She gulped in a breath of air. Thetwoshelovedmost?
Was it true? Did she love James Ashford? The answer came surprisingly swiftly.Yes, you little fool. You have loved him from the beginning.
Her love for him was all-consuming. Shattering and dreadfully frightening. She would have a broken heart before long, with nothing but the memories of these wonderful months she’d had with him.
*
The evening aftertheir fittings, Georgiana sat alone in the drawing room. The fire had burned low, casting long golden shadows acrossthe freshly painted walls. Outside, rain tapped against the windows, creating a soft melody. She would miss the quiet of the country when they were in London.
Georgiana curled her legs beneath her on the settee, her shawl draped around her shoulders. She hadn’t meant to stay up, but Cecily had gone to bed hours earlier, humming like a songbird about sea-foam and rose silk, and Georgiana had found herself restless. Excited. Nervous. In two days time, they would leave for London.
The door creaked open behind her, and she looked up to see James enter, hair tousled, a book under one arm.
“Georgie, you’re still up? I thought everyone had retired.”
“Not quite everyone,” Georgiana replied, smiling softly. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“May I join you?” James asked.
“Yes, please.”
He crossed the room and settled into the armchair across from her. Why did he have to be so handsome? And why did her nerves seem to awaken the moment he came into view?
“Did I mention, I’ve got interviews in the morning? For the butler and valet.”
“Oh? With Mrs. Ellsworth?”
He nodded. “She insists I need a valet who knows the difference between a Windsor knot and a simple twist. And a butler who can help keep away unwanted suitors.”
Georgiana smiled. “She’s not wrong. You’re a gentleman and you must act accordingly.”
“Are you nervous to go to London?” James asked. “Because I’m feeling very much so and like I’d just like to stay here and hide away.”
“I feel the same way.”
He tilted his head against the chair back, watching her. “But your gowns are ready? Are you pleased with them?”
“I’m embarrassed to admit how much. They’re beautiful and makeme feel young and hopeful.” She went on to gush over the gowns, telling him about their hues and cuts and details, like her mother might. “Dear me, I sound like my mother.”
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying something beautiful. Or feeling beautiful in them. I can hardly wait to see you.”
“Really?” Her pulse quickened. “I was wondering what you would think of them.” Flushing, she looked down at her hands resting on her lap. “If you would approve.”
“As the seamstress said when I stopped to pay the bill this afternoon, you would look exquisite in crude burlap, so really what you wear is of no consequence. You shine, Georgie, from the inside out. Your wit and intelligence enhance your physical beauty so that a man has trouble thinking straight when in your presence.”
She lifted her gaze, head spinning with delight. “I’ve never had anyone say anything so kind to me. Thank you, James. And thank you for paying the bill at the shop. I didn’t expect you to pay for Mother and me.”
“Not long ago, the amount would have been my entire month’s salary, but that is no longer the case. Therefore, it is my pleasure to give you something that makes you feel pretty. I would pay any price for that.”
She grinned, warmed through and through by his kind words. “There’s an amount one should pay or not pay for gowns, no matter one’s fortune.”
“You’re no fun.” He smiled back at her before sobering. “Did your husband tell you how beautiful you are? He must have thought he was the luckiest man alive to have you to wake up to every morning.”
She swallowed, imagining what it would be like to wake up next to James. Suddenly, it felt very important that he know the truth. There was nothing she wanted to keep from him. She wanted to open herself up and show all the soft, vulnerable parts she kept hidden to him. “He didn’t wake up to me. In fact, he didn’t join me in my bed at anytime.” She peeked up at James, who was staring at her with a look of wonder.
“What are you saying, Georgie?”
She tucked her hands beneath her shawl. “My husband was a dear friend. But our marriage was not a great romance.”
