Plans started churning in her mind. All she would need to do was win over every servant, so her husband was forced to see her.
“You’re a very generous man to help me,” Georgiana told the gardener. “Davies, isn’t it? What an excellent gardener you must be. Where shall we begin this tour?”
Davies ducked his head, but she saw a flush creep up his face quickly.
She inwardly let out a small cry of victory.
“Right this way, Your Grace.”
“Thank you,” she said while walking through the open door.
Perhaps the Duke doesn’t wish for me to get to know him. But he cannot stop me. Now, let’s see this greenhouse.
CHAPTER14
“No visitors this morning?”
Looking up from where Wentworth was helping him put on his traveling cloak the following morning, Owen spared only a glance at Georgiana.
He found it better that way. If he got too good a look at her, it would be harder to take his eyes off her. What sort of grown duke would he be to be stuck on her skirts, staring at a woman who was none other than his wife? It was ridiculous. Preposterous.
“No visitors.”
There was the familiar sound of her footsteps crossing the front hall. He found the sound annoying as it was comforting. Tall and confident, she didn’t try to tip-toe or run. Rather, she glided like a queen across the rug, knowing she would catch her prey.
Which is none other than me.
“You’re going out for more than a ride, aren’t you?”
“You’re perceptive.”
“And you’re avoiding the question.”
Hearing her tone lighten, he glanced up to see her smirking. It made him freeze for a second. That mouth of hers was very expressive.
Feeling Wentworth’s brush against his shoulders, Owen pulled himself together as Georgiana added, “Where are you off to today? Might I join you?”
Resisting the urge to scoff, Owen shook his head. “I’m off to Liencaster. My country seat,” he added when she furrowed her brow in confusion.
“Oh. I didn’t know…” she trailed off. Just as he was wondering if he had stunned her into silence, she asked, “And you’re quite certain I’m not able to join you on this journey? Liencaster is a two-day ride.”
He straightened. “You know it?”
“I’m an earl’s daughter,” she reminded him. “I should like to offer any aid I can. Are you packed for the journey? Perhaps the servants and I can arrange for a carriage so––”
“It’s two days by carriage, but I can reach home tonight if I leave now,” he corrected her. “I should be on my way.”
Her footsteps followed him to the door. “Perhaps I shall join you in a few days’ time, then,” Georgiana said with more optimism than he’d ever felt. “I should like to see the country estate. We could take our morning rides together, and perhaps picnic when you have a spare moment.”
“I don’t have any spare moments.”
Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, “Is this because of the greenhouse?”
Of course, she would bring that up.This woman insists on having everything her way. I have never known anyone so insistent, so stubborn. Have I not given her enough that she cannot allow me space alone to breathe?
As Owen opened his mouth, he saw the quick blinking of her eyes that gave way to a secret she had yet to tell him. Between those shutters, he saw the vulnerability. She bit her lip, and that only confirmed for him that she was worried.
Benedict joked once that he didn’t have a heart. For a while, it gave Owen hope. Being free of pain was all he desired. Wasn’t that what peace meant?
