A Daring Liaison(34)

“Ah. Well, brace yourself. Here comes my sister and her husband. Have you met Ethan?”

“Lady Sarah introduced us when I went to her...reading group.”

Charles thought back to that day less than a week ago and remembered the surprising nature of his reaction. Even though he’d engineered that meeting, he hadn’t expected her to still cause such a strong reaction in him. Physical, he told himself. Purely physical.

“Here you are, Charlie,” Sarah greeted him with a kiss on his cheek. She gave Georgiana a sweet smile. “And, Mrs. Huffington, how nice to see you again. Will you come to our book club meeting again day after tomorrow?”

“I should love to come, schedule permitting. How kind of you to ask, Lady Sarah.”

“Are you very busy, then?”

Charles seized the opportunity. “She has affairs to put in order before the nuptials.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow and Sarah’s eyes widened. “Nuptials? Are you marrying again, Mrs. Huffington?”

Georgiana opened her mouth and Charles knew she was going to deny him. “I—”

“She has accepted my proposal. I’ve been hoping to catch her between husbands for quite some time now. I’ve been successful at last.”

“This is so sudden.” Sarah looked as if she were doing her best to cover her astonishment. He could not tell if there was a slight element of dismay in her eyes. “I...I did not know you were long acquainted.”

“Not as sudden as it might seem. We met years ago, when Georgiana was first brought to town. Is that not right, my dear?”

She gave him a sideways glance before donning a smile and answering. “Yes. But Charles was not serious minded at the time.”

He had not been serious? Was the treacherous little chit turning her motives around on him? That was a foul play and he’d pay her back in kind.

“That very much sounds like my brother,” Sarah admitted. “But he has always said he will never marry. It seems Cupid has aimed his arrow true.”

He clutched at his heart. “Aye, and ’tis a deep wound.” He looked down into Georgiana’s face, reading her near rebellion in her dilated pupils. “I pray no one will say anything to dissuade her.”

Sarah looked as if saying nothing would be difficult for her. The silence became awkward and Ethan finally spoke.

“Then I wish you bliss, Charles. It has been a long time coming.”

Charles expelled the breath he’d been holding. Despite his reassurances to Georgiana, he’d been worried there would be objections. There might still be, but at least his family would hold their tongues for the moment.

He glanced toward the door with an air of unconcern. “Carlington is done receiving his guests. I’d like to have a word with him.”

Ethan was quick to seize the opportunity to escape the tension, too. “I shall go with you, Charles. I’ve been meaning to talk to him.”

“Take care of Georgiana while I’m gone, Sarah,” he instructed. He did not want to give her a chance to back out.

As they moved to intercept Lord Carlington, Ethan lowered his voice and said. “Is it true, Charlie? Did you narrowly miss the opportunity to become Mrs. Huffington’s first late husband?”

“Truer than I like to think.”

“You do not intend to go through with it, do you?” Travis lowered his voice. “It’s a ruse, is it not? You are trying to draw a killer out?”

“It is not a ruse, and Lockwood has already given me this lecture, Travis. Do not waste your breath.”

“I am certain you’ve considered the consequences.”

“I have.”

“When do you intend to do this?”

When, indeed? “There are matters she needs to tend to before she is free to think of planning a wedding.”

“Meantime you are a walking target, Charlie. If her curse does not kill you, Gibbons will. Have you lost your mind?”

Very likely. As they approached him, Carlington smiled a welcome. Thank heavens he could put an end to this conversation. He shot Travis a warning look as they joined Carlington.

Their host offered them a welcoming smile. “Travis. Hunter. Are you enjoying yourselves?”

“Very much so, Lord Carlington. Good of you to invite us.”

“Ah, well. A ball is not complete without three or four Hunters in attendance. And since I do not have a wife, having the event here relieves me of the responsibility of finding a hostess. Quite satisfactory, in all.”