Page 54 of Lessons for Marquesses
Oliver snorted. Mr. Wolf trained his eyes on his lamb chop. Georgiana couldn’t help but note his table manners, whichpleased her in an odd way. As if they were special. Something for her alone to admire.
She watched his throat as he swallowed, the contrast of the snowy neck cloth against his golden skin doing foolish things to her brain. His firm lips slipped over the fork, shifting slowly as he chewed. She wondered how many stitches it had taken to close the wound upon his cheek. She wondered what it would feel like under her fingertips.
His knife never left his hand, which then made her wonder if she had put his knife back in the proper position. He hadn’t called her out for snooping, which meant he either did not care or, more likely, she’d chosen the right turn of the blade.
“Minion’s windpuff is gone,” she announced. Greeted with silence, she added, “A minor blemish, but still, one must be careful to look for signs of…” She lost her words when Mr. Wolf butted his strong wrist against the table and boldly met her eyes.
“Distress?” he offered, in a voice better suited to the dark.
Georgiana nodded. And chewed her food and chewed it so long she forgot what it was.
Charlotte passed the peas to Oliver who grimaced and passed them on to Mr. Wolf.
“Your cousin Caroline wrote to me,” Charlotte said to her plate.
Blast. If Georgiana was a Poppy, Caroline was a pestilence.
Mr. Wolf offered Georgiana the peas, and she piled too many on her plate.
A stretch of silence followed before her aunt looked sideways at Georgiana, her expression impassive. “She inquired as to when you will be returning to Farendon.”
Georgiana stuffed a forkful of peas in her mouth.
Oliver cocked a bushy brow. “Where have you been off to, girl?”
Georgiana swallowed the pea paste. “I had planned to spend a fortnight with Kitty at Notfelle when Mr. Wolf had not arrived. On time.”
“Very well,” Charlotte said, oddly flushed. “I will invite her.”
Oliver mopped his mouth hastily with his napkin. “Invite Caroline, where?”
“Here,” Charlotte answered.
Oliver looked at Mr. Wolf, then Georgiana. “I see no reason for it.”
Charlotte knitted her brow. “Are you at odds with your sister, my lord?”
Georgiana silently begged Oliver to stomp his gouty foot on her aunt’s plans.
“She has generously offered to plan a ball,” Charlotte said. “It would be a lovely start to the summer.”
Anger flaring, Georgiana impaled a pea. Her dire financial position was not spoken of, but it was also no secret in the family. Caroline did this to embarrass her. To force Georgiana to admit her insolvency. Or send her expediently to Fleet. Why? Why did Caroline dislike her so?
Georgiana turned to Oliver who hadn’t taken his eyes from Mr. Wolf. “I do not want a ball.”
“Twenty guests, my lord,” Charlotte said in challenge. “A party with dancing.”
“No,” Georgiana replied. “I do not want a party with dancing.”
“And why not? You could practice your steps,” Charlotte said. “Perhaps, wear a gown.”
Georgiana slunk into her chair, her face on fire. More so because Mr. Wolf completely ignored the conversation. But he was listening, she was sure of it.
Oliver’s cheeks creased in delight. “Indeed, you wear a gown, Georgiana, and I’ll help fund a small dancing party. No morethan twenty attendees, save the four of us. What do you say, Mr. Wolf? Are you up for dancing?”
Georgiana almost died right there. The insinuation was Mr. Wolf dance withher. Oliver was like a father foisting an ugly daughter on a prince.
“I don’t dance,” Mr. Wolf said quietly.
