Sculpting this goddess to me, I drank in this kiss as far as I could. I needed it to be seared into my flesh, deep into my chest, down into my heart.
Then when she left me for the sensible, right thing to do, I’d still have a piece of her to guide me and write the music of the brokenhearted.
Chapter 44
GEORGINA—MYFUTURE
Tall Meg of a girl, kissing a man of similar height, objective forever—that should be what the gossips wrote if they saw me in the garden being swept away in Mark’s embrace.
His passion, the way he held me to him was a little loose. I forgave his wandering hands, they were medicated.
But I felt his touch. I wanted it. I needed it everywhere.
I heard a noise and broke away from him.
“I love you, Georgie. Don’t go. Don’t run anywhere without me.”
“Mark, what is our new plan? The Harlbert’s Prize could be something you win next year. What do we do this year?”
He twiddled his fingers along my elbow like I were the keys of the pianoforte. “Our plan? Well, I accepted a commission for tonight’s sonata. As a professional, I’m no longer eligible. The prize committee is committed to starving artists.Hungryis something my wife and I shall never be.”
“How can you say that? You’ve no income. I don’t have a dowry since neither the duke nor my sister will win the bet if I marry you. I come to you with nothing.”
“I want you with nothing. You can wear nothing and love me.”
I shook my head. “How do we live?”
He took a step toward me. “I’ll work for your family.”
“No. No one outside the Wilcoxes will ever run Wilcox Coal again.”
He frowned. “I don’t want to be outside. I want to be where love is. And Georgie, I don’t want any part of operating your family’s company. I meant work for the company. I can drive a coal dray just like Mr. Thom. I’m good with the reins. Just need to feel my hands.”
“Being a mere driver won’t hurt your ego?’
“Hey, I will work hard to be as good as Mr. Thom. And I can still gain commissions designing music rooms. I’ll provide for you. I’ll earn your trust every day.”
He kissed my tears. His mouth grazed over my wet lids. “We’re not false anymore. Georgie, the only responsibility I will demand is to be your husband. I’ll drive coal wagons or sweep for you. You’ll have to show me how to operate a broom better.”
“Stop making me laugh.”
“Georgie, it’s music to me. I’ll do anything to provide for my wife until I can earn enough from my music to lavish you in the manner I was formerly accustomed to. I’m pampered. I just left my mother’s knee. I need a strong woman’s influence to keep me on the straight and narrow. Order me about, woman.”
He was saying all the right words. But didn’t everyone until they got what they wanted? Yet, when I stared at Mark, I knew he spoke the truth.
“I’m scared. Marriage changes so much for a woman. And will you come to hate me when your family never visits or your father cuts us direct in public? Your brothers and their wives too?”
“My father’s prostitute mistress just cut us all. I think I can handle anything. Anything as long as we do it together.”
When he raised his arm, I took it.
“I felt that, Georgie. The feeling’s back.” He clasped my fingers and drew my wrist to his warm, hungry mouth. “Besides, half the commission is yours, and I’m terrible at division.”
Scarlett would show him how to do calculations. “Then, yes, Mark. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He lifted me about the waist and swung me around and around before enfolding me in a congratulatory kiss.
Then he tore himself away. “Go get a bag. Tell your sisters. I’ll tell Torrance that we are eloping. No one will ever separate us, Georgie. No one.”
