Neither did Georgiana.
Not completely.
But she had several scenarios she was contemplating.Ones she did not as yet feel comfortable sharing with Julian.She needed more information before doing so.
Finding out what had happened to Annabel Sotherby’s aunt was part of that information and would require Georgiana to send another letter to Lily and Chloe, with that request.
And sooner rather than later, when this situation was the reason Julian refused to kiss her again.
Although, Georgiana was becoming more and more frustrated with that situation.So much so that she believed she might be forced to take matters into her own hands.
“I trust you will be joining me for dinner this evening?”she now prompted.To her disappointment, despite working together in his study the past three days and eating a light luncheon together, Julian had still avoided her company in the evenings.“We still have much to discuss,” she added as she sensed he was about to decline.
“If that is your wish,” he instantly conceded.
“It is,” Georgiana confirmed.
She had grown to hate that look of almost defeat in Julian’s beautiful green eyes.Indeed, she hated this whole situation for him.
But she was not willing to wait any longer to have Julian kiss her again.
CHAPTERNINE
“You look very beautiful this evening,” Julian complimented when Georgiana joined him.
He had been so eager to see her again that he had arrived in the family dining room far too early, only to then spend the remaining time pacing impatiently in front of the lit fire as he waited for Georgiana to arrive.
It was well worth the wait.
The purple of her evening gown was an acceptable color for a woman in mourning, which Georgiana was, even if she had told him she had not particularly liked her father.The gown’s scooped neckline revealed the top of her creamy breasts, the high waist emphasizing their fullness.The dark color perfectly complemented her pale porcelain complexion.It also darkened her blue eyes until they almost reflected that same purple.Her dark hair was a cluster of curls secured at her crown.
Georgiana was always beautiful to him, but this evening, she appeared even more so than usual.
Julian believed that might have something to do with the fact that he was coming to enjoy her company more and more, and that any time spent away from her now irritated him in the extreme.
His spirits felt lighter just from being with her.
A warning, if he had needed one, that with every day that passed, he was giving more and more of his heart to this beautiful young woman.Until, it seemed, he could think of nothingbutGeorgiana’s warmth and beauty.
“Thank you.”She accepted his compliment with a smile.“You look very handsome too.But, in the interest of honesty, I believe I should tell you that I intend to use all my feminine wiles this evening, including my appearance, as encouragement for you to kiss me again.”Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
Julian drew in a sharp breath.“I thought we had agreed that could not happen until we have the evidence to prove my marriage is over.”
God knows his resistance to Georgiana had worn very thin these past three days of working so closely together.Indeed, by the time it came to the evenings, Julian had forced himself to continue to dine alone in his study rather than risk giving in to the desire he felt to kiss Georgiana again.
The self-pleasure he allowed when he was alone in his bedchamber each night was not something he cared for anyone else to be aware of.Most especially Georgiana.
“Yousuggested that should be the case, and, at the time, I agreed to it.”She nodded.“But it is taking far longer than I would wish to attain the evidence we need.Indeed, I have never before felt such impatience with the time it takes for a letter to be received and a reply sent, answering the questions asked.As such, it has become extremely frustrating, on my part, to continue to adhere to your earlier ruling.Do not look so shocked, Julian,” she teased when he felt his eyebrows rise to his hairline.“We have spent three days in close proximity, and every minute has been an aching reminder of how attracted I am to you.So, of course, I am now impatient to bring an end to that torment.”
Julian’s admiration for Georgiana, already more than he had ever felt for any other woman, grew deeper still.She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful and openly honest woman he had ever known.Something he appreciated even more after suffering through Annabel’s lies.
Even so… “You gave me the impression that you have little respect for women who use female machinations to claim a man’s attention.”
She smiled.“You have already admitted that I have your attention.And, as I have just clearly stated, it ismyintention to break down any lingering resistance on your part over the course of this evening.As such, I do not see that my behavior could be in any way attributed to the use of feminine wiles.”
“No,” he conceded.
Her smile widened.“Then we are in agreement.”
