Page 64 of An Earl to Remember
“It is quite decent of Mrs. Hayle to invite Miss Heyford tonight,” Miss Lillianna Buford said. “After all, she is hercook, merely another servant.”
Georgianna stiffened her spine at that snipe, leveling Miss Buford with a cool glare. The lady had not the grace to flush or look away but jutted her chin. Georgianna smiled tightly and walked away, hating that they spoke directly to her uncertainties.
Mrs. Hayle, while impressed with Georgianna’s considerable skill and having been in raptures when she tasted her dishes and quite effusive in her praises, would only see Georgianna as a miss who worked. Mrs. Hayle would see no benefit in aligning their families, and worse, they had no father or brother or husband to speak up for their family. That familiar anger and sorrow snapped through her veins, and she walked along the edges of the ballroom, determined to find her sister and offer her support.
Georgianna faltered when Mrs. Hayle and her son entered the ballroom. A glance behind them did not reveal Lizzie, and concern curled through Georgianna. Where was her sister? Hurrying forward, she paused when Mrs. Hayle walked over, her expression delighted.
To see me?Georgianna blinked, hardly understanding when the lady held out her hand and took hers in a warm clasp.
“Lady Stannis, it is such a delight to know you graced us with your presence and your skill. I am so pleased.”
Lady Stannis?The sudden tremble in her heart was appalling, and a terrible, weak-kneed feeling assailed Georgianna.
“I…” Her throat closed around the protest, and she snapped her gaze to Mr. Hayle, who stood, looking poleaxed. “I beg your pardon?”
“We were meeting with your husband, my lady,” he said gruffly.
Herhusband? “I beg your pardon?” She felt like a silly parrot.
“His lordship is speaking with Lizzie, and they should be along soon.”
Oh God. Since the earl’s departure from their manor a week ago, she had been waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Except she had not anticipated such a public appearance. What did he mean by this? Her heart hammered against her breastbone, and to her alarm, she felt faint. Georgianna took a deep, steadying breath, gently withdrawing her hands from Mrs. Hayle.
A familiar ache settled low in her stomach, and shefelthis stare upon her. She glanced up, swallowing the gasp that almost pushed from her mouth as she unerringly found the earl in the throng. He was standing by the Corinthian column, his hawklike gaze pinned upon her. The earl cut quite a dashing figure in his black trousers fitted to his frame in a manner that suggested they had been tailored by the finest craftsman, a matching jacket that was immaculately tailored, and an exquisitely designed dark green waistcoat, a perfect complement to his eyes. He wore diamonds on his fingers and on his neckcloth, his narrow, heavy-lidded green eyes shockingly piercing upon her body.
How terribly handsome and coolly composed he seemed, indifferent to the awe and curiosity of Mrs. Hayle’s guests as they stared at him and whispered behind their painted fans.
His gaze held hers captive, and Georgianna barely managed to subdue the flutters in her stomach. Everything was there within his gaze—the memories of their meetings, their kisses, and the provocative way he had made love to her for the long night.
It seemed as if the entire ballroom observed as they regarded each other, and the speculative whispers kissed over her skin in a dreadful warning. His lips curved ever so slightly in a mocking smile. Georgianna’s heart began to hammer wildly, and her cheeks grew flushed. Mrs. Hayle bustled over to him, evidently preening to have such an important guest at her country ball.
An earl. The good people of Crandell would speak about this for years to come.
Mrs. Hayle proudly took him over to the squire for a formal introduction, and with a sense of desperation, Georgianna wrenched her gaze away. A ripple of murmurs went through the crowd, and several ladies stared at Georgianna with rank astonishment. It was then some of the whispers reached her ears.
“Good heavens! Do you see the manner in which he stares at Miss Heyford!”
“Is he not the stranger who had washed ashore?”
“An earl! This surely could not be so!”
“They say he is Miss Heyford’s husband!”
“Why would he marry her? He is so astonishingly handsome, and Miss Heyford is rather plain. Have you ever seen eyes so green and piercing?”
“I think her remarkably pretty…just not as fortunate as others in her connection.”
“Or more not so fortunate in her wardrobe. Her gown is ghastly and terribly outdated. Why would an earl’s wife be garbed so poorly?”
Her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest. The whispers swirled around her as she pushed through the throng, heading for the terrace window. Georgianna desperately needed a breath of fresh air. Of course, the entire populace of Crandell would recall that she had claimed him as her husband…and that he had lived with her for weeks…alone…without a doubt sharing the same bed.
Her entire body burned.This is a disaster. There was no room for her to step back, and she knew he would never pretend even for a moment she was his wife. Panic clutched at her throat, and she took several deep breaths once outside on the small balcony. Thankfully no one else lingered outside.
“Georgie?”
She whirled around at Lizzie’s tremulous whisper. Then she blew out a sharp breath when her sister came into view. Georgianna hastened to grip her sister’s hand. “Lizzie, what is happening?”
A shaky laugh escaped her sister, and she shook her head as if in a daze, yet her eyes sparkled with relief and joy. “It is all so incredible, I do not know where to start.”
