“I am the Duke of Marlow. I have made my judgment on Miss Wood. We are friends, and I will not throw her out before her already short time here expires.”
Georgiana chewed on her lip, evidently thinking through her own response to my mother’s reaction. Her clear eyes flicked to mine. “Let us go out again together with a new aim in mind. We can prove them all wrong.”
Was that so?
“Marlow must be seen out alone,” Mother argued.
Georgiana shook her head. “You will only have them wondering where I am. If I am present but mingling with the ladies, I can earn their confidences and better help guide the duke in making his choice.”
“I agree,” Maggie said, sitting up straighter. “I can mingle with her. Ensure the proper assumptions are being whispered.”
“And what, pray tell, shall I be doing?” I asked them.
Georgiana waved a hand in my direction. “Walking a few paces behind with Lady Diana on your arm.” No hesitation. Only quick thinking.
“Must it be her?” I asked with a sigh.
“If you seek a love match, we could reconsider—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I relent.”
Mother blinked between us. “Where do you suggest?”
Again, Georgiana did not hesitate. “Drury Lane.”
The theater would be bustling with all the elite. Eyeseverywhere. It fit her desires perfectly. We were all playing into her hand like fools.
Mother considered a moment, then she turned to me. “You’ll have to call upon Lady Diana straightaway and extend the invitation.”
I gulped down the rest of my tea. “As I’ve said, I have a meeting.”
She ushered me to stand. “Hurry off, then. It won’t take long. And you, Miss Wood, can accompany Margaret to a few houses as well. Get word out that you, too, are looking for a match with the duke’s blessing.”
“A ... a what?” Georgiana blanched, and something in my chest hardened. That hadn’t been the plan. Not by far. “Your Grace, with all respect—”
“I know just who to visit,” Maggie said, standing. “Mrs. Johns isthematchmaker of the ton. She knows every eligible gentleman worth his snuff. We shan’t be gone long. Grab your bonnet!”
“But I have no interest whatsoever—”
Maggie drew her up from her seat. “Of course you do! You must marry eventually, so why not incite their interest now? I’ll have Toole call for the carriage, and Marlow can take the gig!”
Georgiana clasped her hands together. The crease between her brows returned. “But, I—”
“Nonsense!” Maggie turned her toward the door, and in a flutter of skirts, they were off.
I watched the empty doorway until the foyer grew quiet.
For once, I regretted the silence.
I thought back on my morning—of all that had transpiredin the space of only a few hours—and felt the weight of it settle heavily upon my shoulders. Toole, I could manage. Gabriel—I wasn’t so sure. I needed to talk with him. Perhaps over dinner at White’s later this evening. He was angry with me. He often was. But this time felt different. This time felt like a shift between us, causing a break that might not easily be mended, and I hadn’t the wisdom to decipher a way forward. Father always seemed to know exactly what to say and how to say it, and I ... I was not him.
And then this business with Lady Diana. I felt little urgency, though I knew I should encourage her. For the dukedom.
I thought of last evening with Georgiana and fought a smile. How had we managed to not only scheme thetoninto believing our friendship but an intimate one at that? It hadn’t all felt like a pretense. Neither had seeing her this morning.
“Thank heavens for that.” Mother settled back in her seat. “You’ll need your hat.”
I placed my empty cup on the tea tray. “Mother, I do not have time for this. Any of it.”
