Page 22 of A Duke to Restore her Memory
Georgina blushed hard. “Of course,” she said quickly. “It is true. I am rather tired.” She turned to the duke, her heart skipping a beat. “Thank you for the outing. I had a wonderful time … even if I could not remember anything.”
“You are welcome,” he replied quietly, his eyes lingering on her. “I hope you rest well.”
Georgina smiled at them, curtseying again, before walking quickly away, towards the back of the house and the servants’ entrance.
She knew better than to march into the house via the front door. She was sure that sour-faced Lady Lydia would have a conniption if she did anything of the sort.
Her face burnt deeper as she thought about the lady and how she had just dismissed her so contemptuously.
She does not like me at all. And she does not want me associating with any of them. She will never trust me.
She sighed deeply. She couldn’t help if Lady Lydia disliked and distrusted her. She could do nothing about it – she just had to endure it. Hopefully, she would recover her memory sooner rather than later and not have to endure it for too long.
But then, her heart shifted a bit at the thought of leaving Newquay Hall … and the duke. Hastily, she pushed the thought aside.
He was a duke, and she … she was no one at all. It wouldn’t ever be possible to keep in contact with him or be friends with him beyond this time – never mind anything else.
Dukes do not consider strange waifs they have temporarily adopted as candidates to court. And I have no idea who I am or my social standing in this world.
No wonder Lady Lydia is wary of me and doesn’t want her brother getting close to me. I hardly blame her.
Her heart filled with an odd, almost tender regret, which she pushed down, as well, as she entered the house. She didn’t belong here, and the sooner she recovered her memory and moved on, the better.
***
Sebastian followed Lydia into the parlour, feeling a bit irritated with his sister.
He had been wanting to talk to Georgina a bit more before they separated, and he would have liked to have caught up with Daniel, as well, but his sister had insisted on talking with him privately as if he were a recalcitrant child she must reprimand.
He understood why Lydia was the way she was toward him, being his older sister and protective.
But it is starting to wear a bit thin.
Sebastian wished she would start courting and find her own home soon.
He didn’t like the way she had dismissed Georgina, as well. It was done in a rude, patronizing manner. Clearly, his sister didn’t like their unexpected house guest at all, which mystified him. Lydia wasn’t even giving Georgina a chance.
“What do you want to say to me?” he said abruptly, sitting on a chaise longue and throwing an arm across the back. “I rather think you had better spit it out, Lydia.”
His sister stood in front of the fire, glaring at him. “You are growing too close to that woman,” she said curtly, raising her chin. “She is a complete stranger to us, Sebastian. You have no idea who she is or her place in the world. More than likely, she is a commoner. You cannot afford to get close to her.”
Sebastian frowned, his irritation with his sister increasing. “I rather think I can make up my own mind about who I become close with, Lydia! You are being far too presumptuous … and overreaching your position.” He frowned. “I am the Duke of Newquay, you know. Not you.”
Lydia flushed hard. “Actually, I do realize that, thank you very much,” she said in a clipped tone. “Perhaps you should start acting like the Duke of Newquay then, brother.
The duke should not grow close with waifs like Georgina. The duke has a sacred duty to keep to his lofty position … and not indulge his personal feelings.”
Sebastian’s cheeks coloured with embarrassment. “I took her into the village to see if it would help jog her memory. That is all.”
“I know it is more than that,” retorted Lydia. “Do you think I was born yesterday? I can see the way you look at her. She is a beautiful young woman, so I do not blame you for looking … but you must see that she is completely unsuitable and you must focus on pursuing ladies of a certain calibre … like Frances.”
Sebastian’s flush deepened. He hadn’t realized that his deep attraction towards Georgina was so obvious to all and sundry … or, at the very least, to his sister. And while he still didn’t like Lydia scolding him like this and addressing him in this high-handed manner, he had to admit his sister did have a point.
He took a deep, ragged breath. Georgina was one of the most beautiful women he had ever met, and she was charming, elegant, and spoke in a refined manner, but he had no idea who she was at all.
She couldn’t be considered a suitable candidate for serious courtship. The next Duchess of Newquay had to be a lady of exceptional breeding and class. A lady who was a cut above all others.
“You should spend more time with Frances while she is here, brother,” continued Lydia, frowning. “Her many attributes are so obvious that I find it difficult to believe you cannot see them for yourself. She is beautiful, charming, and clever … and she is also the daughter of a viscount. Her breeding is impeccable.”
