He frowned at her, gaze troubled. “The two of us do not seem…er…that is, I know you are not overly fond of the woman, and I wondered if, perhaps, I might have…” He cursed under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Did I have a dalliance with the woman? Did I betray you and my closest friend, Drake? I really must know.”
Resignation filled her. She lowered onto the sofa. “Come, sit.”
“Oh, dear. That bad is it?”
“Not like you might think.”
“I can’t imagine why I would have done something so foolish as to jeopardize not only my friendship, but the loss of your affections.”
She sent him a gentle smile. “You could never do that.”
Teddy rejoined her and lowered to sit beside her. Close enough their thighs brushed. He ran his knuckles over her cheek. His fingers were chilled from his recent swim in the frigid waters, no doubt, and she shivered.
“How I ever managed to win you is beyond me,” he whispered.
Drat.The backs of her eyes stung, that quickly.
Alarm sharpened his features. “Here, now. This is precisely why I did not want to discuss this. Nothing is worse for me than your tears, darling.”
She blinked them away. “What tears? I got something in my eye.”
A knock sounded on the doorframe.
Georgina and Teddy both glanced toward the room’s entrance to see Mr. Danvers hovering there.
“Yes, what is it?” Teddy asked.
“There’s a travel coach that’s just turned into the forecourt. I’m informed Lady Arlington’s mother is the passenger.”
Georgina surged to her feet. “What?”
“Calm down, darling. It’s not the magistrate, come to take you away,” Teddy soothed, his expression amused.
“Teddy, stay here. I will see to this.”
“I beg your pardon,” he said, no longer sounding the least amused. “I say, hadn’t we better start informing people of our…”
But she did not hear the rest of what he said as she darted through the chamber, past Danvers, and all but flew down the stairs. She could not allow her mother to enter. She could not be permitted to see Teddy here and to know how they’d been living. If she knew, ifanyoneknew—aside from her friends and the household staff—his ability togo on with his life as if none of this had ever occurred should he so choose would cease to exist.
She opened the front door, stepped out, and shut it behind her, then hurried toward the coach. Its door was ajar, its stepped placed. Any minute, her mother would descend.
Georgina climbed the steps to block her mother’s exit. “Mother, hello,” she said, gasping to catch her breath after her mad flight. “What on earth are you doing here?”
Her silver-haired mother looked taken aback—and rightfully so. “Can’t a mother call on her only daughter without raising an eyebrow?”
“Of course, but, didn’t you receive my missive? I can’t receive visitors, presently. I’m behind in my current manuscript. I’ve promised Gwen, and…”
“Well, I never.” Her mother draped the back of her hand over her forehead in dramatic fashion. “Placing your career before your own family.”
“I’m not. That is—”
“Your work shall have to take a back seat, Georgina.” She interrupted, suddenly all business. “As it happens, I have not come for a holiday, but to collect you. Your father wishes to see you.”
She blinked. “What do you mean, ‘wishes to see me’? If this is about acquiring funds—”
“It is not.” Her mother smiled coolly. “You’ve made your stance on providing financial support quite plain. In point of fact…” She broke off and tsked in annoyance. “Dear, must we discuss this like a pair of highwaymen staking out a crossroads? I’d like to attend to my toilette before we set off.”
“Set off?” Georgina aped. She glanced behind her at her villa, trying to determine if she could keep Teddy out of sight for her mother’s brief visit.
