“No.She didn’t wish it.”That stopped short of a lie.She wouldn’t wish it–if she knew.
Bailey rose while they were sparring and returned with printed sheets.“You can see here, my lord.The lady’s identity isn’t disclosed.”
Glenaire took the pages and read carefully.“‘A Lady of Scholarship,’” he said.He turned the page and began to read.
Andrew stood for a while, watching the Marquess.When he appeared intent on reading the entire thing, Bailey gestured for Andrew to sit in the printer’s own chair behind the desk.Andrew nodded his thanks, eyes riveted on Glenaire.Bailey bustled out; he had work to do.Five minutes later he returned with four additional pages, the final galleys for Andrew’s approval.He left them there, Andrew with his editing pencil, Glenaire reading.
Bailey’s clock showed twenty more minutes gone before Andrew lost all patience.He’d be damned before he’d let Glenaire sabotage the project.He rose to his feet.
“I don’t need your approval,” he insisted.
Glenaire raised an aristocratic eyebrow.“Don’t you?”He went on reading.A few moments later Bailey returned, and Glenaire spoke directly to him.“This is quite good, you know.You do excellent work.”
Bailey’s pride showed, but he was quick to say, “The lady is the one who does excellent work.”
“Quite.”Glenaire’s expression held no surprise.“‘With the assistance of A.Mallet’?Quite a bit of assistance?”
“Less than you might think.It is Geo-, that is, Lady Georgiana’s work.”
“She won’t thank you.”
Andrew stopped breathing.He couldn’t form a clear thought.
Glenaire continued.“She won’t thank you for ordering her life.”
Ordering her life?Is that what I’ve been doing?Andrew stared at Glenaire’s merciless blue eyes.
“You went ahead without her, didn’t you?”Glenaire continued relentlessly.“You gave her no choice about the printing.She won’t thank you.”
“She’ll hate it.”Andrew sank back in his chair.He felt all the fight go out of him.Glenaire watched him and waited.Intimidation, one remembered, wasn’t Glenaire’s style.There were always neater ways to wield the surgeon’s knife.
“I did it again, didn’t I?”Andrew felt like a bungling fool.Of course she would hate it if she had no voice, no choice.Anger had blinded him.Glenaire, damn him, is right.
“You wish me to stop publication,” Andrew rasped.
“I wish?My dear Andrew, we’re discussing what Georgiana might wish.”Glenaire wouldn’t have to block publication.He’d get Andrew to do it himself.
Bailey cleared his throat and spoke in professional tones.“You wish to interrupt the print run?The first eighty pages are already printed, and–”
“I’ll pay for it.”Andrew started to reassure him.
“Finish it.”Glenaire’s emphatic command startled both of them.“Finish it and bind it.”He looked from one to the other.“She may wish it, if you ask her.If she doesn’t, I’ll pay for it and destroy all the copies.”
Disbelief made Andrew mute.Glenaire went on smoothly, “It would be inefficient to lose what is already done.Finish it, Mr.Bailey.Mallet and I will decide its fate aftermy sistermakes her decision.”
Bailey beamed.“It really is good work.It would be a pity not to publish it.”
Glenaire wanted it printed.Andrew couldn’t speak.Glenaire’s eyes held his, challenging, but Andrew held his ground.Glenaire finally looked away first.
“You seem to have learned more quickly than I did,” Andrew whispered at last.
“I had an advantage.She actually discussed it with me at Mountview.I’ll leave you and Mr.Bailey to arrange storage of the copies once they are printed.May I request that you send one round to me at Whitehall?”They knew they couldn’t refuse.Andrew nodded.
The Marquess rose at last.“You do fine work, Mr.Bailey.I’m glad to be acquainted with it.”Bailey would see a steady stream of invitations, cards, and other small jobs coming from Glenaire, Andrew guessed.At least Bailey came out of this fiasco in good shape.
* * *
The roofof Georgiana’s little house proved to be a much more difficult project than expected.There were workers to hire, materials to select, rafters to inspect, and a carpenter to obtain due to a rotten beam.In a rainy March, the weather factored in.The roofers needed four dry days together to get the bulk of the work done.Even then, she discovered, “done” didn’t mean finished.The finish work in her attic and around the eaves would take another few days.
