I shifted my elbow along the edge of the seat in front of Cleo, closer to Georgiana.Too fast,my mind yelled, but my heart insisted. I whispered, “Do you want me to?”
Her hand stilled. She swallowed. Shook her head slowly. “I have no power over you.”
She truly had no idea. Could not fathom it. “You talk about me bending others to my will, but you have no idea the effect you have. I would do anything to please you. Even attend a play I don’t like with a woman I feel nothing for. Say what you want,whateveryou want, and I will do it.” The backs of my fingers grazed the inside of her forearm, and she shivered.
She hummed and leaned into the chair too. “You cannot mean that. You use these flattering words to tempt me—”
“Am I tempting you?” My voice was too hopeful. Too bright for the moment.
She bit her smile. “I think I might be going mad.”
“Then let us resolve your confusion at once.” My fingers traced up her arm, entwined with hers. She did not pull away, and that was enough to bolster my resolve. “A little game of true or false? I’ll go first. You are interested in Lord Reynolds romantically. True or false?”
Surprised, she let out a nervous laugh. Hesitated for a moment. I watched her eyes change from worried to curious. I saw the moment she decided to play along. “False.”
My tense shoulders sank, and I fought a grin. “How dreadfully disappointing for Mrs. Johns.”
She rolled her eyes, but she was laughing in earnest now. Then she scooted a mite closer, tilted her head back, and looked me directly in the eyes. “You enjoyed your evening with Lady Diana.”
“False,” I quickly clarified. “I was miserable, and my only respite was sitting in front so I did not have to watch Reynolds try to woo you.”
Her grin softened. Her eyes turned thoughtful as her thumb grazed mine.
I could stay here all night. “You think I am arrogant.”
That earned me a smirk.
“Next question, Your Honor.” She raised a brow. “The man on trial already knows my answer. And he would agree with me.”
I snorted. The sound was so abrupt, I tilted my head back, and the resulting laughter bellowed out of me. “How dare you!”
My hand started to release hers, but she pulled it back.
She. Pulled. It. Back.
Our laughter pealed through the library, and we both covered our mouths with our hands. She smiled widely as she put a finger to her lips. The door was open. I wished it wasn’t.
I knew what I wanted to ask next, but I almost lost my nerve. “You find me ... handsome.”
Her humor faded, but her eyes were still bright as they washed over my face. “True.”
I waited for her to say more. To elaborate a little?
She drew my hand into her lap, and I watched as she pressed it between her two palms. “You wish I had a title.”
I wanted to quickly deny it, to pretend like position in Society didn’t matter to me or for the dukedom, but that would be lying. And I owed her the truth. “True,” I said. “But your brother is gentry. Your family name is well-respected amongst theton.”
She wouldn’t look up. So I ducked until she relented. “You don’t think that’s enough,” I murmured.
“True.” She held my gaze. “Because I’ve listened to you say it time and time again. What the dukedom needs. What you expect.”
I swallowed hard. “I regret that most of all.”
A crease formed between her brows. “You think your worth is tied to the dukedom. That if it isn’t good enough,strongenough, then neither are you.”
I let that one settle and took a few unhurried breaths. “I think that is true. But I don’t want it to be.”
Georgiana lifted my hand and examined every mark, every scar, every groove and line. She was solemn. Serious.
