Ah, so they were back to that. Every time he revealed a bit more of himself Georgie found it harder to break the news.
She picked a bit at the embroidered Grecian key design on her dress. “Er, well, the truth of the matter is, your...er, Greyville, I had a visit the other day from, well, from Priscilla Mayhew.”
That got his attention. He went very still, a hunter catching a scent. “And?”
Georgie wanted very badly to get up and move. But if she did, so would he. They could very well end up dancing around the room and getting nothing done. And the less she had to do with this room—and her task—the more comfortable she’d be.
So, she forced herself to face him. “How did her father broach the marriage to you, my lord?”
She had heard the description that a person’s face set like granite. Suddenly she understood it. This was not going to be easy. She was sorely tempted to bring up his little cousins again, just to see him smile.
“I do not believe that can be of any concern to you, my lady.” His voice was as stiff as his features.
She sighed. “Prissy made it my concern, my lord. She begged me to intercede.”
“Intercede? What in blazes for?”
Georgie fought the urge to twist her hands like a supplicant. She was so glad she wasn’t facing this man across pistols. He would have dropped her without firing a shot.
So she drew another breath and dove in. “She asks to be freed of the engagement.”
It seemed she’d managed to surprise him. “I beg your pardon?”
She straightened, as if that would bolster her courage. If only Priscilla had asked her to find a lost bracelet.
“Priscilla was never apprised of the engagement until her father had signed the papers. She is...er, afraid that her affections have already been given.”
He blinked at her as if she’d just spoken Chinese. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“What does it….” Before she knew it, Georgie was on her feet after all. “Tell me you are joking, my lord.”
He rose right in front of her. He topped her by a good six inches, and right now every inch of him pulsated with fury. “Iwas about to say the same thing to you, madam. I believe this interview is over.”
She scowled right back at him. “That would bemy lady, Greyville. I am not married.”
“For which I’m sure some poor sod is eternally grateful.”
It took most of Georgie’s social discipline to keep from gasping. “Why, you bully. You would really tie a woman to you who would resent you every day of her life for taking her away from the boy she loves, just to make your life a bit more comfortable.”
His sneer was as impressive as his smile. “Try not to be so melodramatic,my lady. The girl is eighteen. She doesn’t know what she wants. But I guarantee she will be happy with being a marchioness.”
Now Georgie’s gorge was really rising. “If you believe that, sir, then it is obvious you never met her. I’m sure she was an easy solution to your problem. But as I was trying to teach Sophie just now, impulse is not always a good predictor of outcome.”
“You think my decision was impulsive.”
She shrugged. “You came home to a disaster. Everyone knows of your financial difficulties. Add to that the girls? You saw a way out. You jumped at the chance.”
He leaned closer, which should have intimidated her. She wondered why it excited her instead, straight down to her toes. “I wonder that you considered me worth consulting, ma’am, if that is what you thought of me.”
“Actually,” she retorted, determined not to retreat an inch, “I think Priscilla is worth saving from an ill-advised match. And the more time I spend with you, the more convinced of it I am.”
Why did his eyes have to be so compelling? Why did she want to ease that deep crease between them? Why did she want totouchhim? It would do her no good. It would certainly do Prissy no good.
“And if I graciously step away,” he retorted, “who will take her place? You?”
He took her breath away. “And make us both miserable? No thank you. After meeting the girls, however, I will submit to helping you find someone else.”
“I don’t want someone else!” he bellowed.
