“Not initially, no.I understand that someone released it accidentally before I could approve.Richard, I would have approved it.The intent was always to publish it.Now that the first run has sold out, we’ve ordered an additional printing.”
“When Andrew came to Mountview, this was his business?”
“Yes.”She faced him defiantly.
Richard ran his long graceful fingers over the rich brown leather.“It is quite good, a very fine piece of work.Georgiana, I had no idea.I read it in London, at Bailey’s, before it was printed.”
The air left her lungs in a rush, as if forced.“I didn’t know that.Andrew didn’t tell me.”
“As I said, it’s quite good but not the work of one A.Mallet, I believe.”
“Not entirely, no.But without him there would be no book.Is mother in collapse or preparing warfare?”
“Warfare, but not the sort that involves frontal attacks.”
“How so?”
“All violence of feeling has been in private.She is more concerned about deflecting any rumors about the ‘Lady of Scholarship.’She chooses not to know who it could possibly be.”
“Ignore the unpleasant, and it will wither?”
“Exactly.It’s quite effective.No one dares to contradict her.”
“His Grace?”
“Isn’t interested in scholarship.”
“I see.If he chooses notto know about it, it doesn’t exist.And you?”
“If the Lady of Scholarship wishes to remain private, I have no quarrel with it.I’m proud of you.”
She looked away, overwhelmed.He was giving her his approval.
“Are you still set on living alone in a hovel?”
“It wasn’t a hovel!”
Damn Richard’s arrogance.
A commotion on the stairs spared her from answering any further.Georgiana heard Jamie’s heavy steps bypass Andrew’s lumbering climb.Jamie burst into the study first.
“Richard!Come to join the wedding party, have you?Too late.Andrew has already assigned the honor of standing up with him to me.”He defied the Marquess to stand in their way.
Silence followed that amazing speech.Richard looked over at Georgiana.Whatever questions he had must have been answered, because he gave her one of his rare smiles.
“Don’t be foolish, Heyworth.I’m here to give the bride away.”He raised her hand and kissed her fingers, whispering as he did so, “Thank God.I feared for you alone.”
Tears sprang to her eyes.His concern touched her heart in spite of his managing ways.
Andrew removed her hand from her brother’s, a protective glare dark in his eyes.The ferocious expression delighted Georgiana.
“Consider the bride presented, Richard.You are welcome to share in our joy, but I warn you?—”
Richard raised a hand to pause, but Andrew overrode it and went on, “—that if you hurt her in any way, if she suffers the slightest humiliation or difficulty, there will be hell to pay.”
“My dear Andrew, that should be my speech to you,” the marquess replied with perfect hauteur.
“Richard, what about His Grace?”Georgiana asked, suddenly anxious.
