He’d believed her. He’d bought her story, hook, line, and sinker. And though it galled him to give Danvers’s words credence, considering the many roadblocks she’d thrown up to their physical intimacy, not the least of which was her supposed request for annulment, he had to admit she may have orchestrated the whole endeavor for his sake alone.
From his great coat pocket, he pulled a flask he’d had the forethought to fill and slugged, reflecting how Drake, Georgina’s brother, was that way, always.
Drake. It was relief to remember him. His closest friend. From their days at Eton, when they’d roomed together, he’d taken up Teddy’s cause as his own.
Teddy hadn’t meant for it to happen. In truth, he hadn’t intended for him to learn his deepest, most shameful secret—that he feared his father’s wrath and displeasure above all else. But his father had come in, taken one look at the room they shared, and not knowing Drakewas in the adjoining bedchamber studying, lambasted him for his shambled appearance in lethally soft tones that were sure not to carry through the walls.
How many times have I told you—my heir does not go about like a pauper. You must carry yourself with respect. Shame yourself and you shame me.
Teddy had smoothed one hand over his uncombed hair, then unrolled his shirtsleeves, his cheeks flaming with shame considering the lad who had certainly overheard the criticism. He eyed his cravat and waistcoat with regret, both of which he’d removed and hung on a wall peg and which he could not hope to reach without passing his father.
In fairness to himself, he’d only just removed his outer garments, having come in from an early morning riding lesson, and he was hardly going about. But he knew better than to argue.
“Sorry, sir. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“No, indeed. I can see that plainly.”
And out loped Drake, clutching what looked to be Teddy’s ivory comb.
His father’s expression was almost comical. His stern countenance morphed in an instant to one of surprised embarrassment. He did not make scenes in view of others.
“Oh, Lord Arlington, I didn’t hear you come in. How good of you to pay us a visit.” Drake clipped a crisp bow. “If only you’d arrived earlier to join Ted and me on our riding lesson and show us what’s what—Teddy is always raving over your prowess. Although the jump your son made today would have made you proud. Even our instructor applauded him vociferously to the annoyance of all the other students.” He’d grinned up at the earl who puffed out his chest.
“That’s my Theodore.”
“Oh, I nearly forgot. Your comb I borrowed and forgot to return.” He handed Teddy the article and ducked back out of sight.
Later, he’d made light of the incident, easing Teddy’s discomfort in that effortless way he had. “At least your father cares enough to notice things—even if they are of the nit-picky sort. Our parents are more concerned with their parties and their friends and their entertainments to remember George and me half the time.”
“George? I didn’t know you had a brother.”
An indulgent grin curved his mouth. “A sister. A perfectly wonderful little sister.”
He’d been serious, which shocked Teddy, and of course, Drake read that in his expression.
“Oh, I know. All the other blokes complain about their sisters. But you’d have to meet her to understand. She’s ever eager to please. My biggest champion. And I suppose, her being younger, and my parents being as they are, left me with a choice: ignore her, as they do, or take her under my wing. Do you know they both forgot her birthday last year? I had to scramble to make sure she never realized.
“Come to think of it, she’s got another one next weekend, when we have a break. I’ll have to think about what to bring her. I say, Ted, want to come home with me and make a little girl’s birthday memorable?”
“Why not?” It would beat going to his own home, that was for certain. “I’ll even bring her a gift. A rose, I think. All girls like roses.”
“I’ll be damned,” he muttered to himself, now, raking a hand over through his hair. He had gifted her a rose. A perfect pink bud which she’d received with delight. And now, she went about smelling like fresh blossoms. Apparently she hadn’t lied abouteverything.
If only Drake were here now to confide in as he always had. Drake, with his innate wisdom, almost as if he’d been born grown.
But Drake wasn’t ever coming home, because he’d followed Teddy to war. Because he’d volunteered to support Teddy’s maneuver and gotten himself killed.
Georgina wouldn’t be privy to the last, but she certainly understood Teddy had drawn her beloved brother into the war that had gotten him killed. Was that why she’d lied? Why she’d set out to make a fool of him? To cut him off at the knees under the guise of helping him to recover?
He would get to the bottom of it—and everything else. His father’s illness, which had him worried about the bastard, despite their troubled relationship.
“Don’t you die on me, old man,” he muttered.
For some reason, his hand, as if it had a will of its own, reached into his pocket and withdrew the document Danvers handed him when seeing him off. He studied the stamped certificate for a long while.
After considering thematter, backward and forward, Georgina descended the stairs from her chamber. She had not changed from her traveling gown, nor had she bothered donning her pelisse or gloves or bonnet despite the chill in the air as dusk approached.
Without a word to her parents, she let herself out the front door.
