An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House Book #2)

by Kristi Ann Hunter

  “Good t-to see you!” Lavinia reached across the table and clasped Georgina’s hand.

  Georgina glanced around. Lavinia was alone. “Where is your maid?”

  “Mother is shopping. She’ll walk home with me.”

  They ordered coffee, and the conversation was stilted for the first few moments, but it didn’t take long before the two fell into their normal pattern, sharing stories and telling jokes. Eventually Georgina didn’t even hear Lavinia’s stutters anymore.

  A curl of jealousy hit Georgina in the heart. She’d never been jealous of Lavinia before. Pitied her, yes, since the other girl was unable or unwilling to hide her affliction, but never jealousy. Yet here Lavinia was, talking about her plans and opportunities in London seemingly without concern of what would happen when people heard her speak.

  “Aren’t you worried? Even just a little bit?” Georgina asked after Lavinia had laid out her hopes that someone more suitable than Mr. Dixon would come into her life during her six weeks in London. As much as she tried, Georgina couldn’t shake the thought that Miranda might have been right about Lavinia’s poor prospects.

  Lavinia gazed out the window over the other patrons’ heads. “D-did you know that Moses didn’t speak well?”

  Moses? Was Georgina supposed to know someone named Moses? “Oh?”

  With a nod, Lavinia sat forward in her chair, leaning over the table as if she were about to gift Georgina with the most amazing piece of gossip.

  Georgina couldn’t help leaning in herself. Even Harriette, who had set her chair back from the table and busied herself with a bit of knitting, tilted her head to hear better.

  “Moses couldn’t speak well, and God used him anyway. I understand he’s responsible for the first five books of the B-Bible.”

  Georgina hated the man already. He’d started that book her family seemed to obsess over. “What has that to do with anything?”

  “Well, the way I see it, if a man of G-god has the same affliction I d-do, then I d-don’t think G-god wants me to worry about it.”

  Georgina wasn’t sure that was how it worked, but if it gave Lavinia the confidence to move about London, she wasn’t going to argue. It wasn’t fair that God gifted some people with whatever they needed to feel good about themselves. Of course He frequently seemed to give out gifts through that book of His, which meant He didn’t have anything for Georgina or He’d have made it so she could read it.

  No matter what they said in church on Sunday, it was obvious to Georgina that she wasn’t one of His special children. She’d done something so wrong as a child that God had blocked her out of the family when she was still learning to walk.

  “I wish you the best of luck.” Georgina squeezed Lavinia’s hand, knowing it was the truth. “I don’t know when we’ll be able to meet again. Mother has my schedule sewn up for the next several weeks.” And that was a lie.

  “I’m happy we were able to meet t-today. My aunt secured a few exciting invitations, so p-perhaps we will meet again while I am here.” Lavinia’s eyes relayed the understatement she was making. If her wide-eyed anticipation was anything to go by, her aunt had been invited to an event or two well above their normal circle of acquaintances.

  That made Georgina a bit nervous. They were bound to be large parties, though, or even balls, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for Georgina to convincingly avoid Lavinia at those events. “I’ll keep an eye open for you.”

  Guilt turned the coffee she’d drunk into a toxic sludge in her midsection. She would keep watch for Lavinia, though not for the reason the other girl probably thought. Georgina would look for Lavinia because Miranda was right. Even the server walking by their table had looked askance at Lavinia as she stumbled over her words. Imagine what the ton was going to do to her.

  When Lavinia’s mother joined them, Georgina kept the conversation as brief as possible before making her good-byes.

  In deference to Harriette’s ankle, Georgina hired a hack to take them back to their normal section of Mayfair. The silence was thick as they watched the town homes grow taller and nicer.

  “I’ve nothing to feel guilty about.”

  Harriette’s tilted her head in confusion. “My lady?”

  Georgina shifted in her seat. This hack could certainly do with some fresh cushions on the seat. “There’s country life and Town life. A girl shouldn’t have to live both of them in the same set of streets.”

