“I beg your pardon?” she asked, peering at him in shock.
He briefly bowed, most charmingly. “Miss Heyford, the gentleman I work for would pay you a fortune should you choose to work for him.”
For a long moment, she had no notion of what to say. “This job would be in America?”
“At the Willard’s City Hotel in Washington, a place of quality that embodies the finest luxury experience.”
She smiled. “This is highly unexpected. I never envisioned leaving England shores.” Or her family. Yet the desperate desire to travel and explore the world opened inside her. There she could learn so many new foods, including new experiences.
Mr. Gervase retrieved a card from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. “Please, do consider it, Miss Heyford.”
Georgianna nodded, and he bowed before melting into the small crowd to mingle.
The earl’s grandmother walked over to her, waving an imperious hand to capture Georgianna’s attention. “I want you to create another lavish and exotic fare in the vein of this birthday meal, Miss Heyford.”
Pride burst in Georgianna’s chest, and she wanted to scream her delight. “It would be my honor, your ladyship.”
“It is a most momentous occasion, and the presented table should show it.” Her ladyship’s eyes gleamed with an almost cunning light. “Is there any special food that is designed for engagement announcements?”
Georgianna’s heart jolted.Engagement announcements?
“Yes, my grandson will soon announce an engagement, and I believe I shall host a small, intimate dinner for this special day.”
Her heart squeezing, Georgianna said, “I would gladly cater for this dinner, your ladyship.”
She nodded regally. “The countess will make the necessary arrangements, Miss Heyford. Allow me to say again how excellent your food is, the artistic presentation memorable. I shall not forget this birthday feast anytime soon.”
Georgianna dipped into a curtsy, her heart heavy as she watched the dowager countess saunter away. Which grandson did she refer to? The earl? Or the honorable Lord Stephen, whom she had met earlier?
The countess announced there would be dancing in the smaller drawing room, and the guests laughingly ventured from the dining area. She did not join them, overwhelmed by the success of the night and feeling as if she did not truly belong in that drawing room with them as they danced.
Worse, her awareness of the earl felt too intense, and Georgianna had not missed the lingering glances many of the guests made between them. A few had been bold enough to enquire if she would remain as the earl’s guest for a number of days. The soft speculation in their tone had not been missed, and her heart squeezed.
Tonight, in front of such elite guests of thehaut ton, he hadn’t treated her like a servant or worker in his household, and there had been those who had noticed. Everyone had been cordial and respectful of her talent and art; however, to remain as his guest after tonight might start whispers, and her hopes of maintaining her respectability and business would be dashed. She knew she had to prepare her heart to bid the earl farewell.
Georgianna feared she was already deeply ensnared in the coils of love and lust, and it would be imprudent to stay even another night under the earl’s roof.
One more night, the desperate, empty heart of her whispered.
Needing to feel the cool night air on her skin, she went outside, her feet taking her down one of the graveled paths, away from the laughter of the guests and strains of the orchestra. Georgianna sought the sanctuary of hedges that seemed to offer shelter from the world inside where she did not belong. She sat on a bench in the shadows, which provided the comfort of the hedgerows at her back to lean against.
Could she really dare to spread her wings and accept Mr. Gervase’s offer? Leaving England would ruthlessly cut the attachment she owned for the earl. Georgianna closed her eyes, hating the ache in her throat. What was the sense in feeling this keen want for a man who was forbidden to her?
There was a deliberate crunch of footsteps drifting closer, and coldness unspooled in her belly to be replaced with a different kind of tension. She knew it was the earl. Georgianna gripped the edge of the stone bench and waited. When he appeared, the breath left her in a soft gasp. Down low in her abdomen, something heated in response. There was something faintly disreputable about his appearance. She stood but faltered when a lady joined him.
“My lord,” the unknown lady murmured.
His shoulders tensed, however the earl’s expression remained hidden in the darkness. “Lady Katherine. Why have you followed me?”
“My lord…I…” She stumbled closer to him, and Georgianna could not say what happened given the meager light, but somehow the lady was in his arms, coiled around the earl.
“Ah,” he said bitingly, “it is one of these scenes?”
The lady gasped prettily and peered up at him. “My lord! We will soon be discovered and—”
“I’ll still not marry you, so you should hurry inside.”
She swayed, and Georgianna stepped forward only to falter when the lady seemed to gather herself. “Would you be so cruel, my lord? My reputation would be ruined.”
