Page 41 of Lessons for Marquesses
Nicholas stood next to Georgiana, and both appeared immensely pleased at his shock.
Nicholas extended his hand. “Lord Acomb?”
Oliver gawked at the offer. How could the fiend stand there as if on her side?
His gout deciding this an excellent moment to attack his right great toe, Oliver limped back to the desk. “Shall we discuss matters, Mr. Wolf? And Georgiana, join us. You need to hear this.”
They sat across from Oliver, two peas in a pod, and if he didn’t know better…
Oliver vowed no political machinations. This needed to be done. “Tell her, Mr. Wolf, who you are.”
A smirk tainted the blemished side of his friend’s face, drawing the scar in an unfortunate grimace. And for that, Oliver felt guilty.
“Very well.” Nicholas braced a splayed hand on his thigh and turned to Georgiana. “George, I have not been honest with you.”
“I’ve heard you’re a smuggler,” she said quickly. “But smuggling is practically a noble enterprise with the tariffs so high, thanks to Oliver and his ilk.”
“Ilk?” The cigar dropped from Oliver’s mouth. Recovering it, he jammed it into the bronze dish. “How do you think the war was paid for? The debt we incurred cannot be imagined, even for you.”
“I do not suggest it isn’t warranted, Cousin.” Georgiana gazed up at Nicholas like King Midas having rendered him to gold. “Only I do not believe Mr. Wolf to be immoral or unworthy of my respect.”
Was that a smile on his friend’s face? Oliver peered in to be sure. A bloody smile it was and his eyes were—well, this was too much. They glowed with kindness, like the Nicholas of old.
Oliver looked to Georgiana. No doubt whatsoever. She had caused the smile. Abruptly, he said, “Mr. Wolf, allow me a moment.”
He couldn’t ask for a recess in light of this discovery, so he shuffled through his papers.
Georgiana appeared half in love with Nicholas. If she were to merely flip her esteem from masculine admiration to female attraction…
No. How could she possibly tame the Wolf? She couldn’t overcome Nicholas’s hatred in a country gentleman’s frock coat of green and doeskin breeches, stitches on her forehead and a tie wig.
Could she?
She did have a woman’s face. A lovely face with delicate features like her mother’s, and a clear, charming voice. She loved horses. Nick loved horses. They hated each other. Yet, what was the basis for compromise except for when two sides disagreed?
By God, this could be the ultimate triumph of political maneuvering. Both sides securing their claims to Farendon and more.
“Mr. Wolf, my cousin has apprised me of your offer.” Heaving out of his chair, Oliver found the balled contract in the corner and chucked it at Nicholas who caught the poor throw with a quick hand. “In fact, she’s detailed it therein.”
Eyes like a wolf slid sideways at Georgiana as Nicholas peeled the paper open in a semblance of a readable document. “George, you are thorough.”
And your match, friend, Oliver thought. “Yes. She’s a St. Clair. We’re known for attending to details. Rarely do they get past us. If they do, we rectify it, swiftly.”
Georgiana inclined toward Nicholas. Possibly—no, certainly—with the assistance of his quizzing glass, Oliver confirmed that Nicholas inched closer to her.
“I noted the race date,” she said, “your assistance for ten weeks in residence, and the details on the match payments. I thought I should be completely honest.”
“Georgiana is an honest girl,” Oliver declared. “Woman.”
His friend’s left shoulder tensed. The gauntlet had been thrown and noted.
“As Georgiana’s guardian, in light of Eastwick’s deplorable ill-treatment and the tacit approval of such poor sportsmanship by the Jockey Club, I propose a clause wherein if the contract is not fulfilled, if the match does not take place, she is awarded thrice the match winnings.”
Georgiana protested, pink splotches running from her stock to her wig. “Oliver, please.”
Nicholas held out a steady hand, so close as to almost touch Georgiana. “No, George. I agree. If Eastwick attempts to interfere, I will deal with him severely.”
“No more severely than I intend to,” Georgiana rejoined.
