Lady Diana asked after my morning, and I blanchedanswering, for I hadn’t the slightest clue howGeorgiana’shad gone, and that made everything a little lackluster as I helped both ladies into the carriage.
“Will anyone else be joining us at the theater?” Lady Diana asked as we settled on opposite benches. Her mother sat beside her.
“My mother, of course, and my cousins. As well as Lord Reynolds and Miss Wood. She is a friend of ours,” I reminded her.
Her mother, Lady Rush, frowned and said, “Do you know her well? Indeed, Your Grace, I am surprised to hear of your family’s connection after reading about her in the papers.”
I cleared my throat, jaw tense. No matter how many times Georgiana reminded me of the rumors, I simply could not understand why they were still floating around. “The papers do not always print the full story. I would encourage you to form your own opinion, Lady Rush.”
“I believe the duke’s intention is to heal his friend’s good name,” Lady Diana said with a smile. “A heroic cause. And not the first time he’s endeavored to help a friend.”
Goodness, what hadshebeen reading? If she spoke of Mrs. Winston, she had no idea what I’d actually done, and no idea that I would never have looked twice at Georgiana if she hadn’t been in possession of my grandmother’s ring.
What did that say about me?
I swallowed hard. I did not care to think overlong on that.
“I’m sure she’s lovely.” Lady Diana smiled at me as though she and I were together in redeeming Georgiana. It felt ... odd. “If the duke feels there is more to the story than what we’ve read in the papers, then perhaps we ought to listen.”
Her mother harrumphed and pursed her lips.
Drury Lane was lit and bustling when we arrived. Lady Rush quickly found an acquaintance to engage in conversation, and I searched the faces of the crowd ahead.
I locked eyes with Georgiana.
No matter that she was on Reynolds’s arm. That she’d dressed so carefully, given so much effort to her appearance knowing he’d be watching her all night.
She was smiling atme.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Georgiana
The Duke of Marlow certainly made an impression.
Everyone looked up as he approached the throng gathering at the entrance, and I could have sworn their voices lowered.
He had Lady Diana on his arm. She wore gold that glittered under the lantern lights. Her skin was porcelain. Her dark, heavy curls were so perfectly arranged atop her head and pinned with pearls, she looked like a painting. She was beautiful. Marlow would be mad not to think so.
“She is perfect,” Maggie whispered at my side.
There was a pang in my chest. An emptiness. “Yes,” I admitted. “She is.”
Gabriel waved them over, and Marlow’s eyes softened when they locked with mine. The older woman accompanying them hurried off to greet someone else.
A moment later, they were in front of us.
Marlow, stiff and regal and all formality, said, “Lady Diana, have you been introduced to my cousins, Mrs. Drexel and Mr. Brennan?”
She nodded and smiled. “Yes, Your Grace, we’ve met.”
“Lord Reynolds and Miss Wood,” he continued the introduction.
Lord Reynolds bowed. “A pleasure to see you again, Lady Diana.”
She smiled but tilted her happy gaze back to Marlow. He didn’t seem to know what to do with her. Maggie seemed to catch on first.
“Shall we? The box is waiting, and I’d dearly hate to be late to a show.”
