A Daring Liaison(65)

“You are looking pensive, Georgiana. Care to share your thoughts?”

She cleared her throat and smoothed the soft coral gown that had arrived from the dressmaker’s this afternoon. “I was thinking about tomorrow, Charles.”

“Ah, yes. Lockwood has insisted that we say our vows at the family home. Lockwood’s home, actually. The minister will attend us there, and my family has promised to be present, as well. Lockwood and Andrew will sign as our witnesses.”

She twisted the cord of her reticule, dreading the answer to her next question. “And did they try to persuade you to think better of such a rash decision?”

“Hmm. Well, something was mentioned regarding the hasty nature of our wedding.”

“How did you answer?”

He grinned. “I told them I could not wait and that you’d tried to dissuade me but I would not hear of it. They said no more. Sarah, however, mentioned that she’d be looking for a new pastime now that all her brothers would be married. And what was said on your side, Georgiana?”

She sighed, beginning to feel a bit better now that she knew Sarah hadn’t been angry. “Clara is beside herself. Between our marriage and Finn’s arrival, she has more than enough to interest her. Sanders and the others are taking the news in their stride. I think, given our behavior the past few days, they were expecting something of the sort.”

“Did you tell them that my staff would be coming to facilitate your move?”

“Sanders said he would supervise. Unless you have need of furniture and household items, Charles, I think we should leave mine in place and only remove the personal things and the few valuables I have.”

“My furniture should be adequate.” He paused and frowned. “I say, you have not been to my house, have you?”

She shook her head.

“Remiss of me. I apologize.”

“For heaven’s sake, Charles! That will be remedied tomorrow. We’ve only been reacquainted for...what? Little more than a week?”

He laughed. “Bit of a whirlwind, eh?”

“I shudder to think what the ton will say. I shall be accused of heaven knows what. I used to wonder how Aunt Caroline...how she found me husbands so quickly. I think I may have beaten her record.”

“She chose your husbands? Did you have nothing to say about them?”

“Whatever I thought did not seem to matter. She was determined to see me settled, and the one time I had a decided opinion, it came to nothing.”

“When was that?”

Oh, no. She would not give him that satisfaction. Not yet. He was too smug as it was. She waved her glove airily. “A few years ago. A young man who turned my head and disappeared.”

He frowned. “Were you between husbands at the time?”

“Between marriage and mourning, I have hardly been anything but between husbands, Charles.”

“Your luck is turning, Mrs. Huffington. You stand to be married now long into your old age.”

“Pray that is so,” she murmured under her breath. But the looming alternative sobered her buoyant mood.

Charles leaned forward from his position across from her and took her hands in his. “Count on it, Georgiana. Count on me.”

And she would have, had she been no wiser today than she’d been yesterday. But today she was not his equal. Today she was illegitimate.

They remained holding hands until the coach arrived at a lovely two-story stone manor house. A liveried footman opened the coach door and Charles, ever the gentleman, sprang down to offer her his hand.

She was surprised to find that the dinner party was intimate indeed—just Charles and herself. They were shown to a gilt-ceilinged dining room, where Lord Carlington waited, a glass in his hand.

“When Hunter did not bring you to tea right away, I thought I could lure you here with dinner,” he explained. “There’s so much I’d like to ask you, m’dear.” He held her chair, on the right side of the head of the long table.

Charles sat across from her and Lord Carlington took his place at the head. At a nod to a footman, the servants brought the first course, a delicious chicken bisque soup.

“I hope you do not mind discussing your late guardian, my dear.”

“Not in the least,” she said. “Aunt Caroline was a wonderful woman. I have so many happy memories.”

He grinned. “Did she grow fat and content in her later days?”

She returned his smile. “She was trim to the end.”