“Excellent.” He laid the newspaper on the low table, separated the sections, then unfolded one and began scanning.
Georgina picked up her quill and dipped it in the ink.
Across from her, the paper made a crinkling sound as Teddy turned a page.
She glanced up at the precise moment he did, and their eyes met. He sent her a slow, seductive smile that sent heat spiraling through her.
“How was your swim?” she asked.
“Bracing, but healthful, I’m sure.”
“I’m glad.” She lowered her gaze to her notebook and reread the last sentence she’d written. She was still stumped on that word. What was another term for deliberately confusing a situation? Abruptly the word came to her. She wroteobfuscate.
“Have you been at it since I left?” he asked.
She glanced up. “Mostly. I…er…suffered a momentary distraction, just before you arrived.”
He set the paper aside and blew air out of his cheeks. “Oh. ShouldI…” He gestured toward the exit.
“No. No, of course not. I was thinking about my mother’s last letter.”
Teddy’s eyes narrowed. “Worrying over your father’s welfare, after all?”
“Er…” she hedged. Her mother had, of course mentioned her father’s gambling debts, and the abhorrent Mr. Mealy, in hopes of gaining Georgina’s sympathy, but Georgina had all but ignored the ploy.
“Georgina,” he began in a stern tone. “We discussed this. You’re not to bail him out, again.”
“I understand. If you recall, I already put a halt to the practice. They just don’t want to accept my decision.”
He scowled. “At some point, when I’ve recovered my memories and you don’t feel ashamed to tell the world of my existence, I shall have a frank discussion with him and make the boundary clear to him.” He shifted his attention back to the paper before him and turned the page.
It took a moment for the import of his words to penetrate. Then, she tossed her quill on the notebook and surged to her feet. “I’m not. I would never—”
He stayed her with a hand up, palm out. By every appearance, he was immersed in an article, but the telltale ruddy tinge to his cheeks told a different story.
She rounded the desk and marched toward him, hands on her hips. “Teddy, listen to me.”
With a world-weary sigh, he glanced up. “I can’t.”
She blinked at him. “Why not?”
“Because you’re wearing your mask.”
“My, what?”
“Your spectacles, of which, we’ve already determined, you have no real need.”
She huffed.
“If you have something to say to me, you’ll need to remove them.”
Feeling slightly tricked, she slid them off and folded them.
“And come sit beside me, like a civilized person, rather than a lecturing governess.”
She frowned at him.
“I assure you, I’ve seen my fair share and you definitely resemble one.”
