Page 103 of The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere
“You mean to tell me, Georgiana, that Miss Beauchamp saved Lord Haslemere’s life withabedcurtain?”
“Well, there was a bit more to it than that, but yes. Lord Haslemere was mere seconds from toppling out the window when Miss Beauchamp tossed him one of the bed hangings, and he crawled back in.”
Emma plopped down on the window seat beside Georgiana. “That must have been an extraordinary bed hanging.”
“It was. Heavy silk, attached to a monstrous oak canopy. Lord Dravenisan earl, after all. Don’t all earls have grand beds with silkenbed hangings?”
“I don’t have the faintest idea what earls have.” Emma glanced at Georgiana out of the corner of her eye. “I think you’re more qualified to answer that question thanI am, dearest.”
It was the fourth time Emma had offered Georgiana a not terribly subtle invitation to confide her adventures with Lord Haslemere, and the fourth time Georgiana had failed to do so.
There was a part of her that longed to rest her head on Emma’s shoulder and release the unbearable tension that had been building inside her these past ten days—all her worries and misgivings, her hopes and dreams—but she hadn’t any ideawhere to start.
With the murderous Duke of Kenilworth? With Clara Beauchamp and Lord Draven, and the love story that had risen from the ashes of a tragedy six years ago? With the newly widowed Duchess of Kenilworth, who’d gained her freedom on the same day her son had lost his title and inheritance?
Or did she start with Benedict, the charming rake who wasn’t truly a rake at all, but a wonderful, honorable man who’d somehow managed to burrow so deeply into her heart she couldn’t draw a breath without thinking of him?
It was all so complicated, and touching, and wretchedly emotional she was sure to end up dissolving into a sniveling puddle of tears right here. Emma would be shocked, and a scene wassure to follow.
Georgiana detested scenes, and so she said nothing at all about any of it, but gestured instead to the garden outside the window, hoping to distract Emma. “I mean to put the eldest girls on tidying up that garden at once. It’ll be a lovely place for us to walk in the spring and summer, won’t it?”
“Hmmm. Lovely, yes.”
Georgiana waited, but Emma didn’t elaborate. “These window seats are perfect, aren’t they? So many handsome bow windows in one house, and each with its own window seat. It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
“Hmmm. Lovely, yes.”
“So spacious, as well!” Georgiana went on, growing desperate. “Just think, Emma! Five large bedrooms on both the second and third floors, and all the common rooms on the ground floor besides. The attics will make a lovely schoolroom for the younger pupils, won’t it?”
“Hmmm. Lovely, yes.”
“For pity’s sake, Emma!” Georgiana threw her hands up in exasperation. “Is that all you have to say?”
“Oh, did you want me to say something more, Georgiana? Very well, then. I’ll say this. I’m extremely cross with you.”
“Me? Why, what did I do?” Georgiana tried to summon some dignified outrage, but her voice lacked conviction. She knew what she’d done, and if she’d been in her right mind, she’d have known Emma would never let her get away with it.
“I’ve been gone from London forages, Georgiana. Ages, with no one but—”
“Such dramatics, Emma. It’s hardly been ages—”
“Ages, with no one but Lady Crosby for company. Lady Crosby, Georgiana, who for all her kindness is sixty years old if she’s a day. I’ve tatted enough lace to last me alifetime, and—”
“I don’t see what’s so terrible about tatted lace—”
Emma held up her hand for silence. “In that time, you’ve bested a wicked duke, saved his duchess, reunited an earl with his long-lost love, and fallen in love with Lord Haslemere, and you have thenerveto sit here and talk to me about gardens andwindow seats?”
“I don’t see what’s so terrible about gardens and—”
“Don’t youdare, Georgiana Harley. I don’t want to hear another word about window seats. I have only one day to spend with you, and you’ve already wasted most of it with your dithering. I demand to have the entire story thisinstant. Start with Lord Haslemere.”
Georgiana stared at her friend with wide eyes. Emma didn’t often fall into tempers, and one didn’t like to argue with her when she did. She’d be gone soon, as well, back to Lady Crosby to finish whatever business she’d undertaken for Lady Clifford. If Georgiana didn’t confide in her now, she’d lose her chance.
Emma took her hand and ducked her head so she could see into Georgiana’s eyes. “Come now, dearest. I can’t bear to see you looking so sad.”
I’m not sad. I don’t get sad, I don’t weep, and Idon’t…I don’t…
Georgiana tried to push the words off the end of her tongue, but her chin was wobbling, and tears were stinging her eyes, and…and… “Dash it, this is all Benedict’s fault.”
