Page 25 of A Duke to Restore her Memory
He frowned. It was odd that Lady Frances had befriended her like this and clearly knew to do it when his sister wasn’t around, for Lydia wouldn’t approve of their outing at all. In fact, Lydia would be outraged.
A deep sense of shame entered his heart. He was being just as snobbish towards Georgina as his sister, despite the fact he yearned to be with her. He consoled himself that he was doing it for the right reasons. He was drawn to the mysterious, beautiful woman and couldn’t afford to indulge the attraction.
She will be gone presently. Her memory will return shortly, and I will never have to see her again. This torment will soon be over. And a part of me cannot wait for the day.
Chapter 13
“Frances looks particularly lovely in blue,” said Lydia, turning to Sebastian in the landau, as they trotted along the edge of the cliffs, gazing out to sea. “Do you not agree, Your Grace?”
“Pardon?” Sebastian turned from his contemplation of the sea to his sister, frowning slightly. “What did you say, Lydia?”
Lydia sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. “I was complimenting Frances on the shade of her gown, saying that it suits her,” she said. “You must see how well the colour matches her complexion, Sebastian.”
“Oh, indeed,” said Sebastian hastily, turning to the lady, who looked very embarrassed at being the centre of attention. “You look quite lovely, My Lady.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” murmured Lady Frances, her colour deepening. “You are most kind.”
There was an awkward silence, and Frances bit her lip. Sebastian drummed his fingers on the edge of the landau’s door, wondering why he had let his sister talk him into this outing at all.
But Lydia had been particularly forceful this morning over breakfast, telling him that it was going to be a beautiful day and reminding him that they hadn’t been anywhere together in a long time.
A ride along the coastline, in the open-air landau, would be so refreshing, wouldn’t it?
Eventually, Sebastian capitulated, just to stop Lydia from going on about it. And now, his sister kept forcing him to compliment Lady Frances, which was just embarrassing for both of them.
Lydia, however, remained oblivious to their mortification, smiling brightly at them while chattering away like a starling.
I wish Georgina had come on this outing. Seeing her sitting in the landau, taking in the air would be wonderful. It would be wonderful just to see her at all.
His heart flipped just thinking about her. But, of course, there was no way he could suggest that she accompany them. Lydia would have thrown a tantrum. No way would she would have accepted Georgina’s presence on the ride … and his sister’s displeasure was not to be endured.
His heart almost stopped as they passed by the spot where Georgina had fallen into the mine.
He had made sure that it was fixed properly now – the wooden boards at the entrance had been nailed into place, and he had checked it just the other day to make sure his will had been done.
He was also investigating how the boards had been broken in the first place, leading to the accident, but so far, he hadn’t found who was culpable, much to his annoyance and frustration.
It had been three weeks since the accident. Three weeks since he had found her unconscious in the mine and taken her home with him. But she was no closer to getting her memory back.
Every day, he asked Mrs Sollock how Georgina was faring, and every day, the housekeeper shook her head sorrowfully, telling him the young woman still didn’t have a clue who she was or remember anything about her life.
He sighed. She was a stranger to this district. No one knew who she was. And no one was missing any member of their household. Georgina must have been running away from her home on the horse – it was the only explanation for it.
I must disseminate information about her further from home. Perhaps get some posters made and tack them onto walls in villages and towns. Someone must know who she is.
His heart clenched. As much as he wanted Georgina to recover her memory and return to her life, he was also reluctant for it to happen.
He was getting used to having her presence at Newquay Hall, to seeing her in the distance as she walked around the estate or sat reading in the library, even if he didn’t actively approach her or seek her company any longer. Just knowing she was there was enough for him at the moment.
“Frances wants a large family, you know,” said Lydia abruptly, turning to him with a knowing look. “She wants at least half a dozen children.”
Frances looked mortified, flushing a deep brick red and glaring at her friend. Sebastian passed a weary hand across his forehead. Lydia was truly relentless.
“That is nice,” he said politely, inclining his head. “A large family is always a joy.”
“You always said you want a large family as well, Sebastian,” stated Lydia, nodding her head emphatically. “Newquay Hall is so large, after all. It has so many rooms that it can easily accommodate many children … and the grounds are particularly impressive! So much space to run, hide, and jump for the little ones …”
Sebastian tuned his sister's voice out of his mind as she kept rattling on, talking about animals and children and climbing hills as if she were trying to sell his own estate to him.
