He twisted around so quickly that he got a crick in his neck. “Georgiana.”
Striding forward, his wife smiled. “I’m so glad you’re joining me for supper this evening. Here, allow me.”
Before he could ask what she meant, Owen watched her reach up to tuck the stray curl behind his ear. There was her touch on his face again. Just a moment, and yet he still forgot to breathe.
The pounding in his heart made him lightheaded. Steeling himself, he tried to think of something to say when his wife lowered her hand.
“How was your day?”
She looked lovely. Her hair had been pinned up atop her head and was held back with jeweled pins of some sort. It showed off her long neck. He hadn’t thought of necks being beautiful until now. Then she also wore a fine gown that accentuated her best features. He could hardly take his eyes off her while he tried to remember how to answer her question.
“Futile.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”
Owen opened his mouth to explain his predicament and then caught himself just in time. He couldn’t very well tell her why he hadn’t been able to work. That would only embarrass them both.
“Nothing,” he said at last. “It wasn’t a bother. Erm, and you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. How was your day?”
A sheepish smile touched her lips. “Oh, yes. My day. It was pleasant, thank you.” Georgiana’s gaze roamed over him with a level of interest that told him something was on her mind. He waited for her to speak. Lately, she had proven she was more than willing to say whatever was on her mind. So he was surprised when she asked, “Shall we go in for supper?”
Glancing down, he saw her extend her hand. He hurriedly lifted his arm and tried not to feel awkward. “Ah, yes. Certainly.”
It was impossible to recall the last time he had escorted someone to supper. Had he ever had reason to do so?
And yet as she walked alongside him, her hand in the crook of his arm, Owen had the most bizarre sensation that this was exactly where he was meant to be. Standing beside Georgiana, tall and striking, felt familiar and safe and encouraging.
He might have had little training in these particular manners, but he remembered enough to help Georgiana to her seat and then take his own. They were seated across from one another at one end of the table.
Has this room changed at all? I don’t come in here much either. Actually, I don’t even know if I have been in every room of this house. How strange that is. But it is true, I never meant to stay here long. I wonder if I should change that. My plans to move back to the country have hardly been a marked priority as of late.
“Owen?”
“Beg your pardon?” Jerking his eyes back to his wife, he tried to focus. He couldn’t seem to find the proper balance between not staring at her and still looking her way.
A smile slowly tugged at her lips. “Oh, it’s nothing. I didn’t mean to intrude on your thoughts.”
“You weren’t. I was merely studying the room. It doesn’t look as though it has been redecorated at this point. But you were speaking, weren’t you? What did you say?”
“I was only asking about… well, the food. It’s a silly subject, isn’t it? Instead, I can answer your question. I haven’t redecorated this dining room. None of my ideas seem quite right for it. Perhaps next year I’ll have some inspiration,” she added with a small sigh.
He nodded when his drink was poured. “If you like it enough, then you can leave it as is. It’s a fine room.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I haven’t spent a lot of time in here,” Owen responded hesitantly.
The last time he had been here, he had stomped right out of the room to avoid her. He glanced her away again and wondered if she remembered. Then he wondered if that bothered her.
“But I suppose I like it.”
She straightened in her seat. “Then I won’t redecorate it.”
Stiffening, he scrambled to think. “No. You don’t have to do that for me—that’s not what I was saying.”
