Tristan smiled grimly. He loved a challenge, and the higher the stakes, the better. “I will.” Before she could stomp away, he took her hand once more, placing a kiss on her knuckles. “Believe you me, I will.”
The next day Georgiana sat with her aunt in the morning room, halfheartedly working on some embroidery. She was contemplating how nice it would be to escape the house and the quiet, incessant ticking of the mantel clock when Pascoe scratched on the door.
“You have a caller, Lady Georgiana.”
“Who is it?”
“Lord Dare, my lady.”
Her heart jumped into her throat, and with effort she swallowed it down again. “I’m not receiving callers this morning, Pascoe.”
“Very good, my lady.” The butler vanished.
“Greydon has offered to speak to Dare, if you want this settled,” Aunt Frederica said in the careful voice she’d been using since Georgiana’s return, as if she were afraid her niece would become hysterical again if she said the wrong thing.
“Grey is Dare’s friend. That shouldn’t change just because of this.”
“My lady?” Pascoe reappeared in the doorway.
“Yes, Pascoe?”
“Lord Dare has returned your horse. He wishes to know if you would care to go riding, and to discuss the return of the remainder of your personal items to Hawthorne House.”
If Tristan had said that, he was making a great effort to be diplomatic. “Please thank Lord Dare, but—”
“Ah, I’m also to inform you that the…Runt is here as well, and would like to ride with you.”
“Pascoe, she has said no. Please do not—”
That devious blackguard. Georgiana set aside her embroidery and stood. “I should at least say hello to Edward. I’m certain he has no idea why I vanished as I did.”
“Neither do I,” her aunt muttered, but Georgiana pretended not to hear that as she left the room.
“Georgie!” Edward shrieked, hurling himself at her as soon as she entered the sitting room.
“Edward,” Tristan said sharply, and the boy skidded to a halt. “Decorum.”
With a frown, the lad nodded and swept a bow. “Good morning, Lady Georgiana. I’ve missed you very much, and so has Storm Cloud.”
“I’ve missed you, too. I’m so pleased you’ve come by.”
“Are you going riding with us? It’ll be smashing. No one has to hold the reins for me any longer.”
She looked into the boy’s eager gray eyes and smiled. “I would love to go riding with you.”
“Hurray!”
“I will have to change, first.”
“We’ll wait,” Tristan drawled, lifting an eyebrow when she glared over his brother’s head at him.
When she returned downstairs a few minutes later, both the Carroway brothers were out on the front drive, waiting for her. As she appeared, Tristan lifted Edward onto Storm Cloud’s back, then strolled over to help her up onto Sheba.
“You are a cheat,” she hissed, standing her foot harder than she needed to in his cupped hands. “And a sneak.”
“Yes, I am. And clever, too. The Runt’s an excuse and a chaperone, all in one.” Grasping her ankle, he slid her foot into the single stirrup.
“What about our appearance? Man, woman, and child. Wasn’t that your objection to Bradshaw’s escorting me anywhere?”
