The murmur that rose from the crowd was like the buzzing of disturbed bees. James heard Lady Alderidge’s sharp intake of breath, saw other guests exchanging meaningful looks that would fuel gossip for weeks.
A blur of pale blue silk burst through the doors as Cecily appeared, her face white with panic. “Georgiana! What happened?” Her gaze took in Julian’s bloodied lip, James’s protective stance, her sister’s pale complexion.
“Everything’s all right now.” Georgiana’s voice shook slightly. “James was… defending my honor.”
“As we have become engaged just this evening,” James said, hoping Cecily would quickly understand.
Cecily’s eyes sharpened with just that. She looked between her sister and James, then smiled with surprising composure. “Of course he was. Though I suppose the secret’s out now.” She turned to address the curious crowd. “As Lord Ashford said, they’ve only just become engaged. We hadn’t planned to announce it so dramatically.”
Lavinia materialized behind Cecily like an avenging angel, resplendent in violet feathers and barely contained excitement. “Engaged? Did I hear you correctly?” She pressed a hand to her chest. “Is it true?”
Lady Alderidge nodded approvingly. “Lord Ashford was defending his fiancée’s honor from that dreadful man.” She gestured toward Julian like he was something meant for the rubbish bin.
Lavinia paused, then drew herself up with sudden dignity, as if remembering her role. “Well, of course. I knew this would happen eventually. A mother always knows these things. Lord Ashford is a true gentleman. Worthy of my eldest daughter, just as I have foreseen all along.” Lavinia spoke with a growing confidence, smoothing her skirt. “I told Georgiana from the very beginning that Lord Ashford was clearly smitten.”
“As you say, mothers always know,” Lady Alderidge said, sharing a smile with Lavinia.
Before the situation could spiral further into further theatrics, Lady Alderidge gestured to her butler, who had appeared as if summoned. “Please escort Mr. Fane to his carriage. He is no longer welcome in this house.”
Julian straightened his cravat with deliberate care, his eyes never leaving Georgiana’s face. “This isn’t over. Enjoy your little charade. But we both know the truth.”
As the butler firmly guided Julian away, his parting look promised retribution that made Georgiana shrink closer to James’s side.
Once Julian disappeared into the corridor, an awkward silence fell. The other guests stood uncertainly, clearly torn between returning to the party and lingering for more drama.
“Perhaps we should return to the drawing room,” Lady Alderidge suggested with pointed diplomacy. “I believe congratulations are in order, but this evening has been quite eventful enough.”
As the small crowd began to disperse, murmuring excitedly among themselves, James found himself alone with Georgiana, Cecily, and Lavinia on the moonlit terrace.
Lavinia’s voice was trembling with emotion, “Well, this is certainly not how I imagined the evening would unfold. But I could not be more thrilled to welcome Lord Ashford into our family. I should open a matchmaking business. I have such a keen eye for these things.”
Georgiana shot her mother a look that could have frozen flame,but Lavinia was too overcome with joy to notice.
“We should go back inside,” Georgiana said quietly, her composure beginning to crack. “People will talk if we linger.”
“Let them talk,” Cecily said fiercely, linking arms with her sister. “Let them talk about how Lord Ashford protected you and how happy you’ll be together.”
As they walked back toward the house, James caught Georgiana’s eye. The question he couldn’t ask aloud hung between them:Was any of it real? Do you want this? Or have I just trapped us both in an elaborate lie?
Her answering look was unreadable, a mixture of gratitude, confusion, and something that might have been hope.
God help him, he prayed it was hope.
Chapter Twenty-One
Georgiana
They left theparty soon thereafter, but it felt like walking through a dream. She couldn’t remember if she’d said anything further to her sister or mother or if Lady Alderidge was furious over the interruption to her dignified dinner party. All she knew is that Julian was finished. He could not hurt her again.
James’s hand at her elbow guided her through the crush of guests, past curious stares and barely concealed whispers. Georgiana smiled and nodded at appropriate moments, but her mind reeled with a single, thundering question:Did he mean it?
Or had he simply been saving her from ruin? It was like him to do so, putting her needs above his own. He’d done so much for her and Cecily. Now, this. Would he feel trapped? Forced to make good on his public promise? She couldn’t bear to think she’d wrecked his life simply because she had felt a panic taking over her and had stumbled outside for fresh air. She’d not seen Julian until it was too late. If James had not come when he did, she would have been forced to marry Julian or risk Cecily’s reputation. That she could not have abided, thus she would have had to accept that Julian Fane had won.
The carriage waited in the torchlit courtyard, blessedly dim and private. James handed her up, his touch careful, almost hesitant, as if he could not be sure she wanted to leave with him. If he only knew her true feelings. She would go anywhere with him. Just for one moremoment with him. What would become of them now?
She settled against the leather seat, keenly aware of every sound: the creak of springs as he climbed in beside her, the driver’s call to the horses, the first rumble of wheels against cobblestone. The space felt impossibly small. His thigh was inches from hers, close enough that she caught the warmth radiating from his body.
Neither of them spoke.
