by Dayna Quince
Georgie burst through the doors, not sparing either of them a glance, and Jeanie followed her back to their rooms.
Chapter 21
Luc contemplate taking a breakfast tray in his room, or feigning an illness, anything to not have to see Jeanie’s face.
No, that wasn’t true. He adored seeing her face, what he didn’t want to see was the hurt he’d caused her.
He’d reviewed last night over and over in his mind, unable to sleep until the wee hours of the morning. And now breakfast would soon be over, but his stomach roiled from either hunger pains or self-loathing.
He’d never been a coward. At least, he hoped nothing he’d done in his life had warranted the label of coward. He focused on his reflection in the mirror, his cravat eschew, his pale gold waistcoat a terrible match to his green jacket. But he just didn’t care. He ripped off the cravat and left his room, his toes dragging as he drudged toward the parlor, coming down the stairs to…
Absolute pandemonium.
Some man ranted in the hall and everyone surrounded him, listening intently.
Roderick held Anne in his arms, and they seemed quite comfortable in the embrace.
Luc moved closer as the man finished his tirade, marching from the hall and the crowd dispersed.
What the bloody hell was going on?
Selhorst caught his eye and Luc went over to him.
“What was that about?”
“What did you hear?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Selhorst nearly spat his coffee out. “Come with me.”
Luc quickly grabbed himself a cup of coffee and followed Selhorst out to a small courtyard.
He sipped the hot brew, the scalding liquid cleaving the fogginess of his mind.
“That was Mr. Marsden.”
Luc swiftly swallowed his coffee before he choked and then had to cough as his throat burned.
“What?”
“He seems interesting, doesn’t he?” Selhorst said as he stroked his chin.
“Very. So what was his issue?”
“Well, Bernie and Chester are missing, but what makes things more scintillating is the big uproar that some whelp had tried to take a liberty from Miss Bernadette and she swatted his nose. Lord Kirkland is insisting they marry, but now—”
“Bernie and Chester are missing,” Luc finished.
“This is quite an exciting house party,” Selhorst commented. He was enjoying this too much in Luc’s opinion, but then again, he wasn’t in love with a Marsden girl and having to break her heart along with his own.
He tossed back the rest of his coffee and grimaced. “What happens now?”
Selhorst shrugged. “I don’t know, but Roderick and Anne’s marriage changes things significantly.”
Luc actually felt his mouth drop open. “Roderick and Anne?”
“I change my mind, this is the most entertaining house party I’ve ever been to,” Selhorst said and sipped his coffee.
Luc tried to wrap his mind around it. He’d talked to Anne on many occasions, even flirted with her a fair bit. Now he understood why Roderick was so moody at the start of the party.
He’d been in love with Anne.
Luc started laughing, and his laughter grew to full on bellows.
Selhorst eyed him warily. “Have you lost your mind?”
Luc nodded, wiping his eyes.
He had, but he wasn’t the only one to lose his head over a Marsden, apparently.
Roderick was in love with Anne, he was in love with Jeanie, and Cage was in love with Georgie.
He scrubbed his hand over his face. But while Roderick and Cage just might marry for love, Luc would not be so lucky.
His mood darkened. He handed his cup to Selhorst and strolled away.
“Where are you going?” Selhorst called after him.
“I need to go for a ride.”
Two days passed, two days in which Luc hadn’t even had Cage to vent his frustration on. He’d been called away for business in Newcastle and left Luc with the task of giving Georgie a message of hope.
Because unlike him, Cage had every hope of winning the heart of his fair maiden, while Luc had to suffer in silence, knowing he was only hurting her more, every day he remained. But he couldn’t leave. It would be incredibly rude and stir up questions. Not to mention Weirick still had the letters from his mother to St. Pierre. He’d forgotten about them for a time, but since confessing to Jeanie about his shameful birth, the letters now rotated in his mind along with thoughts of Jeanie.
He woke, the morning startlingly bright after a night of rain. He dressed, his mind blank for once, his head clear, but he wouldn’t say he was anything close to content. He was empty. A walking husk of a man and he didn’t think he’d be able to be anything else.
The viscount had succeeded in so much more than just ruining the financial viability of Luc’s inheritance. He’d destroyed Luc in ways he’d probably never anticipated. Luc hadn’t picked up a pencil since that night outside the conservatory. He couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t drawn, not since opening the trunk years ago.
The urge was completely gone. He glared scornfully at his hands. What were they even good for now? He could draw, but he couldn’t touch the woman he loved. What was their purpose?
Wearing gloves? Shoveling tasteless food into his mouth?
He didn’t even check his reflection after he shrugged on his coat. He just didn’t care what he looked like. He rubbed his jaw as he left his room, scratching the patch of whiskers he’d missed while shaving this morning, and then finding a sore spot. He must have nicked himself. As he entered the main hall, he heard a commotion, and caught a footman running across the corridor.
“Where’s the fire?” he asked.
“Miss Bernadette, sir. She was kidnapped. We’re all heading to Kirkland!”
Luc stilled. “Did you say kidnapped?”
“She was spotted walking toward the castle this morning and a coach stopped, a man dragging her inside.”
