The younger Wilcox looked pensive, making marks with her quill. “Since the science isn’t working, let’s start at behavior, social behavior.”
The duke’s face blanked, but he lifted his palm and waved for her to continue.
She lifted her chin. “Does anyone enjoy Drury Lane?”
That was an easy one. I sat back, waiting to see how the men would ruin this one.
Rounds ofIt’s delightful.
And variations ofThe price is good, particularly in the seats by the orchestra pitsounded.
Those were very cheap seats that didn’t adequately protect women from insults, or even from being pelted by food being thrown from a rowdy crowd. I hoped Georgina realized these theater patrons were noes.
My musical student shifted in her seat. “Do we have drama lovers in here that admire Shakespeare?”
Another easy question. Georgie must be tired. Surely Torrance would put an end to this.
Yet what if she’d become so desperate to be married that she’d lower her opinions to find a potential candidate?
My stomach soured. What if I’d made her that desperate?
The scandal still stewed.
Though in the last days, there had been no new cartoons, I knew the ton had not forgotten. Gilroy might even have the audacity to come to the duke’s ball.
A few men mentionedRomeo and Juliet. Another mentionedThe Taming of the Shrew, which drew laughs, but not from the sisters or the duke.
“ ‘She moves me not—or not removes, at least, affection’s edge in me.’ ”
The voice, dark and passionate, came from the rear of the crowded room.
“ ‘If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks, as though she bid me stay by her a week.’ ”
The booming voice grew louder, quoting lines fromThe Taming of the Shrew. Men moved out of the way as one person came forward.
“ ‘If she deny to wed, I’ll crave the day when I shall ask the banns, and when be married.’ Oh, Miss Georgina Wilcox, Miss Scarlett Wilcox. ‘Better once than never, for never too late.’ ”
Georgie stood and began to clap. “Mr. Carew, I did not know you liked Shakespeare. You always seem so reserved.”
“Miss Wilcox, I visited under an official capacity to help your family when illness reared its ugly head. This is a social visit. Torrance, if I had known that you also hold meetings to discuss sonnets, I would find a way to fit them into my schedule.”
Georgie’s face lit. The sister’s too.
The affable, handsome man responsible for the little girl’s recovery was standing in the red study and making love to my Georgie with damned Shakespeare’s help.
Was I wrong, wanting him to trip, to do something to look less assured, less elegant?
“Sir, I’m glad you could come,” Torrance said. “Inviting you to this slipped my mind. That was an oversight. A very bad oversight.”
The duke smirked at Georgina, then engaged Mr. Carew in a deeper conversation.
He dismissed everyone else to the dining room.
Resistant, I began to move.
“Let this all go, Sebastian. Let her go.” Livingston’s admonishment was right but didn’t help.
I left as Georgie started smiling, those gorgeous goddess lips broadly curving and the sweet too-smart Miss Scarlett fanning, looking like she’d swoon.
