It was best to face facts as they were. Lady Georgiana might think she was helping, or she might only be saying that when she intended something else, but it was obviously going to be up to Amelia to set Tristan in the right direction. And given what she knew of men, she had a very good idea just how to do it.
Grey didn’t look very happy to see him, but Tristan was more concerned with the presence of Luxley, Paltridge, and to a lesser degree, Francis Henning, hovering about Georgiana. After the fright she’d given him yesterday, he didn’t like even the idea of another man looking in her direction.
“Georgiana,” he said, elbowing Henning aside to take her hand, then bringing it to his lips. “The sparkle is back in your eye. Are you feeling better?”
“Much,” she said, smiling, “though I’m not quite up for dancing.”
He thought that comment was probably aimed at her other suitors, but none of them took the hint and wandered off. Instead, they favored her with a squawking chorus of sympathy and compliments that made him scowl. If her warning was for his benefit, well, he wasn’t going anywhere. Before he could encourage the buffoons to go hunting elsewhere, Emma took his arm.
“You very nearly sounded like a hero, yesterday,” she said, her warm hazel eyes dancing.
With an irritated glance at the pack, he left the circle of Georgiana’s admirers. “Yes, I suppose I reacted before my wiser nature could take hold and shake me out of it.”
The duchess chuckled. “I don’t believe that,” she said in a lower voice. “I’ve seen your good heart, Tristan.”
“I would appreciate if you didn’t bandy that about. A good heart and empty pockets make Dare a very lonely lad.” He glanced in Georgie’s direction. “Especially when certain other females don’t believe that ‘good heart’ bit.”
“Well, you’ll have to convince her. I, for one, am on your side.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “And how does the mighty Wycliffe feel about that?”
“He’s more protective of Georgiana. I advise being patient yet utterly relentless.”
“Your advice, dear Em, will probably get me killed.” Tristan kissed her on the cheek to soften the words. “But I do appreciate it.”
“How many times do I have to tell you,” Grey rumbled, approaching with Georgiana on his arm, thank God, “to keep your lips off my wife?”
“You won’t let me kiss you,” Tristan drawled, “so I have no other options.”
“How about escorting me to the refreshment table, instead?” Georgiana held out her hand to him.
That had been good of Wycliffe, to separate her from the wolf pack. “With pleasure. Your Graces, if you’ll pardon us?”
“Oh, bugger off,” Grey said. “But keep an eye on her. She nearly fell coming down from the coach.”
“I tripped on my dress,” Georgie protested, flushing.
“I shall guard her with my life.”
She looked up at him, and despite the obvious skepticism in her expression, he was surprised to realize that he meant it. Letting someone else have Georgiana was out of the question. Whatever it took, he would make her his. Permanently.
“So how did I win out over your other suitors?” Tristan asked, guiding her around the less crowded side of the room.
“I can’t tell them to go to the devil if they annoy me,” she answered easily. “You, I don’t mind saying it to.”
“I suppose I have built up a tolerance for your insults, over the years,” he agreed. “How is your bottom?”
Her blush deepened. “Black-and-blue, but better. Thankfully most everyone seems to think I merely wrenched my knee, and my bottom has remained out of the conversation.”
Tristan nodded. In the past he might have claimed the credit he deserved for encouraging the wrong rumor to spread, but he felt so bad about her being hurt that he didn’t want any thanks. “I’m glad you came this evening,” he said, to have something to say.
She searched his eyes for a moment. “So am I. Tristan—”
“There you are,” Lucinda Barrett said, hurrying up to grasp Georgie’s free hand. “I was hoping you felt well enough to attend tonight.”
Stifling his annoyance, Tristan nodded a greeting to the auburn-haired chit. “I myself would have faked illness to avoid Almack’s.”
Georgiana looked at him in obvious disbelief. “Then why didn’t you?”