Luc’s stomach rolled over. He took a deep breath.
“Go. I won’t keep you.” His heart pounded as he merged into the melee outside the castle, guests and servants intermingling in a caravan to Kirkland.
Ahead of him, he spotted Jeanie and Georgie, arms hooked together as they scurried down the lane. He tried to catch up with them but also keep his distance. He just wanted to be close enough to make sure Jeanie was all right.
Carriages arrived bearing the Kirkland crest, and Chester emerged with his mother and then his father, who was wounded. At last, Bernie and her father exited, and the relief of her family was palpable. There was an obvious body wrapped in cloth on top of the carriage. Chaos ensued, people swarming around them, Kirkland guests, Selbourne guests. Luc couldn’t reach Georgie, but he was close enough to hear her panicked cry.
“What is happening?” Georgie asked in agitation.
Luc took her arm and pulled her away from the crush. “They won’t tell us anything just yet. We may as well return and wait in comfort.”
Georgie glared at him with skepticism, but she let him escort her away.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” she asked him.
He nodded stiffly. Scandal. The likes that would never be confined to Northumberland.
“We’re all ruined,” Georgie whispered. “None of us will be able to marry. No one will accept us.” She swallowed. “All of you should leave or you’ll become a farce like us.”
His gaze pinned her. “I know what the ton is capable of. Society is an intricate web we must all navigate.”
“An interesting analogy,” she returned bitterly. “Are my sisters the flies that are now caught, soon to be devoured?”
He touched her elbow and they both slowed, the crowd moving on ahead of them. Her anger was warranted. She had every right to be scared too. But he wanted her to know he would help them any way he could.
“I didn’t think you, out of all your sisters, would
fall to hysterics.”
“I’m not hysterical,” Georgie hissed. “I’m worried about my sisters. Do you know what that feels like? Do you have siblings?”
His gut tightened. “I do. Two. A sister and a brother. I’m all they have, and I know what it means to worry over them, over their futures.”
“Then you should go home to them because nothing good will come of staying here, of being near us. Bernie once said we are cursed, and now I think I believe her.”
He chuckled. “So now you seek to push me away?”
Her gaze snapped to his. “Why would you stay? We mean nothing to you.”
His expression hardened. Jeanie meant everything to him. He glanced ahead to where she walked beside Josie, throwing concerned glances his way. He could see the pain in her eyes, even from here. He wanted to go to her, to hold her and comfort her.
But he didn’t have that right.
“Unless I’m wrong about you, as I was wrong about Gavin?” Georgie said slyly.
She was. But pointing out that fact wouldn’t change anything. “It may come as a surprise to you that I could care about someone other than myself, but I wouldn’t expect you to know that about me. Most people get what they see with me, the rake, the charmer, the showman. But no one knows me, not the real me.”
Except Jeanie.
“So who are you?”
“That isn’t important now, is it? What matters this moment is how you will choose to react. Will you fight for your sisters?”
“Of course.”
“Will you fight for Gavin?”
She bit her lip. Then she nodded.
“Then the scandal doesn’t matter. What others think doesn’t matter anymore, and you are free to be truly happy. Your indifference to it becomes your greatest strength. For example, Weirick. He was one of the ton’s biggest scandals and yet he is now most coveted.”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s a duke, and he never goes to town. He loathes society.”
“True but not giving a damn, pardon my language, is the key. The ton will scent weakness and attack it. But strength is lauded, individuality, cunning intelligence, those things are greater allies. Plus friends like me. Weirick will go to London when necessary to fulfill his duty in the House of Lords. He doesn’t socialize but Violet does. She is welcomed in every circle of the ton.”
“I can see how they could overcome their past, but their circumstances are very different from my sisters and I.”
“You are strong and so are your sisters.”
“Thank you, but…”
“No. Do not for one second doubt what you have here. I knew of you before but having spent nearly two weeks with the lot of you, I know you. You are all exceptional, and I doubt your lack of wealth will hinder you very much should you make it to the London season.”
Georgie scoffed. “Are you mad? We won’t ever have a season now. We’ll be lucky to live off Roderick’s generosity.”
Now he stopped, forcing Georgie to stop.
“Would you care to make a bet?”
Georgie scoffed. “I beg your pardon?”
“I predict no less than four Marsden sisters will be betrothed by the end of this party. You will be one of them if you heeded my advice two days ago.”
Georgie laughed. “Are you mad?”
“I’m observant, Miss Georgette.” And envious.
Now that he’d lost his own heart, he could see the undercurrents of love all around him.
She shook her head. “I’ll take that bet. I can’t lose.”
He grinned and presented his hand. “When I win, you’ll owe me an apology, and I’ll have rights to name your first child.”
She blushed. “Ridiculous but very well. And when I win you shall owe me a favor.”
“Agreed.”
They shook hands and turned back toward the castle. Jeanie was waiting for them.
They resumed their march to the castle. Jeanie waited for them, but they hadn’t reached her yet. Would she speak to him? Or would she turn her back?
His throat tightened, his pulse speeding up with every step toward her.
“Which four do you predict?” Georgie asked.
