Georgiana knew, as she thawed out in the warmth of the hipbath that had been brought up to this bedchamber—it’s pale lilac and white décor showing it was not the one meant for his male secretary—that the reason the Duke of Moreland was not about to get into an argument on the subject was because he intended sending her back to London at the earliest opportunity.
Probably first thing in the morning, and without even attempting to give Georgiana the chance to prove herself as his secretary.
Well, not if she had anything to say about it, Georgiana decided as she continued to languish in the heat of the bathwater.
Just as Moreland had promised, that bath was carried up by a footman who then placed it in front of the warmth of the fire, newly lit by a maid, before the tub was then filled with the hot water brought up by several more maids.
She had also been provided with a scented bar of soap to remove the mud and wash her hair, along with several thick and fluffy towels to wrap herself in when she stepped out.
One of the maids had offered to find a nightgown for her to wear, but Georgiana had refused the offer.The pelisse and thick gown she had worn for traveling meant that the petticoat beneath had remained clean and dry.
She would rather wear that to sleep in than one of the nightgowns possibly left behind by the missing, presumed dead, Duchess of Moreland.
The same maid had asked if she could assist Georgiana with her bath, but again, Georgiana had refused.
Her title might still be Lady Georgiana Stapleton, but without the Duke of St.Albans’s financial help, she was an impoverished version of that young lady.As such, she did not wish to have a maid or any other companion foisted upon her for propriety’s sake.
She could not afford to pay for her own maid; therefore, she would forego the convenience of one.
Georgiana had seen very little of the house after they entered and the duke began barking out orders for a bedchamber to be prepared for her, a fire lit there, and the hot bath provided.He had also instructed that hot tea, brandy, and biscuits be brought up to her once the bath was removed.
Then he had marched away, without a by-your-leave, a word of good night, or so much as another glance in Georgiana’s direction.
The housekeeper had not seemed at all surprised by his taciturn behavior, but Georgiana did not intend to be so lightly dismissed.The Duke of St.Albans believed her to be more than capable of being a secretary, and Georgiana did not intend to allow Moreland to summarily dismiss her without at least giving her the opportunity to prove herself.
The duke’s handsome lookswereof concern to her.
She was not one to let a pretty face or a courtly manner turn her head, which was why she was willing to help instigate the formation of the Spinsters Alliance.But Moreland was not some insipid young gentleman of theton.Instead, he was harshly handsome, his face appearing as if carved out of granite, and his manners were blunt to the point of rudeness.Much like those of his two friends, St.Albans and Hellsmere.
Almost against her will, Georgianna found herself feeling a liking for him.
He was a tall man, with a haughty bearing, and those carved-in-stone features would always remain handsome.His bluntness of manner would also ensure that a woman would always be challenged by and never bored in his company.
The Duke of Moreland was, in fact, the sort of gentleman for whom Georgiana knew she would happily relinquish her place in the Spinsters Alliance and take up the possible role of mistress or companion.
A complication Georgiana had not seen arising when she accepted this secretarial position in Norfolk.
But it was not one she intended to run away from either.
CHAPTERFIVE
Julian had slept badly, and he knew exactly the reason.
The beautiful young lady asleep in the bedchamber just down the hallway from his own.
He had not lived as a monk before marrying Annabel.But, as his father’s behavior meant he abhorred the idea, let alone the act, of adultery, his self-control had been sorely tested during the year of his marriage.Since Annabel’s disappearance sexual intercourse had been the last thing on Julian’s mind.
It was now, inappropriately, front and center and consumingallhis thoughts and arousing his body!
Because of Georgiana Stapleton.The never-been-married spinsterLadyGeorgiana Stapleton, with whom Julian could not have sexual relations even if he wished to do so.
Which he did.
She had reawakened his libido to a blazing inferno, and now that she had, Julian could not seem to think of anything but the soft curves of her body and her soft, pillowy lips.
He had actually been looking forward to seeing her again this morning and enjoying more of her forthright conversation as the two of them breakfasted together in the small family dining room.Even knowing it would be the one and only time that he did so, because he had decided he must send her back to London this morning.
Instead, his butler had informed him that when the bath and water were removed from her bedchamber the previous evening, Lady Stapleton had requested that a pot of tea, but no breakfast, be brought to her there at seven o’clock this morning.
