, Georgie. You’ve let your imagination run away with you again.”

“Then why did she specifically say you were to bring her Bertha’s receipt? Why were you sitting in her presence?”

“She’s democratic in her principles.”

Georgie’s scoffing laugh was answer enough.

“Let me assure you that she has no interest in me becoming her butler, or any other kind of servant. She’s merely an eccentric old lady who wanted to find out more about the Mannings. The heir Is smitten with your sister, you know.”

“Everyone is,” she said glumly.

“They’ve sent him off on his grand tour to get him away from temptation, but just in case that doesn’t work, they wanted to know more about your family.”

“And you told them? Of course you did—how could one say no to such a formidable woman? That’s what she must have meant when she said I would ‘do.’ That I’d be the proper sister-in-law for a duke.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“Good,” Georgie said. “Because Norah doesn’t deserve everything she wants.”

“And she wants to be a duchess?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Do you?”

“No. I want to marry a butler.”

He froze, halting their forward stride. “Stop that,” he said testily.

“You know it’s true.”

“I know you’re a silly little girl. We’re almost back at Corinth Place, and I want you to behave yourself.”

“Like we did last night?”

“Forget last night. God knows I have.”