“Fell to her death after discovering her husband’s affair with her lady’s maid. My mother. And the existence of a bastard son. Me. Her own son’s playmate and best friend.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Leo. Surely you know that.”
He shrugged. “I do. I blamed my father for a long time, wishing he hadn’t claimed me. It guaranteed everyone knew of my origins. And even when they didn’t, once finding out, I was tossed aside. Her name was Imogene, if you must know. I was fifteen and thought I loved her.” He pulled her close. “Not anything like you, of course. She spoke with a lovely musical quality which didn’t remind one of a goose.”
She nipped at the skin of his shoulder. “Now you are surrounded by the honking of geese.”
“After Imogene, I made sure everyone knew I was born on the wrong side of the blanket. I took great pains in becoming a bigger rogue than my father. Took the same vows as Tony to end the Barrington line, united as brothers in our hatred for a man we both blamed for ruining our lives with his own selfishness.”
“But Marcus claimed you.”
“And I hated him for it. I was forever torn in two between my father and my loyalty to Tony. A miserable existence, made worse by my own guilt and a girl who rejected me when I was fifteen.”
“You’ve given this an enormous amount of thought,” she whispered.
He shrugged. “I had quite a bit of time on my hands aboard that bloody ship when I wasn’t puking into a bucket. Enough time to examine my faults, of which, thankfully, there are few.” His hand glided over her stomach. “Didn’t you promise to feed me chicken?”
“I did,” she breathed as his fingers slid between her thighs.
“Wonderful. I’d like you to do so while naked.”
22
“William.” Georgina looked up in surprise at her visitor. She put aside her book as her brother-in-law strolled into her parlor. She’d only just settled herself with a book before the fire, Leo having slipped out a short time ago through the kitchen door. He’d insisted on staying the night, rather indiscreetly. Greeting Emily cheerfully when she brought up dinner and causing Stella to nearly swoon when she came to the door. He’d only been wearing a sheet at the time.
I’ll be helping Mrs. Masterson ready herself for bed.
Georgina had thrown a pillow at him.
Now Cook knew as well. Leo had promised to be discreet as he left her house. She didn’t want another scandal. Not that she thought it would matter. Leo had made his intentions toward her very clear.
Abundantly.Repeatedly.The soreness between her thighs was a testament to such clarity of purpose. They would not be apart again. He’d promised.
Now William was here to spoil her newfound happiness.
“I hope you don’t mind my dropping by like this, Georgina.” William shifted on his feet but made no move to sit. He brushed back a wave of sandy hair, glancing out the window.
Thank goodness Leo was no longer stomping about her garden.
“Jacob is back from Baltimore. I stopped by his office to drop off some contracts he’d asked me to review and thought I’d visit you.”
Rutherford Shipping was far closer to the ferry than Georgina’s house, meaning William had intentionally come to pay a call. Incredibly odd. His appearance immediately put her on edge.
“I hope Father’s trip was productive.”
William gave her a shrewd look, probably attempting to discern if Georgina knew about her father’s Baltimore mistress. “By the amount of work”—an edge of bitterness entered the words—“he brought back for me, I would say your father’s trip will reap great benefits for Rutherford Shipping. One of Baltimore’s formerly successful merchants has filed for bankruptcy. Your father has offered to purchase the company for a number far below its estimated value.”
“Yes, Father does adore a good bankruptcy.” Jacob Rutherford was known for swooping in at exactly the right moment to assume the assets of a smaller company, probably one he’d helped put out of business, and making it his own. William’s father, before his death, had once owned such a business. A supplier of stone and granite to the builders of the city.
William didn’t answer, only walked farther into the room, circling around the sofa. He spent a few minutes admiring the odds and ends strewn across her parlor. Studied the spines of the tomes lining her bookcase and pretending great interest.
He couldn’t possibly be enthralled with her collection of gothic novels.
“Well,” Georgina finally said after the silence had stretched on for several minutes. “This is a lovely surprise, regardless of the reason.” Why on earth was William here?
Her eyes slid toward the open door where Emily, the maid, waited. “Tea, if you please, Emily.”
In the short time Georgina had lived here, William had not once visited. Nor had she thought William knew where she lived. He didn’t like her, or her family, save Lilian. If he felt anything at all, it was resentment for the situation Georgina had put him in with Daniel. She’d meant to ask Ben what he’d said to force William to help her, but part of her didn’t want to know.
