“Surely, I can…”
“No, Uncle. It is Rutherford’s role to be my pen and my eyes to read. Let him do his job. I would like to know exactly what you have against Georgia,” he asked, bluntly.
“We have discussed this.”
“And now we are discussing it again.”
“She imposed herself upon you and now burrows deeper and deeper into your life. I am merely playing the devil’s advocate and wondering as to her motives.”
Keaton scoffed incredulously. “To protect herself from a marriage to a beast of a man. I do not condone what she did, but I do not think she is actively conspiring against me or Westvale. She is just trying to survive.”
He surprised himself with his earnest words. They were not what he had expected to say. Or even to think.
Do I actually trust her? Do I have no doubts about her? Think how we came into contact. Think of her actions and her motives.
Keaton did not know if he was coming to trust Georgia or if he wanted to because of his attraction to her.Thatwas dangerous and insidious. His primal self, his animal instinct, would attempt to co-opt his reason to serve its own base needs.
Edric was silent, and Keaton could feel his Uncle’s appraising gaze upon him. He felt the need to defend himself and gritted his teeth.
I owe explanations to no one.
“I will take your silence as agreement,” Keaton muttered.
“Of course. I would not question you. It is my role—”
“To support my decisions. Or not, but only one of those paths results in your continued proximity to Westvale,” Keaton said harshly.
He was not angry at his Uncle but at himself. For a moment, he had been reveling in sensuality and forgetting rationality. Georgia was still an unknown quantity, and just because she was attractive did not make her trustworthy.
I should task Thorne to look into her disappeared brother, and that will end her need for me. Provided we are out of the mouths of the gossips, that should bring an end to our relationship.
He told himself that his decision was the most pragmatic, the most likely to bring about a return to the former status quo. He also told himself he would be happy with that outcome. It did not ring true, however. There came a rapid tap at the door, one that did not match any of the servants.
“Come in, Georgia!” Keaton called out.
Edric snorted a laugh as the door opened, doubtless considering Keaton’s awareness of who was there to be a circus trick performed for his entertainment.
Georgia’s scent reached Keaton as he tracked her light footsteps into the room. Rapid, purposeful. The swish of her skirts toldhim she had dressed, for which he was both thankful and disappointed. They had been interrupted by Sally, bringing in refreshments for her mistress, and part of Keaton yearned for the completion of what they had begun.
“I received a note from Mrs. Pewter—she is the housekeeper at Silverton. Amelia was taken to a house in Bethnal Green, not the seaside as my Aunt and Uncle said. The driver was instructed to remain away from Silverton for two days to simulate a longer journey,” she announced.
“Then how do you know of it, if the man was ordered to disguise his destination?” Edric queried before Keaton could speak.
Keaton gritted his teeth at the interruption, taking it as presumption on his Uncle’s part. Edric was a guest after all, a blood relative, but still a guest.
“Years living among servants has given me a strong relationship with them. Stronger than their employer,” Georgia countered.
“You wish to go to this house,” Keaton began, not questioning her.
“Of course. There is something very suspicious about all of this,” Georgia replied.
Keaton had not heard her sit. She paced the room before him.
“Well, I do not think it is your place to interfere, nephew, but I do not wish to interfere myself. It is merely my opinion,” Edric said, stiffly.
Keaton suppressed a sigh of exasperation. Edric had been an invaluable advisor and ally since Keaton had been a boy. That explained his tendency to tread on toes. He meant well, Keaton thought. It was just that he forgot that Keaton was a grown man and a Duke besides, not the confused and frightened young man who had woken sans vision.
“I do not ask Keaton to interfere in my family affairs. I am more than capable of driving a trap to the house where Amelia is being held,” Georgia said.
