If it had been a snake, she’d have not shown more wariness of it. “Cake?”
“And babies.”
She took his hand, and he tried not to notice the sliver of skin between the white buttoned cuff of her glove and the hem of her long red sleeve. A stripe ofherbetween velvet and cotton. Softer than both? He squeezed his hand and ignored the question, ignored the odd desire to strip his glove from his own hand and rub the pad of his thumb across the sliver of her skin. He dragged her into the crowd, her hand squeezing his own, as if it were a lifeline.
Josiah’s nephew Thomas was closest, and they swept in withoohsandaahs, but just as Georgiana held out her arms for the little imp, a shadow stepped before them. No, a large and hulking body.
“Xavier,” Josiah said.
“We need to speak.” His brother never asked. Only ordered.
“Can it wait?”
“Absolutely not.”
Josiah sighed. Usually, he’d do as he pleased, making Xavier red in the face, but if it was estate business, he’d need to know, and he wanted to know now. This house party was proof of his worth, the culmination of everything he valued most—work and family—repairing the damage that neglect could cause so easily. He’d been working for all this, and he’d not let any detail fall through his fingers.
He looked to Georgiana with an apologetic half grin. “Stay here. Save a baby for me.”
Her face smooshed up. “I’ll do as I please, Mr. Evans.” She turned with an arched brow to Josiah’s brother. Any other chit would cower under Xavier’s glare. Naturally, Georgiana did not. “Lord Flint, will you attempt to command me about, too?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Xavier grumbled, wrapping an arm around Josiah’s shoulders as he reached for his infant with the other. He led both baby and brother into the hallway.
“Bea’s clout needs changing,” Xavier said, releasing Josiah.
They often discussed estate matters in locations other than the study. Xavier did not like to sit still, and Josiah would not sit unless he had to. They reached the nursery soon enough, and Xavier handed Bea to the nurse, who soon handed the baby back in a less odiferous state. Xavier took her to the large thick rug near the fire and sat her down, joined her, and waved a wooden toy that resembled a horse in front of her, singing off key.
“Join us, Jos.” He didn’t even look up.
Josiah sat cross-legged on the other side of Bea who giggled up at him. He tapped her nose. “What’s this about, Brother?”
“Tell me about Lady Georgiana.”
“As I’ve told you repeatedly, there is nothing to tell. We have an… arrangement, I suppose, to ward off the unwanted attentions of fortune hunters and marriageable misses. That’s it.”
“Daft is what it is. Have you debauched her?”
“No! Hell, Xav. No.” And what an insinuation. “I don’t debauch innocents! And I’m rather insulted you think I would.”
“Father would not mind if you did.”
“Butyou’drip me limb from limb, then force me to marry the woman. And not marrying is the entire purpose of this charade.”
“Good.” He fell to his back, and Bea giggled, immediately crawling atop him. “I didn’t truly think you had. But I like to be thorough.”
Josiah joined him, back to the rug, staring up at the ceiling. “Are we done with the interrogation?”
“No. Have youthoughtabout sleeping with her?”
He opened his mouth to say no, but the word would not come. What did come was a thousand visions of wonton delights, honey-gold hair streaming down a lithe back, his name on her soft, pink lips, her usually sharp tongue applied to his neck. He shivered.
“What if you did marry her? Sarah seems to think the two of you would suit.”
“She’s my friend, Xav. Nothing more.” He closed his eyes to press back the flood of visions. “She’s asked for my help, and I will give it. I’ve no intention to wed.”
“Why not?”
“I’m too busy. I’ve asked you if I can take on the care of your northern estate, and—”
