“It will not,” the Duke interrupted, staring straight at Benjamin, stopping him dead in his tracks.
“Whatever do you mean?” Aunt Clarissa laughed nervously.
“For I will marry your niece,” the Duke announced abruptly. “It is the only solution to a scandal that is brewing even as we sit here. I cannot allow my good name to be tarnished by said scandal through no fault of my own.”
Georgia's mouth had fallen open, and she shut it quickly when all eyes turned her way.
I prayed for this, so why does it come as a surprise?
Uncle Benjamin coughed into the thick silence. “This is quite...”
Aunt Clarissa stopped him with a pincer to his arm.
“Quite logical,” she assured calmly. “I commend you, Your Grace, on your clarity of thought. Of course, marriage is the only way to forestall the coming scandal. I am only sorry that it is a member of my family who has precipitated it.”
“Why, yes. Yes, of course,” blustered Uncle Benjamin, looking flat-footed, “damned decent of you, Your Grace. Of course we had our heart quite set on the Earl of Emsworth for Georgia, but—”
“This is a match much better suited to us,” Aunt Clarissa again cut across her husband.
Amelia sat next to them both, agog at the developments. Georgia watched, equally amazed by the interplay between her Aunt and Uncle.
“A Duke in the family is quite preferable to an Earl, is that not so?” Georgia seized the moment.
The Duke looked at her again. “I assure you, Miss Roseton, that nothing could be further from the truth. I will not be in the family, as you put it. Nor will you be in mine. We will merely be presenting a face to the world in order that our respective names and those of your good Aunt and Uncle are not sullied by your juvenile actions.”
Georgia felt herself needled by his words and clamped her teeth shut around a retort.
Good name of my Aunt and Uncle indeed! If only he knew what they are really like! But I must not rock the boat. I wanted this, to escape the clutches of the Earl and the veritable prison of Silverton Manor. I have made my bed, now to lie on it and pray it is more auspicious…
That brought thoughts of scandalous dreams. Of beds made of soft grass and Dukes with hard, unyielding bodies. She felt herself blushing and hoped that it would be taken as meekness.
“So you intend this marriage to be one ofconvenience…” Aunt Clarissa inferred with blooming satisfaction.
Georgia peeked up to see realization and dawning relief on her aunt's face.
She thought I would end up in a more powerful position than she. As a Duchess no less. Now she knows that is not the case, she is happy.
“Yes. We will... parade in public as man and wife, and the gossips will fall silent. Then, after a suitable period of time, the marriage will be annulled and we will go our separate ways. Quietly.”
Georgia’s head tipped back up.
Annulled?
“Anulled?” Uncle Benjamin echoed her thoughts.
“Of course, it will be annulled,” Aunt Clarissa chimed eagerly. “And we will ensure that Georgia does not do anything that will interfere with our plan.”
“Surely, Aunt,” Georgia whispered hesitantly, “I am as much a part of this discussion as the Duke. I am one of two that will be involved, after all…”
“You are one ofone,” the Duke shut down immediately. “One who manipulated me into this situation. And it is notourplan, madame,” he directed his discomfiting blind stare to Aunt Clarissa this time, “but mine. I am not yet convinced that your husband and yourself are not party to your niece's manipulation—”
“I did not manipulate you!” Georgia interrupted.
“Really?” he shot back. “You were betrothed to an Earl and now to a Duke. You have improved your prospects greatly, wouldn’t you say?”
“I did notaskfor your help,” Georgia could feel herself growing red with fire at the Duke's aloof detachment.
I did not need his help! I could have fought off that despicable man. I'm sure of it! Oh, but how then could I avoid having to marry him... Or else find myself without a roof over my head…
