Exhaling, she accepted it. There weren’t many occasions where they retired to their chambers at the same time. She knew he often stayed up late. It was his study, she supposed, where he spent that time, pouring over letters and numbers and such.
He should have more pleasure than that. Even a man of his station must enjoy himself. I suppose he finds pleasure with those plants. It isn’t as though pleasure is to be found at balls.
She pursed her lips. She would never forget that man. How aggravating the Viscount had been! Even now she remembered the way he had touched her. The way he had talked to her.
“Georgiana?”
Hearing her husband’s soft murmur, she turned to her left, where he had been a moment ago. Except he wasn’t there. Owen was three steps ahead of her, turning around to her since she hadn’t kept up with him on the stairs.
“Oh.”
He started back at her. “Are you well?”
“I think so.” Georgiana shook her head. “I’m well. Thank you for asking. I was only thinking…”
“Don’t,” he uttered hoarsely. She tilted her head up to study him. “Not of him. He doesn’t deserve your attention or your time. He never did. Think of him no more.”
Her lips twitched. “You enjoy giving orders, don’t you?”
Nodding slowly, he said, “I do. And I expect you to obey these ones to the letter.”
“Very well, Your Grace.”
She meant to tease him, but her voice was lower than it had been a moment ago. The hallway was dark. She noted their nearness and paused to catch her breath. Still, it did nothing to slow her heartbeat.
Maybe he could kiss her. Maybe he would. She licked her lips as she noted just how close her husband was to her. Wasn’t it time they kissed?
The incident at the library doesn’t count. We were so close. I thought his lips nearly touched mine, but not really. Not enough. We have been married for weeks. Over a month, at least, and still we haven’t properly kissed. It might be a marriage of convenience, but surely… surely we can do something so innocent as a kiss.
Georgiana found herself beginning to slowly lean forward to be closer to her husband. Just as she took a small step that brought her slipper right in front of his shoe, however, he moved away. She froze and watched in consternation. He didn’t want to kiss her. He had made that clear in the past, and she should have known better.
And yet her stomach clenched. There was the sudden fear that Owen would disappear.
He didn’t.
Thank the heavens.
Georgiana swallowed loudly in the quiet as she watched him stop in the hallway. He had gone to her door. He used his free hand to push it open before turning back to her, waiting.
She wondered if he was anxious to be free of her. Did he care? He must after the way he behaved at the ball. She’d heard his threats to the Viscount. Owen had been so ready to fight for her, to protect her.
Though she hadn’t meant to stay close enough to hear their conversation, she hadn’t been able to go far. It hadn’t felt right to return to the ball. The only place she had felt safe then––now, even––was at his side.
That was why she made no complaints when she walked toward him yet again. This time, she suppressed the urge to kiss him. She would behave herself and stop wishing for anything more.
Just being friends is more than I could have wished for after everything that has happened. We can manage in each other’s presence without complaint. That has to be blessing enough.
She managed a slight nod without being embarrassed as she turned toward her door.
Owen’s breath caught. She thought she noticed the shadows dancing on the door beside her, flickering from his breathing.
She nearly stumbled when he spoke softly, “Georgiana…”
How does he say my name like that? Like he needs me? Like I matter to him?
Forcing herself to turn around, she found him towering over her. Candlelight flickered on his face. The shadows only accentuated his handsome features.
“Yes?” She tried hard to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
