“I swear that no other person has elicited such anger from me so often as you. Perhaps we are just incompatible.”
“Evidently.”
Georgia reached for the buttons at the back of her dress, then stopped herself. After the argument, it did not feel appropriate to be naked in front of Keaton, whether he could see her nakedness or not. She heard him move to the door and then stop.
“I do not believe so,” he said, finally.
“Nor do I, actually,” she replied quietly.
“At least from the point of view of our arrangement,” he noted.
Georgia felt a dull, dead sensation in her stomach. She told herself that she should not be disappointed. All that mattered was that Keaton wanted to continue their marriage of convenience for a while longer.
Until I can discover what happened to Elias. After that, I will accept a life at Silverton or in a workhouse if need be.
But now there was Amelia to consider. If Keaton decided to annul the marriage, then Amelia would be forced to return to her parents and whatever fate they had decreed for her.
“Yes, we must remember that,” she said in a flat voice.
She wanted to hear from him that he wanted the marriage to continue because he wanted her. Because he wanted it to be more than a marriage of convenience.
I must accept reality and put aside fantasy. It is the real world that I must live in. Not the world of my dreams.
“Have you spoken to your man, the investigator? Mr. Thorne?” Georgia asked.
“Not about your case. Other matters have taken precedence,” Keaton informed.
Georgia turned to look at him, but his back was still to her. She felt the stirrings of hope.
He could be rid of me as soon as Mr. Thorne has done his work. But he hesitates. Why? Does he wish to prolong our marriage?
CHAPTER 23
“We are popular, it seems.”
Keaton emerged onto the lawn holding a piece of paper. Georgia was taking tea with Amelia in the gardens. He approached them with what Georgia recognized as excitement in his face.
“We are? How so?” she asked, “Amelia is here also, by the way.”
“I deduced as much from the different perfumes which reach me on the breeze. Amelia favors a more spring-like floral scent. Yours has more citrus to it.” Keaton scrunched his nose, stopping before them and holding out the paper.
“We are invited to a ball being given by the Duchess of Bath while she is visiting London. It is for this evening!” Georgia exclaimed.
“Yes, it seems her visit was somewhat spontaneous, and she wished to host a small ball upon her arrival. It is all in the invitation.”
Georgia saw the information further down, an apology for such short notice, but an entreaty that the Duke and Duchess of Westvale would attend. Keaton sat, folding his hands atop his crossed legs. He looked confident and sure of himself.
“The second invitation in a week to a major society event. I take this as a sign that the scandal is fading in the minds of our peers. We are no longer pariahs.”
“Your plan has worked, then,” Georgia said, sadly.
She could not hide the emotion from her voice. Amelia seemed unaware, but Keaton frowned.
“As webothwanted,” he reminded.
“Yes, of course. As we both wanted,” she agreed.
“I am not included on the invitation, I take it,” Amelia laughed awkwardly.
