“Is that why you think I am leaving tomorrow? Because you did something bad?”
For a long, fraught moment she held still. Then, without looking at him, she gave a jerky nod of her head. “It’s why my father was gone so much.”
It was all Georgie could do to sit still. She had filled her life with responsibilities to children. But she had never been faced with a child so broken she had to begin by rebuilding.
Holding on more tightly to Amelia, Grey gathered Sophie into his arms as well. “Thank you for telling me. It will help me understand some things better. Do you know who the King is, girls?”
Both gave shy nods.
“Well, he has personally asked me to make this trip to help the country. And girls, as impatient as I am to begin our new family, do you think I can disobey my King?”
Wide eyes and shaken heads met the question.
“The King?” Sophie asked. “TherealKing?”
He nodded. “King George himself. I hope you understand that it is the only way anyone could make me leave you right now. Do you believe me?”
They both looked up at him. “Yes,” they whispered.
He nodded. “And the only person I trust enough to care for you while I’m gone is your Aunt Georgie.”
“And Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers,” Amelia piped up.
Sophie pointed at Georgie. “And the Packhams!”
He grinned. “And the Packhams. Are we all right now?”
“Will we see you tomorrow?”
“See me? You shall take me to the docks to wave off my ship. And if I know Aunt Georgie, she will tell you all about pirates while we’re there, and take you for ices on the way home.”
“It has been a very long day,”Grey said with a prodigious yawn as he pulled off his cravat.
It had been. After getting the girls settled, Grey had made the formal introductions to his staff, from Chalmers and his wife, who acted as housekeeper, all the way down to the scullery maid Midget, a tiny redhead with an amazing amount of freckles and a gap-toothed smile. The only two people she would have to wait for were the estate agent and Grey’s solicitor, who would stop by before Grey left in the morning. Georgie began to memorize names and responsibilities and enjoyed the relief of knowing that most of her new staff were at least glad for her presence, especially with the little girls to care for.
Things were looking up. The girls were tucked into bed with Bark stretched out by the bedroom door, and Georgie could concentrate on her new husband, whom she suspected she was falling in love with.
Looking up from where she was dispensing with her slippers, she bestowed a suggestive smile on him. “Oh, dear. And here I was thinking of continuing my education tonight.”
Even as she’d made it a point to join Grey in tucking the suddenly chatty girls into bed, it had been all she could think of. A bit of comfort, some closeness to help ease that pervasive feeling of helpless rage for those two little girls who were still far too tentative and uncertain. Even more, some time selfishlydedicated just to each other before the rest of the world intruded once more.
Stopping at the sound of her voice, Grey gave her a sweet smile. “I was hoping you’d say that. You’re not too tired?”
Georgie met his gaze with every ounce of heat that had suddenly ignited in those new places she had discovered the night before. She almost told him the truth.Hold me for just a little while. Let me rely on your strength and savor your taste and the exhilaration of your excitement.Instead, she shook her head. “Not for another test of Grandmama’s theory.”
Just the thought sent chills racing through her. She was going to have to work harder on maintaining an emotional distance from her husband. It would be a lot easier if he weren’t so dratted precious with those two little girls. If he didn’t have eyes that melted her with one look. If he didn’t smile at her as if she were a syllabub and he had a spoon.
She could enjoy a bit of carnal sport and mutual comfort without becoming too attached, couldn’t she?
Couldn’t she?
His cravat dispatched, he went to unbuttoning his shirt. Slowly. All the while watching her with that maddening little half-smile of his. Blasted man. He was making her knees weak with that smile. And he knew it.
So she fought back. Lifting her leg onto an ottoman, she slowly pulled her skirts up to bare her knee and reached for her garter. Slowly rolling it down, she followed with her stocking. Slowly, her fingers sliding along her leg as if inviting a look. A touch.
She could hear the most curious growl, and looked up to see Grey frozen, his hands on his buttons, not moving. His eyes on her own hands.
“Woman,” he said, his voice raspy as he slowly shook his head, “You are going to kill me.”