  Harriette said nothing, and Georgina avoided looking in her direction. Colin’s voice was already berating her. She didn’t need Harriette’s sad eyes joining the party.

  “Did I see you speaking with Miss Clemens in a coffeehouse yesterday?”

  Georgina startled at Ashcombe’s statement. It was the first words he’d said since picking her up for a drive nearly ten minutes ago. She’d been sitting next to him, letting her mind wander as it did so often for the past two days. Two days in which she hadn’t seen Colin McCrae at all, though he’d seen fit to pop into her mind at the most inopportune moments.

  “Lady Georgina?” Ashcombe prodded.

  What had he asked about? Oh yes, coffee with Lavinia. How had he known about that? “I did have coffee with Miss Clemens. She and I know each other from the country.”

  Ashcombe’s mouth pressed into a thin line as he nodded. “You’ll not be seen with her again.”

  Georgina’s eyes widened. Not even Griffith had been so demanding as to refuse to allow her to spend company with a person. It didn’t matter that Georgina had come to a similar conclusion herself. For Ashcombe to dictate such a thing when they hadn’t even spoken of marriage was absurdly high-handed. “I beg your pardon.”

  The smile that twisted his lips didn’t curl in any natural way—it gave off a sinister feeling instead. He should practice it in a mirror. “We both know I don’t take many ladies out for a drive. If I’m to associate myself with you, I require you to maintain a certain image. Image is key to a man’s success, you know, and his wife’s behavior reflects on him even more than it reflects on her.”

  She was torn between giddiness that he’d referred to her as his potential wife and anger over the presumption that his reputation mattered more than hers.

  Isn’t that why you’re seeking a man of high regard? So that his reputation can save yours from future damage?

  Georgina formed the mental image of a tiny Colin McCrae tumbling over the side of a cliff. How did Lord Ashcombe even know who Lavinia was? Georgina was depending on no one recognizing her even if they happened to see Georgina with her. “What is wrong with Lavinia Clemens? Her father owns a successful set of lumber mills.”

  Ashcombe nodded. “Yes, I know. Clemens is a good man. Such a shame he had a stupid daughter. I do wonder at his judgment in sending her to London.”

  Her jaw dropped open for a moment before she recalled how inelegant surprise looked. Had he called Lavinia stupid? “Lavinia is brilliant.”

  “I can see where you would think so. She dresses quite smartly and paints a pretty picture from across the room, but she reveals her true intelligence whenever she speaks a sentence over four words. You must have noticed. While it is kind of you to overlook it, I must ask that you confine your works of charity to more obvious and helpful causes.”

  Her works of charity? Georgina sat back against the curricle seat. Did she consider Lavinia charity work? It was possible. In the country she considered the other girl a friend, but she had walked halfway across town to meet her somewhere she thought none of her other friends would be about. Apparently Lord Ashcombe had been.

  That sounded considerably more selfish than any charity work would be.

  “Has your brother spoken of any plans he has for going to Gloucester any time soon?”

  The change of subject caught Georgina off guard. “My brother?”

  “Riverton. Has he plans to travel to Gloucester?”

  When had they stopped talking about Lavinia? Ashcombe made a declaration and that was the end of the discussion? Why w
ould he discount her opinion? Why just assume she would abide by his wishes when they had no formal or even informal agreement between them? What would he say about her own failing if he felt so strongly about her distancing herself from Lavinia’s? Georgina’s head spun from the abundance of questions. “N-no. I haven’t heard of any plans.”

  “Hmmm. Do keep me informed if you hear otherwise. I have holdings of my own in Gloucester I should like to discuss with him if he makes the trip.” Ashcombe turned the horses around.

  Georgina was surprised to feel relief that they were on the back end of their journey together. He’d made yet another declaration. How much worse would it get if they got married?

  And when had she started thinking in terms of if?

  “Good evening, Colin.”

  Colin nearly dropped his drink. When Trent had issued the invitation to an informal dinner, Colin never dreamed Georgina would be in attendance. Trent was living in bachelor lodgings after all, not exactly the place one expected to find unmarried young ladies, even if they were related.

