“I’ll do my best,” she agreed. With a quick squeeze of the girl’s hand, she returned to the ballroom.
Tristan looked as though he was halfway through his second whiskey. That would never do. She’d said too much, and she’d meant never to tell him how much he’d wounded her. She didn’t want him to know how much of her affections he’d owned. Squaring her shoulders, she strolled to the refreshment table. “My lord, I think your Aunt Milly is probably very tired after all the activities of the past few days,” she ventured.
He nodded, handing his glass to a footman. “I’ll see her home, then. Stay if you wish. Edwina and I will manage.”
“I confess,” she said, following him as he strode toward his aunts, “I’m quite ready to leave, myself.”
Tristan slowed. “Are you certain? I don’t want to ruin anything else for you, Georgiana.”
“Don’t be surly. I do as I please.”
“Surly. That’s a new one.”
If there was one thing about which she could compliment Lord Dare, it was that he always paid attention to what she was saying. “You know I hate to repeat myself.”
Milly seemed only too happy to depart the ball, and Georgiana swallowed a twinge of guilt. The aunts had never wronged her, and she needed to pay better attention to them. If they became merely an excuse, even for a moment, then she was as blackhearted as Dare.
At the front door she held the chair steady while Tristan lifted Milly out of it and carried her into the coach. Milly was not a small woman, yet the viscount never seemed to have any trouble carrying her about. And the way his muscles played beneath his tight-fitting black jacket…Georgiana drew a quick breath and looked away.
Obviously this evening had completely worn her out, as well. Otherwise, she would never have been thinking about his muscles, or the way his blue eyes had become so serious when she’d stupidly spoken about not trusting anyone.
“After you, my dear.”
Georgiana started as Edwina nudged her toward the coach’s open door. Tristan stepped back down, holding out his hand to her.
“Are you certain you don’t want to stay?” he murmured, curling his fingers around hers.
She nodded, alarm bells going off in her head. She’d seen that dark, seductive look in his eyes before. It was a very dangerous look; it had once slain her virginity. Seating herself in the corner of the coach, she folded her hands in her lap. Dare sat opposite her, beside Edwina. All the way back to Carroway House he was uncharacteristically quiet, and she could feel his gaze on her, half-hidden in the dark.
What had she done to warrant so much of his attention, other than take her flirting up a notch and then lose her concentration and snap at him? He was supposed to be flattered, and his interactions with her were bound to become more pleasant. None of which explained why her mouth had gone dry, or why her heart beat so fast.
“I hope we didn’t tire you out too much, Aunt Milly,” he drawled, as they rolled to a stop outside Carroway House.
“Oh, a little, but I feel as if I’ve been shut up for years. This was wonderful.” She chuckled. “I’m certain you’ll all tire of me before I’m back on my feet.”
“Nonsense,” Georgiana said. “I want to see you dance again, remember?”
While the footmen set the wheeled chair at the top of the shallow steps, Tristan lifted Milly and carried her up. Georgiana helped Edwina into the house, but the elder Carroway sister balked at the foot of the stairs.
“I’m not at all tired,” she said. “Join me in the library, Georgiana. I’ll have Dawkins bring us some tea.”
That sounded better than hiding under her bed and hoping Tristan didn’t stop by. He would never broach any delicate subject in Edwina’s presence. “That’s a splendid idea. I’ll come down as soon as I help Milly.”
“No, you won’t,” Tristan’s other aunt said from over his shoulder. “I do employ a maid, dear. Have some tea. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night then.”
Georgiana and Edwina settled in the library, though it took several minutes for her to calm down enough to read the book she clutched in her hands. Tristan hadn’t said anything about joining them. More likely he would go out to one of his clubs for the rest of the evening. The hour was still early, by his standards. After he left, she could safely go upstairs without worrying about encountering him in the hallways.
Georgiana scowled. She was being silly. Everything was progressing exactly as she’d planned. He’d been nice tonight, and she simply wasn’t comfortable with it yet.
“I don’t think you’re reading.”
The voice was barely more than a warm whisper of air in her hair. Georgiana leapt out of her chair, a shriek catching in her throat as she twisted to face the viscount. “Don’t do that!”
“Shh, you’ll wake up Aunt Edwina.” Dare chuckled.
She whipped back around. Edwina was asleep, her head back and her mouth hanging open, a delicate snore emanating from her chest with each breath. Georgiana frowned. “You should go, then.”