He blinked. “What?”
“You predicted four. Which sisters? Jeanie?”
He glanced at her, his eyes narrowed. He could feel a flush creeping up his neck. If Jeanie married, it wouldn’t be to him. Had another man taken his place so soon?
“Why do you say her?”
Georgie shrugged. “I just have a feeling.”
“Yes. Well”—he cleared his throat—“she isn’t one of my predictions.”
“Then who?”
His lips twisted in what was hopefully a smile and not the snarl he wanted to make. “Obviously, Anne and Bernie.”
“Bernie?” Georgie said with surprise.
Had she been so obtuse? Or just distracted with Cage? Chester had been mad for Bernadette for years. Luc would wager this morning would mark a significant change in their relationship if there hadn’t been one already.
“She and Chester will marry. If they don’t, I’ll eat my hat. Then there is you and Cage.”
She sucked in a breath, as if she still couldn’t believe that Cage was madly in love with her.
Luc grinned, feeling a glimmer of hope, because he was certain. And he was happy to see his own friend find love, even if Luc couldn’t have it. Cage deserved to be happy. As did Georgie.
“When he returns, he’ll have come to his senses,” he said.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’s mad for you, and some time away will only have clarified that to him. He’ll come back and this time he won’t take no for an answer.” And he had plenty of coin to help her family.
Between Roderick and Cage, they’d never have to worry again.
“He told you?”
“Yes. He comes to me for sage advice from time to time.”
“You thought I was a Gemma,” she accused.
He chuckled. “An unusual way to put it but yes, at first I did.”
“That doesn’t speak well of your observational skills.”
He shrugged. “If you knew Gemma, you might think otherwise.”
She glared at him. “She is a courtesan!”
“Yes, but she is so much more than that. Just as you are so much more than a poor gentlewoman. Gemma is my friend. She is funny and kind, and more importantly, she controls her life, which is something I also see in you. You defy convention, just as Gemma does.”
“I see,” Georgie said, “but that wasn’t what you saw in me at first.”
Luc chose his words carefully. “It was Cage who changed my mind. He saw something I did not. His attraction to you was undeniable, even to himself. I read you wrong, distracted by your unusual qualities. Forgive me.”
“I forgive you. But don’t say those other things aloud, I beg you. No one can know about Mr. Cage and I.”
He stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. “You will be one of the sisters who marry. It is only a matter of time before he returns, and he will propose again. What will you say?”
“Hush.”
“What will you say?” he pressed.
“I don’t know. There is too much to think about,” she said noncommittally.
He didn’t like it. He wanted an answer. He wanted to see them both happy.
“Think quickly. I predict he will return before the ball.”
“Predict. Do you read palms, Lord Luckfeld?”
“Honestly I’ve never tried, but that does sound like something I’d be good at.”
She snorted.
Jeanie joined them as they reached the castle. “We should see to Mother,” she said to Georgie, her gaze meeting his for only a brief second.
“Thank you for your advice, my lord.”
His heart felt like a cold stone. She’d never been this cool to him, even when she was angry. “I look forward to seeing the outcome, Miss Georgette.” He bowed and move
d away.
Chapter 22
“What was that about?” Jeanie asked as they headed toward the dowager duchess’ private parlor where their mother was resting, waiting to hear news of Bernie. Jeanie didn’t know what they would say since Bernie had refused to come back with them.
“Nothing,” Georgie said.
“It didn’t sound like nothing, and given all that has occurred, I’m averse to more secrets between us. First Anne, now Bernie, and—” She threw her arms up in the air.
“We’re Marsdens, did you expect anything less from this party than utter catastrophe?”
“Yes, I did!” Jeanie said. “I hoped and prayed for it.”
Georgie put her hand on Jeanie’s shoulder and they stopped in the hall.
“It’s all right,” Georgie said.
But it wasn’t. For two days she’d been alone with her thoughts, unable to put her feelings into words that didn’t scare her. And Luc… He’d stayed away. He truly thought there was no way for them to be together, and damn him, he was choosing the responsible path.
It was up to Jeanie to do something.
“I’m frightened,” she confessed.
“Me, too,” Georgie said, her voice shaking.
Jeanie sucked in a breath. “I saw…the body. I don’t even want to think about what happened to Bernie. But it feels like so much is being kept from us. We’re sisters. Why didn’t we know Anne was in love with Roderick or about Bernie and Chester?”
“I don’t know.” Georgie rubbed her back. “We’ve all been…”
Hiding. Planning to break a promise made to the man I love so that I can be with him.
“Distracted by our own hopes for this party. We’ll find out the details soon enough.” Georgie turned away. But Jeanie couldn’t move from the wall that propped her up. She didn’t think her legs would carry her.
But she straightened and pushed away from the wall, following Georgie. She couldn’t fall apart, not when the battle wasn’t yet won. If she was going to change her fate, she couldn’t let fear stand in her way. She had once chance to prove to Luc that they could make it work.
She had to believe that if given the chance, he would want to. She had to believe that though he was trying to do the right thing, he loved her. Because if he didn’t, this crazy plan of hers would never work.
