I took her bottom lip between my teeth, and she went utterly still.
“Ah. Well, I cannot say this is a surprise.”
Gabriel?
Georgiana shot up, leaving me cold and alone, and twisted around. “No, no—this is not what you think. We were ...”
I sat up at her back, still dazed as Gabriel plopped into the seat nearest the hearth, darkened by shadows. “You’ve gotten sloppy, the both of you. Don’t you know half the house is still awake?”
“Gabriel ...” I cleared my throat and ran a hand through my already mussed hair. Shifted my knees. “We—ah.”
“Yes.” He looked between us. “You were.”
I started to laugh at the irony ofGabrielcatchingmein this position.
“This was nothing,” Georgiana rushed to say. “You saw nothing. We were tired. That is all. Marlow meant nothing by it.”
“False.” I tugged on the strings of her robe. “But if you want to keep this a secret, he’ll oblige us. Won’t you, Gabriel?” I warned him with a look.
“Haven’t I for weeks now? You think you’re so secretive. I come in halfway through the night, and the hearth is still burning. Laughter, the clinking of foils. The door wide open. The strangest of all was seeing candles moving in the forest.” He smirked at Georgiana. “I know it was you who convinced him to give me that loan. And I am grateful. So, no. I won’t say anything. But for heaven’s sake, do not act so foolishly with Her Grace three doors down.”
He was right. For once in his life. We were indeed acting like foolish children.
My heart worked to recover a normal rhythm, more so when Georgiana looked fearfully at me over her shoulder. “It won’t happen again,” she said.
My throat went dry. “Don’t say that.”
“Yes, please. Do carry on.” Gabriel sniffed, turning away. “I’ll pretend to watch the fire like a good chaperone.”
“I thought I heard voices in here.” Maggie stood in the doorway.
Georgiana stood. She wrapped her arms around her middle. Her cheeks were rosy. Lips, a little swollen. Her hair was a mess from my fingers. I could not keep my eyes from studying her.
Deuces, had Gabriel not come in first, and stopped us ...
“Couldn’t sleep,” Gabriel told her. “You too?”
Maggie narrowed her gaze at me. “What have I missed? Are you up to something?” Her eyes darted to Georgiana’s.
“We were”—I looked to Georgiana, but she gave me a warning look—“trying something new.”
“Under my ample supervision,” Gabriel added.
Maggie still looked confused. She blinked. Then she sat in Cleo’s chair, scrambling when Cleo stood and jumped down to wind around Georgiana’s ankles. “Are you playing some sort of game?”
Georgiana cleared her throat, Gabriel smirked, and devil take me if I wasn’t blushing like a schoolgirl.
“I should go.” Georgiana started toward the door.
“No—” Gabriel started.
“Please, don’t,” I begged.
“If you’re leaving, then so am I.” Maggie stood.
“Everyone settle down.” Gabriel picked up the fire poker and prodded the logs. “Are we close enough friends that I could have a whiskey in front of our dear Miss Wood?”
“Yes, of course,” Georgiana said softly. Had she moved closer to the door? Cleo stalked behind some bookshelves. Out the window, the night sky shimmered with starlight.
