He shook his head. “Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, and we were able to take the horses out quickly.”
“Thank the Lord.”
“I thank you for your concern.” He paused, wondering how to broach the subject of their father without alerting the maid who stood behind Miss Georgina a few steps with downcast eyes. “I trust you are enjoying your outing this morning?”
“Indeed, I am. Mornings are the best time, since the shops aren’t as crowded.”
“True, however, I’m surprised you aren’t like most ladies, who don’t wake at the break of dawn.”
She chuckled. “Correct, Your Grace. I’m not like most ladies.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And why is that, I wonder?”
“I suppose it is because I was raised differently than most ladies in theton.”
“Is your father not a baron?” Gavin asked, thinking of the titled man her mother had married.
Slowly, her eyebrow arched. “Yes, Lord Burns is a baron, but I was still brought up differently.”
“Then I suppose you should be commended for being an early riser.”
“I thank you, Your Grace. And from what I hear, you were not raised as other men of your title, either.”
He couldn’t stop the grin from stretching across his mouth. “Actually, I was raised just as the others—by my nanny and governess.”
“Your father wasn’t in your life much?”
“That is stating it mildly. I didn’t even know who my father was until I was seven or eight. Mother always talked about him, but I rarely saw him at the manor, and when I did, I wasn’t sure of his function in my household.”
“Oh dear. That is terrible, Your Grace.”
He nodded. “You can consider yourself fortunate for not growing up with a parent like that.”
As she stared at him, he wished he could read her mind, but her expression was blank. She held her chin up and shoulders back. She didn’t give any indication of her thoughts on the subject.
“But at least you were able to get to know him in your older years,” she said.
“If you consider our short conversationsgetting to know him. But I’m certain you and your father were close.”
“Actually, we were not, if you must know.”
Gavin really wanted to get through this conversation so he could ask her what he really wanted to know, but with the maid so near, he didn’t dare push it. He knew how servants liked to gossip.
“Then I’m sorry for you,” he told her.
“It appears we have the same unfortunate childhood,” she added quickly.
“I didn’t care much about how I was raised, since I had many cousins who filled my days and kept me occupied. I’m sure you’re aware that most of the Worthingtons in England are related in some way. In fact, I hope I don’t overstep my boundaries and make you uncomfortable, but we have discovered many illegitimate offspring in our family line.”
Her eyes widened, and her eyebrows arched higher. Most ladies of thetonwould become embarrassed and let him know that this conversation was extremely improper. However, Miss Georgina’s face didn’t turn red, and as the seconds flew by, she didn’t mention how inappropriate it was for him to speak so boldly.
Finally, she nodded. “Yes, I’m certain there are many.” She tilted her head. “Your Grace, do you know if any of these illegitimate children were ever welcomed into the family?”
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. That would be scandalous, don’t you agree?”
As her expression changed, he could finally read her. She wasn’t pleased at all with his response. Her cheeks tightened and her lips pursed. Although she may never come right out and confess that she knew who’d sired her, the fact was… she wasn’t naïve to her true parentage.
“Scandalous?” she questioned. “Pray, why would it be scandalous if the offspring wants to know their family?”
