“Don’t,” he said in a strangled voice.
But Georgiana just raised her voice. “Ever since Mother passed, you have hardly tried to connect with us. You can barely look at Emma. My sister and I deserve better—you and I both know it.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but she pressed on.
“I will sign the contract. I will marry. I will do what I must to truly protect Emma. And you, Father, had better give her the very best care.”
She wasn’t very experienced in giving threats, so it would have to do.
Her father hovered, staring her down as she stepped forward to sign the contract. They might have both been equally stubborn, but she knew that he held the power. For now, at least.
It’s the only way I can help Emma. For now, at least. I will look for another way to be there for her when I can. I must. The fight isn’t over yet.
With that, the papers were signed.
“Georgiana––”
She strode out of the room without looking back.
It didn’t surprise her when her father let her go. There had been few arguments between them that lasted this long. Besides, he won. What more could he want?
Striding down the hall, Georgiana tried to think. Her heart hammered in her chest, and the weight in her stomach had yet to ease up.
A week, he said. I will get married next Thursday.
“There you are!” Emma scampered around the stairs with a hopeful smile. “It’s not too late, is it? Can we still go riding in the park?”
Horses were the last thing on Georgiana’s mind. Struggling to look up, she blinked several times. She looked at her sister, only to feel tears welling up in her eyes.
Could she really leave Emma, even if it would keep her safe? Would Emma really be safe here?
“Georgiana?” Jean asked, following behind Emma.
“I’m not feeling well,” Georgiana forced out. She ducked her head, veering around them toward the stairs. “Why don’t you two enjoy the fresh air and take a stroll? Perhaps we will ride this evening. I think I need to lie down.”
Her maid murmured something to Emma before asking, “Why don’t I fetch you some tea?”
But Georgiana shook her head. Up the stairs, she went without her sister and maid. “Enjoy the stroll. I need to rest. Some time alone would do me well, that’s all.”
She didn’t linger for them to make any further suggestions.
Hurrying up to her room, Georgiana locked the door before collapsing on her bed. The tears couldn’t stay hidden any longer. They spilled down her cheeks, soaking the pillow she clasped to her chest. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to tell herself this was for the best.
Anything for Emma. Perhaps marrying Lord Egerton will not be so awful. At least, I suppose, it isn’t the Duke.
CHAPTER4
Owen gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw.
There was a tempest raging within as he stared at the not-so-innocent building before him. Never interested in the country, his uncle had forced his family to stay in London all year round. It was a stately house of three floors.
Gripping his walking stick, Owen tried to breathe through the nausea.
Just looking at this place was enough to make him ill. A grown man brought down by a simple house. He ground his teeth harder, willing the ground to consume him. He was too strong a man, too mighty a duke, to allow an old house to rattle him.
White pillars framed the front door. A few trees lined the path from the gate before him up to the house.
It looks just like it always did all those years ago. I hate how it still towers over me, taunting me. I know exactly what happened within those walls. The bruises, the breaking, the shouting. I remember everything.