An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House Book #2)

by Kristi Ann Hunter

  Tears threatened to spill across Georgina’s cheeks. She reached for the maid and wrapped her in a tight hug. “You could do so much more than this, Harriette.”

  “Something more than fool the entirety of the civilized world?” Harriette scoffed. “Anything less would be an utter bore.”

  Georgina smiled as she returned to her chocolate and savored a long, deep drink. Then she frowned. Why had Harriette brought chocolate? “Harriette? Has something happened this morning?”

  Harriette flicked the edge of one of the society papers but didn’t pick it up. Her gaze caught Georgina’s in the mirror, and the maid refused to look away. “Mr. McCrae is downstairs.”

  Georgina’s eyes widened. “He is?” She set down her mug and turned halfway around on the stool before remembering that she shouldn’t care if Colin was downstairs. She picked up her mug again and sipped. “Why would I care about that?”

  She didn’t care about that or wonder where he’d been for the last week—and if she repeated it enough someone was going to believe her. The fact that she’d been able to go about her business without running into the man had been bliss.

  Harriette rearranged her papers. “He is in His Grace’s study.”

  Of course he was. What would Colin say if he knew Lord Ashcombe was no longer an option?

  Ashcombe should never have been an option in the first place.

  Had she actually entertained the thought that she’d missed her infernal imaginary friend? “I believe I need a change of scenery, Harriette.”

  “Change of scenery, my lady?” A poorly hidden smirk decorated Harriette’s face as she set the papers on the desk in the corner. “Perhaps you’d care to take breakfast downstairs this morning?”

  “Yes. Breakfast downstairs would be ideal.” But not because Colin was here. “I’m sure a change of routine is all I need to come up with a solution to my latest problem.”

  Harriette gave up pretending to hide her laughter. “I’m sure it is, my lady.”

  Georgina frowned and flounced out of the room. Who knew agreeable servants could be so frustrating?

  The footmen threw questioning glances at each other as soon as she entered the breakfast room. When she chose a seat at the table, they started whispering.

  Let them whisper. From this seat she could see the doorway to Griffith’s study. She took small bites of her breakfast, unsure of how long she’d need to linger before Mr. McCrae made an appearance. She told herself it was mere curiosity that made her want to see him.

  The man in her head laughed.

  She pretended to stab him with her fork.

  Her mouth was full of toast when the door across the hall clicked open and Colin and Griffith emerged laughing. Her heart picked up speed, and the toast seemed to swell until it filled her entire mouth. Why hadn’t she considered what to do when she actually saw him? What if he didn’t see her? She could hardly call out an invitation for him to join her. Crumbs coated her mouth as she tried to chew, swallow, and take a quick drink all at the same time.

  Hacking coughs ensued as the soggy mess lodged itself part way down her throat. It was not the way she’d intended to draw the men’s attention, but she suddenly had it, as they had both been drawn to the breakfast room door.

  “Georgina, are you all right?” Griffith circled the table and pounded her on the back. As if bruising her spine was going to help her breathe.

  She nodded, waving a hand in front of her face in some sort of request for the air in the room to make its way into her lungs.

  Colin appeared on her other side, setting a glass of water next to her mug of chocolate. “Perhaps this will help.”

  After a few gulps of water, Georgina had control of herself once more. Deciding her best option was to pretend the entire incident hadn’t happened, she turned a bright smile to her brother. “Won’t you join me?”

  Dark blond eyebrows arched over suspicious green eyes. She couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t come down for breakfast since they’d arrived back in Town.

  “I would enjoy that.” Griffith straightened. “Won’t you join us, Colin?”

  Colin looked from brother to sister as if he’d like nothing better than to decline, but it wasn’t easy to say no to a duke, even one you were friendly with.

  “Do join us, Colin,” Georgina added. The widening of Griffith’s eyes made her instantly aware of her mistake. Griffith had no idea Colin had given her permission to use his name. Or that she considered them close enough acquaintances to accept the offer.

  Colin bowed his head. “I would be honored.”

  There was an awkward moment as the men decided where to sit. Georgina’s placement in the middle of the table made conventional seating impossible. “Oh, bother,” she mumbled as she rose and took her plate to the seat to the right of the head of the table.

  Griffith looked worried as he sat in the head seat. Colin looked like he wanted to laugh as he settled into the chair across from hers.

  It’s funny. Admit it.

  Georgina nearly choked on a laugh of her own.

  “So, Mr. McCrae, what brings you here so early?” Hopefully Griffith would forget her earlier use of Colin’s name.

  Both men sent looks her way that told her there was nothing at all wrong with their memory. Breakfast downstairs had been a colossally bad idea.

  Colin exchanged a glance with Riverton. “I had business with His Grace.”

  Georgina nodded her head as if the answer had imparted some great information instead of simply restating the obvious. He could hardly tell her that he had been summoned to explain why he’d told her brother to avoid her suitor while Colin arranged an emergency to draw said suitor away from London for an extended period of time.

  He hadn’t even been able to tell Riverton the whole truth. The entire business made him uneasy, but for some reason he felt a sense of loyalty to Georgina, a requirement that he keep her secret as long as possible even though he felt she should share it with those closest to her. If she’d had a few more people in her confidence, Ashcombe might never have suspected it.