  He’d been doing his best to avoid this particular young lady and having great success at it, though it meant he was having to work considerably harder at his club to keep up with the latest gossip and happenings.

  Wishing he’d seen her before she’d noticed him, he gave her his attention and immediately felt like he’d been without drink for days. Her dinner dress was the simplest gown he’d ever seen her wear, the clean white silk decorated only with a garden of embroidered white flowers across the bodice and hem. The short puffed sleeves were nearly transparent and only a single perfect curl draped down from the hair piled atop her head. It was obvious her beauty didn’t come from embellishments.

  He took a quick swallow of drink before responding. “Good evening, Lady Georgina.”

  She arched her eyebrow. “I thought we’d dispensed of this lady nonsense.”

  Colin’s eyes narrowed as he took another slow sip of his drink. What was she after? “I don’t think Lord Ashcombe would take kindly to the familiarity.”

  Georgina pointedly looked about the room. “Ashcombe isn’t here, is he?”

  What was the young lady up to? Despite the number of times they’d been thrown together, she had never sought him out. Even though the party was decidedly small, there were enough people about that they could have busied themselves with other conversations for most of the evening. Georgina obviously wanted something, and Colin was in no mood to be toyed with. She bewildered him enough as it was. “What do you want, Georgina?”

  She looked down at the drink in her hand, giving the liquid a swirl before glancing up at him through her eyelashes. “I was hoping you would know of a businessman looking for a wife.”

  Colin had fallen off a boat once. The current had pulled him under and dragged him against the wooden hull until he didn’t know which way was up. Georgina’s statement left him swimming in a similar state of discombobulation. Feelings warred with questions and bumped against logical skepticism. The clenching of his gut left him wondering if she’d begun to look at him a bit differently. The practical businessman in him poked at the sentence, looking for her scheme, trying to figure out what she hoped to gain by such a request. Most of him, however, was left in a state of confusion, asking the same question over and over. “What?”

  “I asked if you knew of a businessman looking for a wife.”

  That was what he’d thought she said. It didn’t make any more sense the second time around.

  Colin set his drink on a nearby table before he spilled it. “Why?”

  “Because I thought it would make an interesting conversation.” She rolled her eyes and turned to look across the room. “Why do you think I’m asking? Because I know a woman who would make a wonderful wife to a business-minded man.”

  Colin blinked. Would this woman ever do what he expected her to? She wanted to play matchmaker? “What kind of a businessman?”

  “How should I know? I didn’t even know there were different types of businessmen.”

  He turned to look across the room as well, standing so that their shoulders almost brushed. The other occupants of the room mingled freely, smiling and laughing with each other. Colin had definitely stumbled into a family affair. A pang of longing hit him in the chest as he thought how much his mother and sister would enjoy such a gathering. His father would have set sail in order to miss it. “Maybe I’d like to meet her myself.”

  She frowned. “You?”

  The idea grew in his mind, nourished by the consideration he’d been giving Alastair’s proposition. Even if he didn’t choose to return to Scotland and court Erika, there was no reason why he shouldn’t find someone else to marry. He could easily support a family. “Why not me?”

  “She wouldn’t suit you at all,” Georgina spit out in a rush.

  Colin’s brows drew together. “Why not?”

  “Oh look, my mother has arrived.”

  Colin was fairly certain Lord and Lady Blackstone had been in the room for at least ten minutes, but he didn’t stop Georgina from rushing to her mother’s side. To be honest, he didn’t really want Georgina to answer that question. There wasn’t an answer that wouldn’t make his life infinitely more difficult. Either she saw a problem with him and knew he would make a horrible husband or she shared just enough of his attraction that she didn’t want to see him with anyone else, even though she didn’t actually want his attention herself.

  Not that he’d offered it.

