Lord Sebastian's Secret (The Duke's Sons #3)(13)

Her mother’s limpid blue eyes met hers. “We are both extremely interested in the freedom to pursue our own interests,” she replied. “And if that sounds like a small thing, let me assure you it is not. What would I do with a husband who expected me to organize hunt balls and embroider slippers and pour tea for a pack of brainless gossips?”

Georgina couldn’t imagine. And then she could. It wasn’t a pretty picture.

“We share mutual respect,” her mother continued. “Which is critical, my dear. Believe me. We also have you children. There’s no connection stronger than that.”

This didn’t seem quite enough, though Georgina didn’t say so.

“And of course there’s physical attraction. That side of things is quite important, though it’s never talked about. Which is silly, is it not? Such a very pleasant activity, too.”

Georgina blinked. She felt a blush spread over her cheeks. She was getting more than she’d bargained for. She wasn’t sorry, but the conversation was moving into…uncharted territory.

“I take it you enjoyed kissing in the shrubbery?” continued her mother. At Georgina’s wince, she nodded. “Yes, Hilda needs to be kept busier. I shall mention it to Joanna.” With a steady gaze, she waited for an answer.

Georgina swallowed. “Yes, Mama,” she murmured.

“Good,” was the robust reply. “He’s quite a handsome fellow, but pretty men can be as clumsy as ugly ones. More, I believe, as they don’t have to try so hard to attract.” She fixed Georgina with a steady gaze. “Make certain you keep on enjoying it, my dear. All of it. And if you aren’t, say so, and urge him to correct the situation. Then you’ll be fine.” With a brisk nod to cap these startling pronouncements, she returned to her letter.

Georgina appreciated the respite, because she didn’t know how to reply. She was glad her mother approved of Sebastian. Indeed, she hadn’t known how important that blessing was until she had it. As for her advice, well, that was fascinating and astonishing and welcome and embarrassing all at once.

Her thoughts shifted back to the dining room. What was Sebastian thinking now that he had, no doubt, heard all about her father’s latest start? She was used to Papa and loved him, and she’d found it exceedingly strange.

“He should enjoy it, too,” her mother said. “But men generally do. So people say, anyway.”

“I beg your pardon, Mama?” For a confused moment, Georgina imagined she was speaking of Papa.

“Your Sebastian. Ask him what he likes. It adds quite a delicious dimension.”

Beyond the amazement at this new side of her mother, Georgina found her suggestion both daunting and enticing. It opened up a thrilling vista of pleasures beyond kisses. But would she dare ask?

“You should go and extricate him from Alfred’s clutches,” her mother added absently. “Ah.” Apparently struck by a thought, she bent to scribble a sentence on her page.

Georgina realized that she’d been governed by the social strictures laid down by her grandmother in London. They were practically the only set of rules she possessed. But as her mother had made clear, such scruples hardly applied here. Neither of her parents were much constrained by convention. She rose. “I think I will.”

“Yes, dear” was the vague reply.

With a mixture of regret and relief, Georgina saw that Mama had reverted to her customary manner. The sense of distance—of being only half heard—was more familiar, and thus more comfortable. But it was melancholy, too. Still, Georgina left her mother with a sense that she had a new resource at hand. Who knew what other unexpected gifts might emerge?





Three


In the dining room, Sebastian had lost the thread of the conversation some sentences back and was unlikely to ever pick it up again. Georgina’s father and his Indian guest had dropped into a discussion peppered with foreign words and unfamiliar ideas. Sebastian longed to escape, but he didn’t want to offend his newly met future father-in-law. So when the door opened to reveal Georgina, he’d never been gladder to see anyone.

“I haven’t managed the full envisioning as yet,” the marquess was saying as she approached the table. “Not as such.”

“You must try harder to clear your mind during the meditation process,” Mr. Mitra replied.

“Well, but I have a great many thoughts, you see,” the other man replied with every sign of pride.

“Hello, Papa,” said Georgina. “I’m going to take Sebastian away now.”

Rising, Sebastian worried that the marquess would object, or protest this breach of convention, but his host merely waved them off with a casual “Very well, my dear.”

Sebastian followed his fiancée’s slender figure out into the corridor and along it to another. To his delight, he discovered they were headed not to the drawing room but into a small parlor at the end of the wing.

“I hope you don’t mind being taken from your wine,” Georgina said as she lit a branch of candles from the one she was carrying.

“Not in the least. Matter of fact, I was dashed happy for the rescue. My head was spinning from the…discussion.”

“I hope Papa didn’t bore you,” she said without turning from her task.

Worried that he’d seemed to be criticizing her father, Sebastian said, “No, no. I mean, I didn’t understand half of what he said. I’m too thick. But…” He forgot whatever he was going to add when she turned and looked up at him. In the soft light, her hair gleamed golden, and her eyes were hooded and mysterious. She was so lovely it took his breath away.