She took it all in with no visible response. “How very adventurous of you,” she said. “And did you enjoy it?”
“Yes.”
“Then what made you seek honest work? Or do I already know the answer to that impertinent question?”
“What do you mean?”
“That girl is in love with you.”
He wanted to snarl, but one didn’t snarl at one’s grandmother, particularly one as impressive as the Dowager Duchess of Ormond. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She couldn’t keep her eyes off you this morning. And you couldn’t keep your eyes off her. I can hardly approve, but at least she seems to be better quality than the rest of her family.”
“You’re a snob.”
“Of course I am. Would you expect anything less? So, when are you going to cease this ridiculous masquerade and come home? You may marry the girl if that’s what you really wish—I’ll talk to your uncle about it. Since he’s the current duke, he’ll have something to say about it, but I can handle him.”
“Grandmama...” he said, then stopped. He hadn’t used that word in over fifteen years, and he wasn’t going to start now. “Your Grace, I have no interest in marrying.”
“I like ‘grandmama’ better. Are you planning on breaking that girl’s heart? She’s clearly set on you, and while you can do better, you could also do a lot worse. There’s something pleasing about the girl, and I’m certain the rest of our family will welcome her with open arms. As they’ll welcome your return.”
“I’m not returning.” His words were short, clipped.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Sooner or later, someone is going to recognize you, and the scandal would be appalling.”
“You’ve never been worried about scandal in your life. You simply rise above it. And I expect my disappearance at age sixteen caused enough of a scandal already.”
“And just why did you leave?” she demanded. “You left no note, you were just gone.”
“I didn’t want to join the church or the army, and my uncle was determined to whip me into shape. Besides, no one needed me around—I was just one of too many cousins.”
She pressed her thin lips together in rampant disapproval, eyeing him, and then her mouth softened. “I want you back, Jamie,” she said in gentle voice. “I don’t think I could bear it if you were to disappear again.”
“I won’t.” He’d made his decision, and abandoning his grandmother wasn’t in the cards. “I’m not going to rejoin the family, but I’ll keep in touch, visit.”
“From the Mannings’ house?”
“No. I’m leaving that job. I’ve been there too long.”
“You’ve fallen in love.”
“No!” The denial was forceful, too forceful. “I have a job to do in that household, something that had nothing to do with being a butler. It’s almost finished, and the sooner I’m away from Georgie, the sooner she’ll be over her little crush.”
“Georgie? What an extraordinary name. Still, she has a certain charm about her. And you’ve decided to break her heart.”
“Her heart is none of my concern,” he said sharply.
His grandmother said nothing for a moment, but her disapproval was rampant. “You were always a kind boy, even if you were wild. I’m sorry to see you’ve lost that quality.”
He had no intention of feeling guilty. The women in his life tended to come and go—there was no room for a wife. It would be easy enough to steer Georgie’s affections in another direction. As soon as he found someone worthy of her.
“You don’t know her—I do. She’ll get over it quite quickly.”
His grandmother’s bright blue eyes, so like his own, were dark with disappointment, but she accepted her defeat gracefully. “You’ll quit this absurd job?”
“Soon.”
“But you refuse to come home. Where will you go?”