  Which would have put Colin in Scotland right now, having an awkward breakfast with his family instead of hers.

  Riverton turned to his sister. “What brings you down at such an hour? You rarely poke your head above the covers this early, much less grace us with your presence.”

  One delicate shoulder shrugged. Colin had a suspicion that Georgina was in actuality a very early riser. If she and her maid did half the things she claimed they did—such as read novels, memorize poetry, and collaborate on correspondence—they would need time. What better time than morning when no one would disturb them, thinking her still abed?

  The woman was diabolically clever.

  “Whatever the reason, I am happy to see you up and about. You’ve been rather dejected since Ashcombe left town. He’s no great loss, you know.”

  Georgina’s eyes widened. “You think I’ve been pining for Lord Ashcombe?”

  Riverton looked to Colin for help. Colin stuffed an inelegantly large bite of ham into his mouth. The duke sighed. “You haven’t been?”

  “Hardly.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “What’s with the long face and the yelling at the servants, then?”

  One brow lifted in a look of disdaining superiority that only a sister could get away with giving a duke. “I’ve always yelled at the servants.”

  Colin choked on his ham. This family was going to be the death of him.

  Gibson, the butler, entered the room and crossed to Riverton’s side for a quiet exchange. Riverton stood. “Pardon me. I shall be but a moment.”

  Georgina watched Riverton leave the room.

  Colin watched Georgina. She did seem more subdued than normal this morning, though that could be attributed to the early hour.

  Despite her claims to the contrary, was she upset over the loss of Ashcombe, or was it her plan’s lack of success that was giving her a melancholy air?

  “
Ashcombe has left town.”

  Georgina’s words startled Colin. “So I’ve heard.”

  She didn’t suspect he’d had anything to do with it, did she? He was hoping very much that his absence several days before and after the earl’s departure would keep anyone from connecting him to the issue.

  She leaned forward. “Have you heard why?”

  He matched her posture, leaning in as if the two were conspiring over coddled eggs. “Have you?”

  Her eyes narrowed. He shouldn’t have prodded her. Now she was suspicious. “I’ve heard it had something to do with an urgent business issue.”

  “I have heard the same.” Colin made himself take his time as he cut another bite off the ham.

  “He was my last hope, you know.” She stabbed at her eggs, sending a river of liquid yolk across her plate.

  Colin bent over his own eggs. The longer he knew Georgina, the more convinced he was that she didn’t require a man to make herself the most elite personage of the ton. She could perform the feat married to a baronet. “I know nothing of the sort.”

  She frowned at him. “You think I’m being nonsensical.”

  “What time do you get up every morning?” Colin placed his fork down on his plate. It was time they had this out once and for all. Did she truly not understand what she’d been able to accomplish? How much more she was capable of?

  “I beg your pardon.”

  “What. Time. Do. You. Arise?” Colin said slowly. “On average, of course.”

  She swirled her fork across her plate. “Harriette brings me tea and toast at half seven every morning. Sometimes she brings chocolate instead.”

  “Yet your family is under the impression that you spend an additional four to five hours in bed each day. So, yes, my lady, I do think you are being nonsensical.”

  “You think I should tell them.”

  “Yes, I do.” In the past few weeks he’d seen her genuinely mad, tired, worried, and a host of other emotions her carefully practiced veneers were not prepared for. Those moments of authenticity were the only thing that kept him from washing his hands of her completely. Sometimes he felt that the Georgina he’d seen in those moments, the real Georgina, was begging him to help free her. To help her escape from the cage she had created for herself.

  The woman had turned him fanciful.

  “You are mad. That is all there is to it.” The moment of vulnerability disappeared, shuttered behind her cool exterior once more.

  He sighed at the loss of it, even as he knew he should welcome it. When she was cloaked he found it easier to keep his distance.

  “What was that for?”

  Suddenly finding himself without appetite, Colin pushed his plate away. “May I speak frankly?”

  She scoffed. “As if I could stop you.”

  He had to nod an agreement on that one. Their time together had never rested on ceremony as far as he was concerned. “I think you do yourself a disservice. I think you’re afraid to let people see who you are, the girl who loves art, who adores color. The fiercely loyal friend with all the vulnerabilities of the average person. Sometimes I think you’re even afraid to face her yourself.”

  “You’re quite philosophical in the morning, Mr. McCrae.” She took a sip of chocolate. “Are we friends, then, Colin?”

  “I suppose one might call us that.” In truth he didn’t know what they were. He had a growing suspicion of what he’d like them to be, but the chances of that happening were less likely than a blizzard in July. And it wasn’t just because he was nowhere near her idea of an acceptable suitor. No, he was interested in the girl beneath the veneer, the one he caught glimpses of every time he’d almost convinced himself to be done with her.

  She gave him a wide smile. “Excellent. Because I could very much use a friend like you right now.”

  His heart tripped over itself as it rushed to every possible erroneous conclusion. “Whatever for?”

  “Why to select a new target, of course. I know you stay as current on gossip as I do. If we combine our knowledge, we’ll find me the perfect candidate. I’m running out of time, you know.”

