But he spoke like a normal human being with his siblings. Her parents made him flustered, but he still managed relatively well. Yet with her—Georgiana? She feared he was going to have a fit of the vapors. She had thought that was something that only pertained to females, but now she wasn’t so sure. Perhaps she should start carrying smelling salts on her person to be safe. Just in case her future-husband fainted.
Georgiana squared her shoulders. Enough spying and sleuthing. They were going to have a conversation finally. With words. She was determined. She wouldn’t take no—or whatever he managed to gurgle—for an answer. She put the friendliest, most approachable smile she could on her face, and entered his study.
“Hullo, Mr. Jennings.” She stopped just inside the threshold, her lavender skirts fluttering around her, the familiar scent of ink and parchment…and something woodsy greeting her nose. “I was hoping we might become better acquainted.”
She had chosen the lavender dress, despite her mother’s objection because—gasp—how could one wear lavender in winter? But she thought it brought out her eyes, and it made her feel pretty. And one was supposed to look pretty for their husband, were they not? But with the way her fiancé was staring at her—like she had left off her dress altogether—perhaps that hadn’t been the best tactic. Perhaps she should have donned a sack. Over her head.
“Divine,” he breathed, his quill stilling, gaze roving over her.
She blinked. Then glanced around the room. Had that been directed toward her? She must have misheard, because it sounded like her fiancé just called her—
“Another time!” He abruptly jumped up, and she jumped back.
She opened and closed her mouth, but her mind couldn’t even form words, let alone her mouth. What did one do when their betrothed unexpectedly shouted at them?
He cleared his throat. “A-apologies. I meant to say we can speak another time. I am quite pressing with occupied matters.”
She cocked her head. His eyes widened briefly when what he said finally registered.
“Occupied with p-pressing matters,” he said in a garbled voice. “Things of import.” He waved flippantly and let out an awkward, strained laugh that ended in a wheeze. “Cannot afford to waste time on inconsequential chatter.” He sent her a tense smile, one without teeth and without a touch of warmth. Then sat and picked back up his quill, effectively dismissing her.
She backed out of his study, jaw slack, his words ringing through her brain.
Things of import. Not her.
Inconsequential. Her.
When the loose-limbed shock finally faded, all that remained was an all-too-familiar hurt.She dragged her feet back to her room, tail between her legs.Blast and damn. Why did she think ofthatmetaphor? Because it was only an aching reminder that there would be no wagging tail to greet her in her chamber. With Bernie gone, she was well and truly alone.
That hope bubbling in her chest earlier? Popped.
6
Georgiana
Georgiana’scheeksachedfromthe strain of keeping the false smile she’d donned since she awoke that morning plastered on her face. But today was an especially hard day, and keeping up the facade of happiness while surrounded by Lady Bentley, Lady Felicity, and Mother in the Jennings family library was becoming an increasingly arduous task.
In general, Georgiana was a positive person. She always sought out the bright and shiny aspects of life. If she didn’t—well, that was a dire spiral to spin down. Even in the darkest, dirtiest depths of London, the sun broke through the coal-laden haze, and flowers found a way to push their way through the cobblestones. So, she chose to bask in the sunshine and pick the scraggly flowers.
But some days the melancholy got the better of Georgiana. She feared today was to be one of those days. She desperately wanted to curl up in bed with her Bernie. He had made everything brighter, bearable. The band around her chest tightened.
Her mother set down her teacup with a soft clatter on the tea tray laid out before them and turned to Lady Bentley, seated opposite on a matching settee. “With all this thrilling marriage news, I must inquire: Is Lord Bentley seeking a bride for himself?”
Georgiana fought an eye roll.Subtle, Mother.
Lady Bentley smiled politely. “Not at the moment. I am sure if the right person comes along my Felix will decide to settle down.”
Mother eased back, content as a cat who’d found the cream. Georgiana knew exactly what her mother was thinking. Opportunity. If Lord Bentley never took a wife, Mr. Jennings, who just so happened to be Georgiana’s betrothed, was next in line. Which meant Georgiana could one day become the next Lady Bentley and birth the heir to the earldom. Mother would gain everything she’d so ruthlessly sought, had always prioritized over her own daughter’s well-being. No wonder her mother had wasted no time insisting on a wedding.
Georgiana’s stare landed on Lady Felicity. The young woman, near in age to Georgiana, absently traced the beveled edges of one of the diamond-paned windows, staring out at her family’s snow-covered estate. She turned, her amber plait swinging over her shoulder, and their gazes collided.
Lady Felicity smiled warmly and beckoned Georgiana with a wave. “Miss Georgiana, would you join me?”
Georgiana smoothed her soft-blush skirts and stood, forcing her lips to tilt up. Perhaps getting to know her soon-to-be sister-in-law would be the perfect distraction from her glum mood. She usually would seek out some thrill, approach one of the young, eager dockworkers of her father’s, perhaps the strapping lad of the meat pie costermonger—and get herself the most delicious kidney pie in all of London while she was at it. Those distractions wouldn’t be an option for her now. And it didn’t appear as though she’d be receiving anydistractionfrom Mr. Jennings since he didn’t want to waste any of his time with her.
“How are you fairing, Georgiana? You don’t mind if I call you Georgiana, do you? We are to be sisters, after all. You seemed a bit forlorn. I know all about fake smiles. I’m quite adept at them, and yours was not very convincing, I’m sorry to say. You can call me Felicity.”
Georgiana blinked. That had been quite a lot of words.
