“What should that matter to us?” Joseph asked, shrewd. He was a smart one, and though his brother often took the fore in looking out for them, he stood quietly in the background, absorbing information and solving what he saw as problems.
It was not exactly a problem that Georgina was asking them to figure out, but she would not accept the offer that had been made unless all of her siblings agreed and were happy.
Taking a moment to look at each of them, Georgina sighed. “I have been asked to be their Governess. I will be taking their lessons and teaching them the finer aspects of being a lady.”
There was a short silence.
“Would we have to learn as well?” Tom asked, brow furrowing.
“I would like that,” Georgina said, looking pointedly at the twins. They had always notoriously resisted any form of education, though they had been all too happy to take over the family business from Peter. Not that there was any chance of that now.
The twins exchanged a look.
Helena tugged at Georgina’s sleeve, and upon receiving her attention, gave a tentative smile. “More friends.”
Georgina laughed gently. “Exactly, Helena.”
“Georgina,” Jacob said, almost decisively, and received a nod from one brother, and then Tom as well. “Does that mean we will have to stay here?”
It was the part of the conversation that Georgina had been hoping to avoid, but Jacob was not to be swayed. He stared her down, and she nodded. “We have been offered rooms in the house, as long as you take the lessons, and allow Edward and Mr. Turner to have a hand in some of your teaching.”
To her surprise, all three boys grinned at each other.
“Of course,” Joseph said, trying to school his face into something somber, but he was failing. Georgina could not keep her own smile from her face. “I think you should accept, Georgina.”
With her siblings talking excitedly about what was going to be their new home, Georgina was struck with a momentary sadness. Just because she had a new job—a new purpose—and her siblings were to be taught under very clever and interesting men and women, did not mean that she had forgotten her home. Red had still taken her brother and her life from her, and though she was terrified, she did not wish to ignore it completely.
Nobody could run forever, and she refused to let what Red had done ruin things for all of them. It was, perhaps, why she had agreed to take the job on the condition that her siblings were happy with the choice. Red would never think to look for her at a duke’s estate.
Accepting the Governess job made Georgina feel better. If the smile and relief on Catherine’s face was anything to go by, that was nothing compared to the joy Georgina felt at reunited mother and daughters. Mary and Isabelle arrived late one afternoon, drawing up to the estate in a small carriage, the driver apparently one of Norham’s own, and Georgina waited patiently on the steps with her brothers, Norham and Catherine both present.
Mary was the elder of the two, slightly older than the twins, and she looked as regal as her mother while being relaxed in the face and holding tightly to her sister as they stepped from the carriage. Catherine was already moving, propriety thrown to the wind as she hurried down the steps. Her youngest, Isabelle, was cherub-faced but looked just as pretty as her sister. They were dressed in similar outfits, hats on their head that Georgina assumed were from the school, and she smiled gently as Catherine drew her daughters into a hug. Georgina could not hear what they were saying, but both girls giggled and hugged their mother back.
“Come,” Catherine was saying, as they drew closer to the stairs. “There are some people you have to meet.”
“Uncle,” Mary said as they approached, and Isabella followed, tripping over the word as she did so.
For a moment it seemed as though Norham was not going to move, but he bent at the waist, kissing both girls on the cheek. “It is good to have you both home.”
Isabella twisted a hand into her skirt, only releasing it when Mary hissed her name.
“It is alright,” Norham said, dismissing the action with a wave of his hand. “Everybody gets nervous.”
“Even you, Uncle?” Mary inquired, eyes big and round.
Norham laughed, and Georgina was surprised by how it transformed his face. He was a handsome man anyway, but the expression made Georgina’s chest tight, her body tingle with something. “Even me, Mary.”
Catherine was watching the scene unfold with soft eyes, but she turned to Georgina, nudging both Mary and Isabelle forward. “We brought you home so that you could be tutored from here.”
Mary and Isabelle stared up at her, awed. Mary, apparently as shrewd as her uncle, looked at Georgina. “Are we to have a Governess, Mother?”
“Indeed,” Catherine agreed. “This is Miss Adams. She is going to teach your lessons from now on.”
“Pleased to meet you both,” Georgina said, bowing her head, as she might to both Catherine and Norham. The girls were delighted by this, and their smiles were huge. “I am sure we will have a wonderful time.”
There was a beat, and Jacob shuffled on his feet.
Georgina smothered a smile as both Mary and Isabelle stared. “These are my brothers. Jacob, Joseph, and Tom.”
Indicating each in turn—mostly because Jacob and Joseph were identical, though they had taken to wearing their hair differently in the hope of other people being able to tell them apart.
“You look the same,” Isabelle whispered, awed, ignoring the tap from her sister.
“We’re twins,” Jacob said abruptly.
“That means we do look the same,” Joseph said, with a kinder tone than his brother. “Because we were born at the same time.”
His tone drew out at the end, as though imparting some great secret. Isabelle reacted instantly, grinning, and even Mary was smiling. Perhaps not the worst meeting they could have had, though Tom was remaining suspiciously silent. He did not seem to know what to make of the two girls, and Georgina suspected it had something to do with Helena being his only exposure to a girl younger than he, and Mary would be a whole new experience. Georgina was too old as a sister to make a comparison at all.
