Dark Deceptions: A Regency and Medieval Collection of Dark Romances(57)

“I’m sure it was of great importance,” he murmured.

“Yes, I’m sure it was,” she said, her words halting to her own ears. “He did say as much.”

Tony snorted. “You’re entirely too forgiving. It was unpardonable for him to speak to you the way he did.”

Of course, Tony had no idea that Adam’s tone of annoyance was no different from the way she’d been spoken to the better part of her life. Her father’s callous words and stinging rebuke had ceased to hurt a long, long time ago… Adam’s, however, wielded too much power. The kind that could cripple her with a single unkind utterance.

Georgina managed a weak smile. “Are you trying to create trouble for your brother?”

“Oh, I rather suspect my brother doesn’t need my help getting himself into trouble.” He held his elbow out. “Come along.”

Georgina wrinkled her brow. “I’m not a dog, Tony.”

He laughed, the sound deep and husky. The kind of laugh that was going to do funny things to far too many debutantes’ hearts that Season. “I didn’t snap my fingers or pat my leg, Georgie. Come with me,” he tried again, though there was now a note of seriousness in his usually relaxed demeanor. “You must want something before you’re shoved off into Society.”

This time she did laugh. “First a dog, now a ship?”

Tony waggled his brows, his jolliness returning full-fledged. “I never called you a dog, or for that matter a ship.” He held his elbow out again and waited.

Georgina hesitated before placing her arm in his.

“There’s a girl,” he murmured. “I’m sure Adam will return any moment and,” he lowered his lips to her ear, “be madly jealous to discover you’ve run off with his much handsomer, wittier brother.”

“The earl?” she asked teasingly.

He pressed his free hand to his heart. “You wound me! The only accurate thing you’ve said about Nick is that he is, in fact, an earl.”

“And he wouldn’t by the way,” Georgina added. “Be jealous, that is,” she clarified at his puzzled expression. “Adam wouldn’t even notice.” You had to feel something greater than a sense of obligation for a person to truly care about them. The truth of it knifed through her.

Tony gave her fingers a little squeeze. “You truly have no idea that he is madly in love with you.”

Georgina faltered, stumbling against him. “What?” She gave her curls a frantic shake. “No. You are wrong. Adam doesn’t love me.” Oh, she believed he cared for her, had no doubts that he would always protect her, but he did not love her. A person was surely only capable of one true love—and for Adam that had been, and would always be, Grace.

Jealousy gnawed at her heart.

It took her a moment to realize they had stopped in the foyer. Georgina blinked, glancing around as Tony waited for his carriage to be readied. He looked down at her, cuffing her gently under the chin.

“Georgie, my brother would have to either be mad or blind not to love you. And you’d have to be mad or blind to realize that he’s not mad or blind.”

She grinned up at him.

“Now come, let us go spend some of your husband’s money.”

Georgina allowed him to pull her along, allowed her heart to soar on the hope that maybe, just maybe, Adam did love her after all.





Fox and Hunter have a friend within The Brethren of the Lords.



Signed,

A Loyal British subject





Chapter 17




Tony wrinkled his brow and turned his bemused expression from the crumbly fa?ade of the storefront to Georgina. “A bookshop?”

Georgina smiled. “Come, Tony. It is not as though I’ve dragged you off to Sunday mass. I like to read,” she added for good measure.

Tony scratched the top of his head. “Read?”

She waggled her brows at him. “You know. Books?”

“Hmph.” He glanced longingly across the street.

Georgina followed his gaze to the men’s shop. He eyed it like a young lady picking through an assortment of satin and silk fabrics.

She nudged him with her elbow. “Go.”

His face flushed a dull red. “Go where?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s only across the street. I won’t leave this shop,” she promised.

His lips tilted down in a boyish frown. “My brother will have my head—”

“Your brother won’t know. Now go.”

He grinned. “I’ve got to find a woman like you. Sweet, understanding—”

She laughed. “Go!”

Georgina entered the bookshop. She wrinkled her nose at the overwhelming scent of aged books.

“Hullo, miss. Is there anything I might help you find?”

She spun around to face the bookkeeper. Bushy, white, wizened brows stood out on the bald man’s face. He smiled at her, which set his fleshy jowls to jiggling.

“Actually, yes. I am looking for a book.” He paused, turning back to face her. She tried to recall the name. “It is a collection of art.” She realized even as she said it that her words wouldn’t be much help.

The old shopkeeper scratched his head. “Uh…”