He could see him, wagging a crystal cut glass in his fist, eyeing Teddy as if he were the scourge of the nation.
Show no chink. Shame yourself and you shame me.
He must’ve tensed, because Georgina’s eyes winked open. “Darling? What is it?”
Georgina hadn’t mentioned anything about his father’s predilection for overimbibing when he’d asked about his home life.
She hadn’t known, which meant he hadn’t told her—and he damned sure didn’t want to tell her, now.
For God’s sake, add it to the growing list. In this instance, however, he understood that to do so would be to reveal a deep, festeringchink, something he’d been trained from birth never to do.
Yes, he knew that, like he now knew his future was to live up to his father’s title. Feeling sick, he nevertheless managed a carefree smile and eased himself out of her warmth.
She reacted, reaching for him as if she didn’t wish to let him go.
“Now, darling,” he drawled, suppressing the warmth her unguarded response heralded in him, then untangled his limbs from hers and rose. “You very distinctly informed me of your need to work.” Resisting the urge to help her right her bodice and skirts, he turned his back on her, refastening his pantaloons and retucking his shirttails en route to the door.
“You’re going, then?”
“I am. Danvers is probably climbing the walls, trying to do your bidding. It’s certainly past time for my medicine. I’m surprised you haven’t pointed that out.”
“Of course. Silly of me.”
Glancing over his shoulder at her, he sent her a cavalier nod, ormeant to. For a moment all he could do was stare at the vision she made while his insides churned.
Her silvery eyes softened and she sent him one of her angelic smiles.
Show no chink.
Jamming a hand through his hair, he faced forward and strode for the door.
“What about the newspaper you brought?”
“There’ll be another tomorrow. May I suggest you retie your bodice, my dear?” he offered dryly, before unshooting the lock.
“Yes, of course.”
He waited until he heard the whisper of fabric that told him she’d set about righting her clothing, then let himself out.
Later that evening,Georgina descended the stairs for supper, a distinct sense of unease whispering through her.
Last night, this morning, and this afternoon with Teddy, had been nothing short of heaven on earth. The pretend marriage ceremony, his sweet attentions to her person, and making love, all conspired to make her feel…well, how she imagined a newlywed wife, married to the man of her dreams, might.
But then, this afternoon, after they’d made love on the sofa, something had changed. One minute she was basking in love’s sweet afterglow, convinced Teddy was as replete and content as she. The next Teddy couldn’t get out of the chamber quickly enough.
She reached the dining room entrance, and was not surprised to see that Teddy was not in attendance.
Perhaps he was merely minutes behind her.
She’d eyed the closed guest chamber door when she returned toher bedchamber to dress for dinner. Pausing in the corridor to listen, she heard movement. She hadn’t expected that Teddy would continue to use the guest room, not that they’d discussed him moving his things into the master suite.
Passing by en route to the stairs just now, his door—the guest chamber door—was still closed, but a thin seam of light had burned along the frame.
Surely that meant he’d be down soon.
When the maid came in with dinner for one, Georgina guessed he’d sent word to the kitchens that he would not be in attendance.
She could confirm her suspicions, if she but asked, but could not bring herself to admit aloud that he had notified the servants—and not her, his wife.
