A Daring Liaison(70)
And the fact that she was not a blood relation, no doubt. “Decisions? What controversial decisions have I made?”
“I learned today that you have got yourself engaged to Mr. Charles Hunter. This barely six months after Lady Caroline’s death.”
Oh, Charles knew society well. News had traveled quickly. “I am past the prescribed period of mourning for my aunt, Mr. Foxworthy, and well past it for my late husband.”
“Have you no shame? Your engagement so soon after your return to London has caused a stir in society. Why, it is as if you care nothing for the good opinion of others. You’ve gone about buying gowns from the most expensive dressmaker in London. You cavort at pleasure gardens and—”
“Cavort?” The man had made it his business to know her comings and goings, for heaven’s sake! She clasped her hands tightly to keep from doing something rash. “Has it also caused a problem with your suit, sir? Is that why you came to see me now? Do you fear that a marriage would put my fortune out of your reach?”
“Little upstart!” he snarled, taking two steps toward her. “You are marrying to spite my suit, are you not? If you go through with this, I could petition to have your marriage to Mr. Hunter set aside as fraudulent.”
She stood and moved behind the settee, wanting to keep a distance from this man. “You could, but you’d never prove it. I am offering you money to drop your suit, sir, which is more than you deserve. My only reason for doing so is to preserve the peace and avoid the scandal of a public proceeding and not because I think your suit has merit. My future husband, however, will not care about that. I’d advise you to take my proposal now and go away before he can intercede.”
The clock in the foyer chimed three times and Georgiana realized that Charles’s coach would be here soon to take her to Lockwood’s.
Mr. Foxworthy’s hands fisted at his sides as he advanced. “You will pay for your insolence, Mrs. Huffington. I will see to it that you do not forget it once I am in control.”
Suddenly marriage seemed like an excellent idea. “You will never be in control, sir. I am marrying Mr. Hunter this afternoon. You should have taken my offer. Now you are too late.”
Foxworthy’s eyes bulged and his complexion deepened to a hue that Georgiana feared indicated apoplexy. “Why, you little—”
“Finn!”
The door opened before his name had faded from her lips.
“Show Mr. Foxworthy out, please.”
In three long strides, Finn had seized Mr. Foxworthy by the back of his jacket and lifted him so that only his toes touched the floor. Foxworthy in one arm, and the little trunk still under the other, he strode to the garden door, gave the man a shove and closed the door. “Didn’t think you’d want him on the front stoop, Mrs. Huffington.”
She resisted the impulse to give the man a hug. “Thank you, Finn. Now, if you will watch for the coach, I must go change. I am getting married this afternoon, you know.”
He gave her a wide grin. “As you say, ma’am.”
“Put that little trunk with my other things, please. Must we tell Mr. Hunter about this unfortunate meeting?”
“’Fraid so, Mrs. Huffington.”
* * *
Charles waited impatiently in the small family chapel in Lockwood’s back garden. He hadn’t seen Georgiana since last night and, to admit the truth, he was more than a little uncertain if she would go through with the marriage. According to Finn, however, he would have Walter Foxworthy to thank if she did.
Yes, he’d thank him, and right after he’d thrash the man to within an inch of his life. Richardson had warned him that the elder Foxworthy was an unpleasant person, and it was appalling that he would stoop to threaten a woman.
Restless and impatient, he started forward. If Georgiana would not come, he would go fetch her. Lockwood clamped a hand over his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
“Patience, Charlie. They’ll be along in a moment. Elise said she wanted to pin some flowers in Mrs. Huffington’s hair.”
His brothers, along with Ethan Travis and Devlin Farrell, grinned at him. All of them had been down this path, and they knew his anxiety. At the sound of soft female voices, they turned toward the chapel door. His sisters-in-law entered and came to stand beside their husbands, and then his own sister, Sarah, entered arm-in-arm with his bride.
Georgiana was stunning in a pale blush-colored creation with a sheer white organza overdress. Fresh soft pink roses set off the glints of sunlight in her hair and she carried a posy of the same innocent flowers. As she came forward, he could read the doubt in her luminous green eyes. Her lips parted and she began to say something, but he gave her a slight shake of his head.