Page 20 of The Duke, My Rescue


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“How was the wedding?” Jean asked, dropping her book. “Lady Emma, you know Lady Georgiana must go with Lord Egerton now. How was it?”

“I’m not going to become a marchioness,” Georgiana said flatly, the realization still leaving her uncomfortable. She bit her lip hard and grabbed the side handle tightly to stifle the urge to climb in and hide. “I’m a duchess now.”

Her maid’s mouth dropped open. “What? With whom? What on earth has taken place? You were gone three-quarters of an hour, My Lady—Your Grace—You must tell us everything!”

“Does that mean I need to bow to you?” Emma asked.

“No, it does not. I’m still trying to understand it myself,” Georgiana admitted. “It all happened so quickly. But the groom didn’t show up, and I think he fleed. No one would tell me anything, and then suddenly I was standing up there with the Duke of Winchester…”

Another loud gasp. “The Duke of Winchester! Goodness gracious, I’ve heard of him. They say he killed his parents. Some say he poisoned ten men in Germany during his travels! Oh, My Lady—Your Grace, how has this happened? You can’t marry him.”

“I’m sure those are rumors.”

“But he’s dangerous! Handsome, to be certain, but surely the devil,” her passionate maid protested.

“The devil?”

Georgiana tugged on her sister’s hand, enveloping it in both of hers. “Don’t listen to her, dear. Jean is only jesting. She reads too many gothic novels at night. I’m going to be just fine, my dear.”

At least, she hoped so. She had to be. Emma needed her. If she had married Benedict, Georgiana had an entire argument set up to explain why her sister needed to live with them. Except the argument had been prepared for someone who was kind and polite. Not… not like Owen.

He didn’t look the sort to give in to tears. He didn’t appear that gentle. No matter his fine looks or his gentlemanly appearance, she was not certain she could convince him to bring her sister with them.

But I must try.

“Duchess?”

She jumped, pulling her sister closer when she heard Owen’s low voice. There was no emotion in it. There was nothing. Turning around, she realized dimly what he had called her. Yes, a title just for her. One she didn’t care for.

“Your Grace,” she sputtered. “I was only…”

His gaze roamed over her for a second and then flicked to her sister at her side. When she heard Emma whimper, Georgiana instinctively blocked her from his view.

“We should be off,” Owen told her, with his hands clasped behind his back.

Just like that, he expects me to fall into line. What am I to him, truly? A servant? A soldier? Anything or nothing?

“I… I shall, yes,” she stammered out. “I only wish to tell my sister farewell before I go.”

He clenched his jaw before nodding. “I shall give you a moment.”

It wasn’t much of a moment if the Duke only took two steps back. He didn’t even take his gaze off her. Georgiana wasted a minute with the expectation he would keep moving back. She nodded, ignoring the unease in her stomach, and mustered a tight smile when she turned back to Emma.

“Please don’t go,” her sister moaned, with tears in her eyes. “You can’t really be leaving me. Don’t you love me?”

“Oh, I do. I do love you, very much,” Georgiana reassured her. She swallowed hard in the hopes no one heard her voice crack. “I shall visit. I promise, Emma. I just don’t know when, but I shall,” she offered.

“Then I shall visit you,” her sister announced. “I know how to be polite, and I can dress in my best dress. It will please you, Georgiana. I’ll even share the cakes. Please?”

Georgiana blinked back tears. “I would love that more than anything.”

“Then can I visit you later today? And tomorrow?”

“I…”

Georgiana licked her lips and looked over her shoulder. She saw Owen studying his pocket watch. It was apparently more important than her. How would that impact their relationship? The freedom that he had said he would give her? She didn’t trust a promise from anyone, including a gentleman, on faith alone.

Surely Benedict would have been easier to manage than Owen. How am I supposed to convince a man with no heart to help me?