He jabbed smoothly and struck Emsworth just beneath the ribs. Then came a succession of rapid blows that had Emsworth scrambling on hands and knees across the floor towards the door.
“I will see you dead for this!” he screamed, “Do you know who I am?”
“A cad and a knave. Yes, I know who you are, Lord Peter Halstead of Emsworth. I've heard your speeches in Parliament, and your politics are as reprehensible as your attitude towards women. Get. Thee. Gone!”
Each of the Duke's last three words were emphasized by jabs from his cane that saw Emsworth propelled from the room. As the Earl scrabbled through the open door, Georgia realized rather belatedly that she could no longer hear the music from the ballroom. In fact, there was no sound from that direction at all, merely an expectant, appalled silence.
“What are you looking at?” Emsworth barked into the corridor, “Get out of my way. He is a madman! Assaulted me with that damned cane!”
There was someone outside in the corridor. Possibly more than someone. The Duke stood within sight of the open door, while Georgia was concealed to one side.
In a moment, someone is going to peek into the room. Several ‘someones’ by the sound of whispering I can hear... We havedrawn the whole of Almack's down on us with the commotion. It will be the talk of London for weeks!
If that didn’t have her expelled from Silverton entirely, it would only be as she was shackled to the very man who tried assaulting her…
Just as the sound of approaching footsteps drew nearer, Georgia glimpsed a sudden opportunity. To escape from the Earl of Emsworth permanently, from Silverton Hall too. The opportunity to take her destiny into her own hands.
…But it would need to be at the expense of her savior.
One road led to a life trapped as the Earl of Emsworth’s wife. A trophy on his arm and his property. Witheverythingthat entailed. It sent a veritable chill through her, a shudder of utter horrified terror.
I cannot live like that! I will not spend my life in chains. I must do something to escape a terrible fate. I would die before I let myself become the Earl of Emsworth’s property!
“Oh, dash it all!”
Georgia lunged towards the handsome Duke just as Uncle Benjamin appeared in the doorway. She took the Duke's face in her hands, stood on tiptoes, and kissed him as thoroughly as she could. She heard the thump of a cane hitting the carpeted floor. Felt the Duke's arms enfolding her. They were strong, sending athrill through Georgia at the notion that she would not be able to end the embrace if he did not allow it.
Her body was pressed against rigid steel, the muscles of his chest and stomach were hard, conveying strength and resolution. His lips pressed hungrily to hers, parting slightly. She almost swooned at the feel of his tongue against her own lips and responded accordingly.
She lost all sense of where she was or how many people might now have joined her uncle in the doorway. She didn't care who saw or what they thought. All that mattered was the sensations that coursed through her. The pleasure that came from being held tightly in his arms. From being kissed with fervent passion.
“Unhand my niece at once!” Uncle Benjamin screeched, his voice shrill with outrage.
The Duke released her at once, and she saw shock on his face.
I do not think he knew there was anyone watching. He did not hear them. But I did. I deliberately took advantage of his blindness. Oh Lord, forgive me, but I do not know how else I would evade that odious Earl!
CHAPTER 5
Keaton strode across the floor of his study. He could swear that the woman who had kissed him was standing just behind him. Her perfume was lodged in his mind, tantalizing his senses. The feel of her naked shoulder, which he had so briefly touched. The softness of her skin. Perfect, smooth, and hot. To a blind man, touch could communicate so much, and his imagination had been fired by that oh-so-brief contact.
He rapped his shin on a table and cursed, only to kick a chair leg with his heel. Balance lost, he staggered, becoming completely disoriented for a second. Edric's broad, firm hand landed on his shoulder with the force of a falling boulder.
“Whatever is the matter with you, Keaton? First, that inexplicable behavior at the Assembly Rooms, and now staggering around like a bull in a china shop. Have you rearranged the furniture?”
Keaton stood still, breathing hard. “No—but someone bloody well has. It’s like the damned room shifted behind my back!”
“I don't think anything has been moved. I think your usually excellent concentration has slipped, and you have lost your place. Here, let me restore you. Your preferred chair is behind you, two paces.”
Keaton shrugged off his Uncle's help irritably, reaching behind until he felt the familiar fabric of his fireside armchair. He sat back, relief flooding him immediately.
How quickly fear and panic set in when I believe myself without my usual landmarks. I fancy myself so in control of everything, but that is an illusion, and this evening is the perfect example!
“Well?” Edric instigated. “This evening, I witnessed years of patient, hard work undone in one mad moment. Whatever were you thinking, man?”
There was frustration in his Uncle's voice. To be expected. Nothing could upset Edric more than a threat to the good name of Westvale.
“I was defending the honor of a lady who was being attacked by a cad, the Earl of Emsworth no less,” he gritted back, tightening his fist around his cane. “Is that not in keeping with my family name?”
