“It is held in trust. Deevers can explain it all. He has the paperwork and is the trustee, and I am told there is an excellent steward on site. You can control it all yourself, leave it all to them, or have me handle it. Although I admit I am a neophyte at this estate business. I was rather hoping I could get advice from you.”
He’d thought she knew. He’d thought she hadn’t been that impressed. Looking at her now, he realized he had just given her the shock of her life.
“Georgie,” he murmured, lifting a hand to her cheek. “The estate is to provide you stability, no matter what. It is not meant to be another burden.”
Georgie shook her head, as if the weight of his gesture threw her off-balance. “So, if I wanted, I could turn the estate into a home for fallen women or climbing boys?”
“As long as they bathe.”
“A military camp?”
“Same rule.”
She kept her gaze on Gray’s, her eyes wide and glistening. “You mean it.”
He met her gaze without flinching. “I do. I know what a burden I am putting on your shoulders. I wanted to lighten it even if just a little. No matter what happens in the future, you will never have to rely on anyone else for your safety.”
“And the girls?”
He shook his head again, this time feeling a bit disappointed. “Your father really didn’t let you see the settlements. The girls are taken care of as well, thanks to the generosity of your dowry. You and Deevers are their guardians. And I do thank you for that. Their well-being means a lot to me.”
Georgie nodded. “Me as well.”
This time he didn’t kiss her hand, he kissed her lips. A small kiss of companionship, a grace bestowed, a thanks. “This old soldier thanks you, Lady Coleford. You have relieved him of his greatest worry. The rest can be managed. Especially since I don’t have to worry about charging an enemy on horseback any longer. Whatever the cost, I will happily comply.And then I hope we can really begin to become a family.”
It was two hours later as they stood on the dock, each holding one of the girls’ hands, that he knew exactly what the cost would be.
“Have a safe trip,” his brand-new wife said to him, then gave a very slow wink. “Because when you get home, you and I have unfinished business.”
He almost didn’t get on the ship at all.
There were times he wondered if he was really as devoted to the Crown as he thought.
16
It didn’t turn out to be as bad as Georgie had feared. It turned out to be worse. And the problems didn’t even wait until she and the girls made it home. The carriage was working its way through traffic back up towards Mayfair when Amelia began to whimper.
Georgie looked over to see that her little face was pale. “What is it, sweetheart?”
She didn’t look up. “Do I need to call you Mama?”
Georgie had to admit that that was not the question she expected. She reached over to smooth back the little girl’s hair to realize it was a bit damp. “Not if you do not want to, my dear. I would never ever want to take your mama’s place. Would Aunt Georgie do for now?”
She nodded, still looking miserable. Even Sophie was looking over now.
“Aunt Georgie?” Amelia asked, still not looking up. “I think…I…”
“Oh, no,” Sophie suddenly piped up, jumping off the seat. “She’s going to puke!”
Georgie was about to chastise Sophie when Amelia looked up, and Georgie knew that not only was Sophie correct, but they had run out of time. Pounding on the roof of the carriage, Georgie bent to throw open the door. John Coachman pulled over at the same moment Georgie unlatched the door and grabbed the little girl under the arms.
It was close, but she managed to get Amelia’s head safely over the side of the carriage before she lost the cinnamon buns she had gorged on that morning, not to mention the biscuits Georgie had added.
“Milady?” Barney, one of the grooms asked, hopping down.
“We’re fine, Barney,” she said, making sure her voice stayed calm as she pulled a handkerchief from her reticule. “Amelia? Is that better?”
“Usually she only does it once,” Sophie assured her with an older sister kind of nod.
