“I am topretendto be your countess?” Incredulity rose her voice an octave. “Have you taken leave of your senses, my lord?”
The earl lowered his head, brushed his mouth slowly, deliberately across hers with devilish tenderness. “I’ll generously allow thefauxmarriage, given the wondrous benefits.”
“Benefits?There is naught but ruination.”
Good heavens, she sounded like a squeaking rat.
A carnal smile touched his mouth. “Have you forgotten the consummation of our wedding night so soon, my sweet? Surely you did not think one night of hot fucking would suffice a gentleman of my carnal desires and a lady of your passion?”
Her throat dried, and her belly went frightfully hot. Oh, for heaven’s sake. Despite the heat climbing into her cheeks, she held his provoking gaze. “You bloody libertine,” she murmured, blushing at how husky and sensual she sounded. “I should plant you a facer.”
He laughed, a low sound that might have warmed her if it hadn’t infuriated her.
“Even your ferocity is endearing.”
His gaze lowered to her mouth, his desire to kiss her a tangible thing. When he dipped his head, she did not move away but held herself still under his steady regard. The tightening of her belly was equal parts anticipation and nervousness.
“I am merely continuing the game you started, wife.”
“This is different. The world cannot think I am a countess.”
“The world?” he said bitingly. “I assure you, this little hidden piece of it will hardly make any ripple, and we will keep up our ruse only in Crandell, hmm?”
“Manners says I should thank you for what you did for Lizzie. But nothing is ever given for free,” Georgianna said. “Surely it is not a pretend wife that you seek. There are no true benefits to you, my lord.”
His chuckle warmed her lips, and she jerkily stepped back.
“What I want,wife—”
She put a hand over his mouth. “Don’t you dare say it, my lord.”
He licked her palm, and she dropped her hand as if burned. Oh God, he was too outrageous, and not a gentleman she could handle. She became so aware of the small distance between their bodies. In his arms, she’d found a hidden part of herself, and God help her wanton heart, she wanted to feel that excitement again.
Run,the practical part of her cried, yet she stepped closer to his masculine heat, wanting to walk that edge of madness once again. It was the cool watchfulness in his gaze that thankfully brought Georgianna to her senses. She took a measured step away from him, dipped into a curtsy, and hurried off, painfully aware of the heaviness of his stare on her shoulders.
She slipped inside the ball without catching the attention of anyone, for they were all keenly listening to their host announce the engagement of his son to Miss Elizabeth Heyford. There were a few startled gasps, then cries of congratulations and well-wishes.
Georgianna snagged a glass of champagne from a passing footman and cheered along with those gathered.
“Is she really a countess?”
“It cannot be believed! Surely there is some mischief afoot.”
A tinkling laugh accompanied that whisper.
“Have you seen the earl? He would never deign to lower himself to marry one of the Heyford sisters. I am sure there is some sort of misunderstanding. Even Mr. Johnson had ended their attachment because of her inferior consequences, how dare we believe Miss Heyford would be married to an earl and society is not in an uproar?”
Despite Lizzie smiling and accepting those who surged forward to offer their felicity, from the flicker of wariness in her gaze, she had overheard some of the whispers.
Oh, Lizzie, do please ignore them.
Swallowing her champagne in a quick gulp, Georgianna set her glass down, slipped from the ballroom, and made her way toward the woodlands. Thankfully, the Hayles’ manor was not so far from their humble abode, yet still it took her more than thirty minutes through the shortened path to reach home.
The younger girls were abed, and she thanked Mrs. Woods for overseeing their care before she trudged upstairs to her chamber. Georgianna removed her boots and clothes, climbing onto the sheets clad only in her stockings. Pressing her face onto the pillows, she allowed her shoulders to shake with her sobs, her heart squeezing with unfathomable longings for that wretched earl.
Why can I not root you from my heart and thoughts?
Chapter Eighteen
