“So early?” Where was Cleo? The only creature who might make her stay.
Georgiana stopped by the door. “We both have a late night ahead tomorrow.”
Ah. Drury Lane. My shoulders sank. “Looking forward to it, are you?”
“Our second outing,” she said softly. “The third, not long after. Then your debt will be paid.”
“I told you, I do not care about that ridiculous contract. Not anymore.” I cared about Grandmother’s ring, but the rest of it was meaningless to my current desires.
“It is not ridiculous to me.” She raised her chin. Her arms hugged her middle. “Your friendship means a great deal to me, and I am happy to have it. But if anyone heard you speak likethatto me, Marlow, they would judge me harshly.”
“Lucas. If you please.” I took a step forward. “And I thought we decided we did not care what other people think.”
She retreated under the doorframe. “I wish I did not have to.” Her eyes found mine, and I hated the pain in her eyes. “Nevertheless, I came here to restore my reputation, not to distract a duke from his duty. If you’ll excuse me.”
She turned from the room.
In the silence, among the scattered chairs, the table, and her discarded glove, I stood alone and faced the truth. Georgiana might feel an inkling for me of what I felt for her, but she had set her mind adamantly against it.
Shewantedme to court Lady Diana. As though it was my duty.
And about theton, she wasn’t wrong. If I abandoned Lady Diana, and thetonsaw us out together, the rumors would spread wider than they had already. No matter my name, nor my title, even I could not stop them from becoming as angryand nasty as they had when she’d first arrived. They’d say far worse than that she’d seduced me. They’d say that she’d take me for my title and my wealth, that she’d ruin my family’s name with her conquests.
They would hurt her.
In time, the rumors would fade.
I needed Georgiana to believe enduring theton’s harsh judgments was worthwhile.
ThatIwas worthwhile.
I needed her to believe that we could withstand it all, together.
But, first, I had to endure my own personal purgatory—Drury Lane with Lady Diana.
ChapterTwenty
Georgiana
“Which dress for tonight, Miss Wood?” Jane opened the armoire. She fingered the dresses hanging there, so many different shades.
I’d slept hardly half the night after fencing with Marlow, and the following day had passed in a blur.
Lucas.
I shook my head. I’d heard his Christian name spoken by his family, but to use it myself?
That felt like crossing a line I oughtn’t ever to cross. Not if I wanted to keep control of my heart. He drove me mad, the way he spoke with such intimacy. It was fortunate I’d already learned my lesson about kissing a man, for I had almost fallen for his charms. Again.
I’d had half a mind to march right up to him and return his grandmother’s ring just to see if he’d still look at me the same way. Would he send me away if I gave back what he wanted most?
It did not matter. If anything happened between us, an embrace, a kiss, even if we were seen together amongst thetonagain as we had that night at Mrs. Waymont’s, then ugly,harmful words would spread. Lucas—Marlow—hadn’t argued with me about that. He knew thetonas well as I did.
He loved his dukedom. He wanted the best for his future and his father’s legacy. Whatever he wanted from me, it would be fleeting. I could not give him what he truly needed, what the dukedom needed—a worthy, suitable match.
It was better that we continued on with the plan we’d set out. He, with Lady Diana. And me with Lord Reynolds, who would arrive to escort me in a few hours.
Jane turned from the armoire with a questioning look.
