Felicity bounded down the stairs, barely turning to address Georgiana. “I don’t give a fig about French silks. Now if it was French brandy…Well, I’d be moving much faster than this.”
Georgiana let out a small huff of laughter. A woman after her own heart. Goodness, she could use a snifter of brandy. Or whisky. Or scotch. She wasn’t picky.
They walked into Lord Bentley’s study, and Felicity went straight to her brother’s sideboard.
Georgiana slowed. “Are we supposed to be in here? Isn’t this the Earl’s private domain?”
Felicity, facing away from Georgiana at the sideboard, lifted her hand above her shoulder and gave a flippant wave. “No, there is no privacy in this family.”
Bangs and clanks and theglug-glug-glugof pouring liquid came from the sideboard. Felicity shoved some things in the pockets of her wrapper, and then turned, two glasses with generous amounts of amber liquid and a cigar in her hands. She grinned, eyebrows lifting mischievously.
“Care for a snifter and a smoke?”
“Would I ever.” Georgiana hurried forward and divested Felicity of one of the snifters, throwing back as much of the contents as she could in one gulp. She choked back the burn, not caring in the least that fire rushed down her throat. Her eyes burned, and her body shuddered as the astringent flavor of alcohol seeped through her. Bloody hell. She had needed that.
Felicity blinked at her. “Well, then. I knew I liked you. But goodness, I think I love you.”
Georgiana giggled and stepped up to the sideboard to top off the whisky in her snifter.
Felicity went to a basket by the hearth and pulled out a large wool blanket. “We’ll be needing this, even with the whisky warming us. It’s cold as tits outside.” She ambled over to the door that was on the wall of windows in Lord Bentley’s study. “This leads to the terrace that spans the entire length of the manor. Come now, my dear nug, time for a smoke and some serious bosom chum chit-chat.” She headed through the door. “Oh, and just bring the decanter. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that in the first place.” Her words faded as she disappeared into the night.
The warmth in Georgiana’s belly from the whisky spread all the way to her heart at the term of endearment her sister had just used for her. She stilled. Sister. She thought of Felicity as her sister. Not sister-in-law. Because after her brief time in this family, with Felicity, it felt more like her true family than her own flesh-and-blood ever had.
Smile curving her lips, she snatched the decanter by the neck and hurried after Felicity. They settled at the balustrade of the terrace, snifters and decanter resting on the large railing. Felicity rifled in her pocket, pulled out a cigar cutter, the engraved silver glinting in the lamplight of the terrace. She clipped the edge and took out a long match.
“Have you ever smoked a cigar?” she asked, striding over to a sconce and lighting the match from the flame.
Georgiana nodded. “Another one of my rebellious indulgences. Liquor, cigars, and assignations.” She affected a superior tone. “I am truly the most virtuous of ladies.”
Felicity toasted the outer binding of the cigar slowly over the match’s flame. “Yes, very demure, very chaste.” She glanced up from her task, her white teeth flashing from her grin. She put the cigar to her lips, rotating it as she took a slow draw. She released a puff of silver vapor into the night, a spicy aroma heavy with cloves and cinnamon filling the air around them. “Like myself, of course.”
Georgiana shook her head with a soft chuckle. It was amazing that this woman in front of her wastheLady Felicity Jennings. The incomparable. The woman who was above reproach. The woman who was nothing but charm and grace, prim and proper. Georgiana snorted.
“What?” Felicity handed the cigar off to Georgiana.
Georgiana snatched it up. “It is just…amazing, really. The difference between who you portray to the ton compared to who you are within these walls.”
A wicked smile spread over Felicity’s face before instantly disappearing. She dipped into a slow curtsy, holding the fabric of her wrapper out wide, gaze downcast. She rose and peeked at Georgiana from beneath her lashes. “I am honored to be graced with your presence, my lord,” she said, her voice breathy and quiet. Her expression was soft, her eyes swimming with innocence.
The sister Georgiana had come to know over the past fortnight was gone. In her place was the epitome of virginal, shy maiden. Goodness, no wonder men fell over sideways trying to get to her. No wonder Lord Wessex had claimed her—even if it was to put her on the side for years. The image she portrayed begged to be corrupted.
Georgiana had never understood the desire men had to claim a woman’s virginity. Frankly, she found it insulting and hypocritical—that a man would find some sort of thrill in being the only touch a woman would ever know, especially when they went and touched everything in a skirt. But looking at Felicity right now…goodness, Georgiana thoughtshemight want to corrupt the chit a bit after that impressive acting.
“Please tell me more about your impressive land holdings,” Felicity murmured. “Pray, do share more about your extensive travels abroad. Please tell me about your magnificent collection of unique antiquities that no one else has seen the like of.”
Georgiana snickered.
“I’m a bloody virtuoso, aren’t I?” Felicity lifted her chin and met Georgiana’s gaze head on, eyes sparkling. She waggled her brows. “I’ve mastered the art of pretense.”
Georgiana toasted Felicity with the cigar. “That you have. I applaud you, dear sister.” She brought the cigar to her lips, and her eyes sank closed as the flavor of earthy tobacco hit her senses, followed by a spicy-sweet after note. She shaped her mouth into a tight ‘O’ and pushed out the smoke, small circles of vapor forming in front of her before fading into the night.
“That’s bloody brilliant,” Felicity said, bouncing on her toes.
Georgiana grinned. A neat trick the workers at one of her father’s textile warehouses had taught her.
Felicity bumped Georgiana with her shoulder and wrapped the blanket around their shoulders. “I like that. Dear sister. I always wanted a sister. Stuck with these exasperating brothers.” She sighed wearily, one only a little sister with two older brothers could make. “I’m quite happy my brother accidentally ruined you. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect addition to our family.”
A somber happiness swirled through Georgiana at Felicity’s words. She couldn’t agree more—she and Felicity were kindred spirits. She just wished her husband shared this woman’s feelings. It was the most painful tease, to be presented with hints and glimmers of the family she had always dreamed of. Falling just short in the area of adoring husband.