“Pleased to meet you,” Mary said, bobbing at the knees, her sister following suit.
The boys darted a look to Norham, as if taking their cue from him, and all three did exaggerated bows at the waist, though perhaps not as smooth as they should have been. Catherine was laughing behind her hand, and Georgina could not deny that the scene gave her a warm feeling.
“Well,” Norham said eventually, once it was clear nothing more was going to be said between the children. “Dinner will be ready soon, something I feel should be taken together.”
It was a strange offer, given how aloof he had been with Georgina’s siblings. When she looked up, surprised, she noticed that he was staring at her. It was an interesting look, almost as though he wanted to stare right through her, but it did not make Georgina uncomfortable. She did not know what to do with such a look, but thankfully, she did not have to make the choice.
Catherine was propelling her daughters back into the house, looking over her shoulder at Georgina. “That would be a wonderful opportunity for our children to get to know each other.”
Georgina could not deny that was true. Tom and the twins followed quickly, but Norham seemed to be patiently waiting for Georgina to move first. She did so, feeling attentive to every breath and movement that Norham made. She did not know what to make of him. She had not spent much time in his presence, not for lack of trying on his part. Catherine had many stories to tell about her brother, the jibes she had made at the table about his propensity for sleeping with women had immediately set Georgina on edge.
“I must apologize for my behavior at dinner the other evening.”
“Accepted,” Georgina said quietly. She was surprised to hear it, aware that duke’s rarely apologized for their actions, perhaps because they felt themselves above such things. “Though I think perhaps Catherine acted rashly.”
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“Indeed,” Norham said, lips quirking up into a small smile. “She can be headstrong at times.”
Georgina smiled, knowing that he was right. “I think she’s wonderful.”
“Oh, she is,” Norham said, drawing to a stop. “And what do you think of me?”
Startled, Georgina stopped almost as abruptly. There were words on the tip of her tongue that she did not think Norham would want to hear. She could lie and tell him that she longed to spend time in his company, but Georgina was not in the habit of outright doing so. “I am not sure what reply I can give, that would satisfy you, my Lord.”
Norham’s eyebrows raised, but otherwise he did not give anything away. If he was offended, Georgina could not tell. “Perhaps we could remedy that.”
Georgina clasped her hands in front of her, not understanding. “How?”
“Catherine insists on throwing a ball to welcome Mary and Isabelle back into the home.” Norham’s face was expressive enough that Georgina could tell he was not pleased.
“Are you not pleased?” she asked. “Catherine told me that you enjoy balls immensely.”
Georgina was not imagining the irritation that crossed Norham’s face quickly, before it disappeared back to impassivity.
“I have been known to enjoy them, though I feel my sister speaks too often of my behavior.”
It was a rebuke, and Georgina did not know if it was aimed at her or Catherine. “I apologize if I have insulted you, your Grace.”
Norham looked startled and bowed his head gently. “You have not, Miss Adams. It is I who should apologize. Again. It may not be wise to ask now, but I was hoping you would deign to join the ball. Your brothers—and sister, if she is well enough—are welcome to join.”
It was a wonderful offer, and Georgina said so, quietly, afraid that she would somehow wind up insulting Norham again, intentionally or otherwise. “I will think on it.”
“Of course.” Norham gestured down the hall for them to start walking again, and Georgina did so, keeping in step with the duke. “In the meantime, perhaps we could share a drink one evening?”
Though she should accept—she was being allowed to stay in his home and educate his nieces without formal training—she found herself refusing. “I hope you do not think me ungrateful. I am just not–I am not sure whether it would be wise.”
She did not say that she was afraid he would throw her aside the moment he had what he wanted from her. It was not a fair thought when she did not know him as well as many other people, but it was a fear she had, nonetheless. From the expression on his face, he understood all too well, but was either too polite to mention it, or did not want to hurt her feelings as she had obviously hurt his.
“I apologize.”
“There is no need,” Norham said, holding up a hand. “I hope you’ll consider the ball.”
Without waiting for a reply, he hurried off down the hall towards the dining room. Georgina could foresee the discomfort of the meal, if Norham was still upset with her, but she did not know what to say to fix it.
She was not wrong, and by the end of it—the children getting on well despite the surrounding adults, and Catherine chatting amiably with both Norham and Georgina—Georgina could not help but tumble into bed, exhausted. She wanted to bury her face in the pillow and cry, overwhelmed with everything that had happened to her recently, and unsure what to do about it. The future was uncertain, but she had tentatively agreed to attend the ball at the end of the night, pleasantly surprising Catherine, but receiving only a nod from Norham. Georgina did not care that he seemed aloof either.
She did not.
Chapter 9
Revelations
Miss Adams was beautiful.
Catherine had found one of Laura’s best gowns and accentuated it with an intricate hairstyle and a few ornate flowers. Norham had never liked women who needed the accessories and accouterments to look their best, but he could not deny they brought out Miss Adams’ eyes. Besides, he had seen her without and still found her fascinating.