  He didn’t know what to say. What could he say? He pulled his plate back to him and took a bite of toast to give his mouth something to do. It tasted like sandpaper.

  “Well?” She took a sip of her drink.

  “Eversly,” he mumbled.

  She blinked. “The viscount?”

  “You are friendly with each other, he is well liked, and his purse is not likely to run out on you.” He would also be extremely difficult to drag to the altar. Eversly wasn’t showing any interest in settling down anytime soon.

  Georgina could probably do it though.

  And suddenly, Colin didn’t think he could stomach staying around to watch it. He pushed away from the table. “My apologies, but I’ve just remembered another engagement this morning. Please convey my good-byes to your brother.”

  Her eyes blinked slowly in obvious surprise. “Of course.”

  He bowed and left the house.

  And then he left town.

  Ryland accepted Colin’s presence without question, even when he spent the first two days at Marshington Abbey sitting in the library or staring out the window of his bedchamber. Ryland and Miranda had left him alone, though the occasional food tray was delivered.

  Colin appreciated the silence, even though he knew the duchess was probably driving Ryland mad discussing the possible reasons for Colin’s unannounced arrival.

  What was he going to do now? He supposed he could return to London, go on as he had been, but it felt flat somehow. He’d amassed an enormous sum of money over the years. Maintaining his existing investments would allow him to keep his family beyond comfortable should disaster strike or his father give in to another foolish, greedy impulse.

  He’d lost the motivation that had pushed him so hard these past five years. Or was it that once he’d decided to take the position in Glasgow he’d begun to think of his life differently? He’d pictured a family of his own, a sense of purpose, the ability to grow something besides his bank account.

  If the idea of doing these things with Erika Finley at his side was only moderately interesting, he blamed it on not being near the girl. If she were as wonderful as she sounded in his mother’s letters, his regard of her would grow with proximity.

  Maybe.

  Not that it mattered now, since he’d sent Hugh to manage the shipping company.

  There were a few things of which he was certain. He couldn’t go back to London and watch Georgina work her charms on the elusive Lord Eversly. He also couldn’t go back to Scotland without a reason. What if his family rejected him? Left him standing on the doorstep the same way his father left him on the London docks when Colin refused to turn over the portion of the company he’d won?

  He still had ties in the War Office. Maybe he should consider their offer to employ him instead of just rubbing shoulders with him every once in a while. He’d have to keep it a secret from Ryland. The duke had threatened to shoot Colin himself if he took the Office up on their offer.

  Movement outside caught his attention, and he pressed closer to the window. A large coach was coming down the drive. He hadn’t known Ryland was expecting company, though that was probably due to his chosen solitude rather than his host’s secrecy.

  The coach’s crest became visible as the conveyance pulled up to the house. Colin groaned the moment before the door was opened and the Hawthorne siblings spilled out of it. Georgina’s hair glinted as she turned her face up to the sun. Her smile was wide as she said something to her brothers that made them laugh.

  Moments later Miranda was running down the front steps to wrap her arms around her brother. Ryland followed her at a more sedate pace. After shaking the men’s hands, he looked up at Colin’s window, a half smile on his face.

  Ryland was obviously done with Colin’s silence.

  Chapter 27

  She’d been skeptical when Griffith suggested th
ey all take a few days at Marshington Abbey, but Georgina was surprised at how much easier she was already finding it to breathe. The balls, dinners, card parties, and trips to the theatre had grown tiresome over the past week. Even before Lord Ashcombe had left town, the pleasure had dwindled from the activities.

  Perhaps because she had never taken the time to find the pleasure in them in the first place. She’d enjoyed her successes, the evidence that she was achieving her goal, but she’d never taken the time to let herself enjoy an event for what it was. The thought brought a heavy sense of guilt and failure with it.

  As Miranda wrapped her arms around Georgina, though, she felt as if the hug was squeezing away the problems, lifting the weight from her chest.

  She’d missed her sister. More than she’d expected to.

  “Come in, come in. Perhaps more in attendance will coax our other guest to show his face at dinner tonight.” Miranda hooked her arm though Griffith’s as they all made their way inside.

  Trent paused in the act of brushing dust from his coat. “Other guest? You’re entertaining?”

  Miranda snorted. “Hardly. Colin’s done little more than—”

  “Price will see to everyone’s luggage. I think tea has been set out in the drawing room.” Ryland interrupted his wife, making everyone look at him with varying degrees of surprise. He continued as if he hadn’t done anything unusual. “At least half the rooms are still buried in a decade of dust, but we’ve aired out the best bedchambers for your use.”

  “There is quite a bit of house.” Miranda looked at her husband sideways but didn’t try to return to the conversation he’d cut short.

  Georgina wished they would. She’d wondered where Colin had disappeared to, even as she told herself not to care. He’d been gone for more than a week, stayed in Town for a day, and then left again. Most people didn’t even know he’d returned, if they’d noticed his absence in the first place.

  Not many of the ladies she talked with even knew who he was. She’d mentioned him once a day or two ago and everyone had looked at her strangely before moving on to discuss the daring dress Lady Yensworth had worn that evening.