  But he was coming to discover that Georgina was a jewel with hidden depths, facets that made themselves known at the oddest moments. She intrigued him. That was a good word for it. Intrigue was safe. He simply wanted to figure her out, how her inability to read fit with her social savvy and the occasional burst of goodwill toward other people. She was a puzzle he wanted to solve, not a woman he wanted to spend time with.

  Ryland and the newly titled Duchess of Marshington arrived. They were in Town for only a handful of days while Ryland finished a few things he’d been unable to complete before the wedding. Colin assumed their presence in Town had prompted this family gathering, though he had no idea why he’d been invited.

  The happy couple was swarmed by the family. Colin remained in his corner, knowing that eventually Ryland would break free of the smothering affections.

  Before he could, the tall, balding butler appeared in the doorway to announce that dinner was ready.

  Everyone milled into the small dining room, but no one sat. Trent hadn’t seen fit to mark the seats, and Lady Blackstone was splitting her sentences between berating Trent for planning a party without her assistance and figuring out where everyone was supposed to sit. With two dukes, a marquis, and an earl in the room, Colin was confident in his appropriate placement. He made his way to the foot of the table and stood behind his chair to watch the rest of the show. Because it was family and informal, they eventually decided to sit wherever they wished despite Lady Blackstone declaring it highly improper. Miranda’s smile was a bit smug as she plopped down into a chair halfway down the table.

  Lady Raebourne, who had been a ward of the Duke of Riverton before her marriage, sat next to her, leaving her husband to sit directly across from Colin.

  Somehow Georgina ended up on Colin’s left.

  Colin tried to remember if he’d prayed for the Lord to teach him patience recently because he could think of no other reason why God would constantly be throwing Lady Georgina into his path.

  Trent stood at the head of the table, waiting until everyone was seated before playing host. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I wanted us to get together and celebrate Ryland and Miranda’s new marriage without all the danger and rush. I thought it only fitting that we celebrate with those who were there to rescue Miranda, even if she was safe before we ever got there.”

  Everyone smiled at the happy couple.

  Trent raised his glass. “To Ryland and Miranda!”

  The toast was echoed around the table, and t
he clink of glassware followed.

  Colin fell into his normal habits, sitting quietly and paying attention to his surroundings. It didn’t take him long to see that Georgina had well and truly fooled everyone at the table.

  “Have you subdued the masses yet, Georgina? Gotten all of this year’s bachelors standing in a line?” Lord Blackstone smiled at his stepdaughter.

  Georgina smiled and swept a pointed look at Ryland. “Not all, obviously. But I’ve not been lacking for flowers to decorate the house with.”

  Lady Raebourne leaned forward. “Have you had a chance to spend time with Viscount Cottingsworth? He has an extensive collection of books on classical paintings.”

  Miranda snorted. “Georgina’s more interested in the loftiness of a man’s title than in what they have in common.”

  “Contrary to the uncommonly happy people in this room, most married people are quite fulfilled leading separate lives.” Georgina glared at her older sister.

  “How sad for them.” Miranda covered Ryland’s hand with her own.

  Lady Blackstone sipped her wine. “There’s no need to rush, my dear. It took Miranda four years, but she found the perfect gentleman for her.”

  Riverton seemed to pale a bit at the thought of Georgina remaining at home for another four years. Colin didn’t blame him. According to Trent, Hawthorne House had been more overrun in four weeks of Georgina’s Season than in all of Miranda’s Seasons combined.

  Trent grinned from the head of the table. “You should consider Mr. Glover. He spends most of his time in his library, so you would be assured of never seeing each other.”

  Colin leaned back in his chair, looking from person to person and trying to place everyone in their respective family roles. It was obvious they were all embedded in each other’s lives and affections. Even the teasing was loving and well-intentioned. How could Georgina have kept such a secret from them even with Harriette’s help?

  His gaze returned to Georgina, and he noticed a tension in her smile that wasn’t there before. His position allowed him to see her fingers curling and uncurling repeatedly under the table. Was the conversation upsetting her? They weren’t saying anything he hadn’t heard her say before. They believed exactly what she wished them to.