Since the uncomfortable dinner that had ended with her telling him that she would attend the ball with her siblings, he had seen precious little of her. He had to confess that he had not tried. Instead, he had tried to ignore the tension filling the house, and though Catherine had tried to get him to talk, he had shut her out.
It was not difficult to avoid Miss Adams, especially as she conducted lessons on the first floor and Norham spent most of his time discussing estate business with various members of staff and working on the estate records.
At the start of the party, both Catherine and Norham had done their hosting duties, welcoming the people in turn, and Norham received his fair share of condolences even after all this time.
“Is there a time limit on grief?” Catherine asked, when Norham complained about it.
Norham had no answer. Eventually all the guests had arrived, and Norham was free to dance with whoever was willing. Which meant a fair few women—and their mothers—were pressing on him to take their hand. It was not difficult for Norham to find a willing partner. Most were beautiful ladies who were in search of a man, either for their parents’ benefit or their own, but Norham was not interested in any of them. He had been at one time; there was a reason that society, and Catherine at times, would talk about his reputation.
Now, he had eyes only for Miss Adams.
She was currently twirling the floor with one of her brothers. It was one of the twins, though Norham could not say which. Neither of them crossed his path enough for him to worry out which one he was speaking to, but tonight they were dressed identically in their suits. Miss Adams had not smiled the way she was currently in front of him, at least not that he could remember, and Norham was struck by how many people were staring at her. There were a lot of eligible bachelors and ladies at the party, as there often were when Norham threw a ball such as this, and he could feel jealousy stirring in his stomach.
He did not have a monopoly on Miss Adams’ time, though not for lack of trying. He was waiting for the opportune moment, and as the song drew to a close and Miss Adams gave her brother an exaggerated bow, he swept in before anybody else could move towards her. One of the benefits of being a duke, he supposed, was that nobody would dare take the fore when they could see his obvious interest.
“Miss Adams,” he said, as Miss Adams urged her brother back into the crowd. Norham had not seen hide nor hair of the children in a while, though it was creeping into the later part of the evening, so perhaps they were set to retire soon. “May I request the next dance?”
For a moment, it looked as if Miss Adams might refuse, but she nodded her head, curtseying as she took his hand, and he led her back towards the dancing. The next song had started, people already twirling around the floor slowly, and Norham led Miss Adams to join them.
“I thought perhaps you were avoiding me,” Miss Adams said, her eyes on the surrounding dancers, the floor, but never directly on Norham’s face.
“That is on me,” he said gently, hoping that the approach would work to have her look at him. “I have a tendency to let thing fester and not address them. I am sure,” he said with a smile and injecting as much humor into his tone as he could, “that my sister has warned you about that, at least.”
Miss Adams smiled at that, so Norham counted it as a success, however small it might have been. “I would not like to comment.”
That was to preserve her from his wrath, but Norham did not believe it. There were aspects of Miss Adams’ smile that were genuine, and he let the dance continue, hoping he would find an opportunity to draw it out again and again.
At the end, when custom dictated that he should kiss her hand, he instead pulled her off of the dance floor, and over to a table set with drinks a few platters of food.
“Your Grace,” Miss Adams started.
Norham felt his courage blossom in the face of her expression, open and honest, and he could not hear what else she wanted to say. He curled a hand
around her arm. She froze but did not move away from him.
“Miss Adams,” he said. “I hope you do not think me a cruel man.”
“I do not,” Miss Adams said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I do not know what to make of you at all, your Grace.”
There was an honesty in her words that surprised him, and though he wished to kiss her, to proclaim that he wanted to know her better, he could see that she was not receptive. For all that society spoke of him and called him all manner of things, he had never—and would never—force himself upon someone who did not want it.
“I hope you will offer me a second dance,” he said, taking a respectful step back.
Miss Adams seemed taken aback by his retreat, but there was a kind curiosity in her face. She nodded, a small hint of a smile. “I would like that.”
Norham stole away to the outskirts of the room, trying his best to occupy his time with other women and some of his friends. It was fruitless, but he could not deny his own infatuation when he spent most of the time concerned about Miss Adams and not whoever he was speaking too at the moment.
Though she had agreed to another dance, Norham spent most of the time trying to find her and failing. It was only when he drew Catherine away from her friends that he discovered why.
“She was crying,” Catherine admitted. “She would not tell me why, but she retired.”
“Someone offended her?” Norham said, feeling anger stir in his breast. “Who would dare, in my own house?”
“Calm down, brother,” Catherine said. “I do not know the particulars, nor did I ask. She will tell us when she is ready.”
Norham noticed the hesitation on the us and agreed that Miss Adams would indeed confess to Catherine, but he doubted he would be informed. “You will look out for her?”
There was an intrigued expression on Catherine’s face, but he refused to give anything away. His sister smiled anyway and squeezed his arm. “I will let you know if there is anybody that you need to discuss this with.”
It was the best Norham was going to get.
He threw himself back into the party, most of the guests starting to make noises about leaving, though he managed to make several new acquaintances.
Fleeing to the Rakish Duke Page 4
