Lord Sebastian's Secret (The Duke's Sons #3)(72)

“I’ve been released from imprisonment. I assured Mama of my sincere repentance.”

Randolph muttered something very like “Hah!”

“She sent me to find you,” Hilda added.

Georgina and Sebastian exchanged a fleeting, congratulatory look. “Here I am,” they said at the same moment, then laughed in unison.

This was how it would be when they were married, Georgina thought. They’d manage all sorts of matters together, in harmony. A lifetime of understanding glances lay ahead of her. Her spirits soared as she saw how love made it all easy. “Come along then,” she said to her sister. She was ready to immerse herself in wedding details now, right after she had a serious conversation with Hilda.





Sixteen


As the family sat at dinner the following evening, Georgina looked around the table with warm contentment. It all looked so…normal. Mentally comparing it to the first night of Sebastian’s visit, she felt a glow of achievement. The feeling was entirely different, and she’d accomplished most of the change herself. Hilda, taxed with Georgina’s knowledge of her blackmail attempt, had recanted and even apologized to Randolph. Now, she looked almost demure on the other side of the board. Sebastian said that his brother had laughed about the incident, in the end.

Papa had been all amiable courtesy since their “discussion,” and her mother had taken the bit between her teeth to manage the coming festivities. Emma was on her best behavior. Mr. Mitra remained a dignified, interesting guest. Georgina had begun to anticipate the Greshams’ arrival, not only because it meant her wedding, but as a source of enjoyment, too.

It was true that Joanna Byngham remained deeply affected by her experience during Mr. Mitra’s meditation. She’d sewn loose, flowing sleeves onto all her gowns, so long that they trailed along the floor as she moved, and had begun dressing her hair in a tall, braided crown. She talked more like a character from a gothic novel now than the sensible governess Georgina had known for fifteen years. She thought that even Papa was beginning to find it a little wearisome, though he clearly savored many of her pronouncements. They gave him opportunities to gaze at his Indian visitor with raised eyebrows, as if to say, “You see that I was correct.” Mr. Mitra exhibited a particularly elegant version of pained endurance on these occasions.

Perhaps Joanna could be sent on a research mission, Georgina thought. She traveled to special library collections on occasion to gather information for Papa. Georgina knew the governess loved those trips. She would speak to her father about it.

As she ran her eyes down the length of the table, Georgina met Sebastian’s admiring blue gaze and returned his smile. She loved him. He loved her. She’d never been so happy.

At that very moment, as if she’d somehow sensed Georgina’s contentment, Joanna rose from her chair and spread her arms out at her sides, looking rather like an oversized bat. “It is imperative that I speak,” she said.

All the others gazed at her. Papa sat back as if a play was about to begin. Hilda grinned. Mr. Mitra bowed his head and murmured something. Georgina rather hoped it was an incantation to impose silence.

“A spirit has come to me in dreams,” Joanna intoned. “Long had it searched for one who could hear its tale. As the centuries passed, it nearly despaired, and then my senses were opened.” She waved her arms so that her long sleeves fluttered. “To the talents and duties of my ancient heritage. A ritual must be held, as soon as may be, or doom will fall upon this family, even unto a thousand years.”

“Oh, Joanna,” said Georgina. She had a sudden urge to rest her forehead on the tabletop.

“I’ve had enough of this nonsense—” began her mother.

“Come, come, let us listen to what she has to say,” Georgina’s father insisted. He looked more than ever like a man ready to be entertained.

Hilda giggled.

“You propose to add a new family member.” Joanna swiveled to point at Sebastian.

Georgina’s beloved rocked back as if Joanna had actually poked him with her extended finger. On the other side of the table, Randolph stared like a man who couldn’t tear his eyes away from a riveting spectacle.

“He must be woven into the threads of your regal bloodline,” Joanna continued. She swiveled to point at Georgina’s father. “By you, my lord.”

Georgina could see that Papa liked that. His penchant for drama had been thwarted by her intervention, and this proposal played right into his current obsession.

“If he is not, all will fail. The marriage will sour, the castle will fall, the…”

“Joanna!” Georgina cried. “Stop this at once. How dare you say that about my marriage?”

Her old governess crossed her arms over her chest and assumed a regretful expression. “It pains me to do so, Lady Georgina. But the sacred charge of a priestess outweighs all other considerations.”

“You are not a priestess!”

“I was,” the other woman chanted. “And am. And shall ever be. It was shown to me in the temporal travels our guest guided.” She turned to Mitra and bent her head as if acknowledging a peer.

Mr. Mitra rose with fierce grace. “Begging your pardons, one and all, but I must protest. This is not correct. Miss Byngham has allowed her imagination to…overwhelm her understanding. I see no connection here to my studies or methods. I-I repudiate it.” Putting his palms together, he bowed briefly and walked out.