Page 32 of Georgiana
He leaned in and brushed her lips with his. The kiss, though all too brief, infused her body with heat. When she finally opened her eyes, she found him staring at her, a soft smile on his face.
“Will you marry me, Georgiana Rachel Darcy?”
“Yes. Oh, yes!”
Could the sun shine any brighter? Could her heart expand any further with love?
Max drew her into his arms and laid his forehead against hers. “I shall do my very best to make you happy, sweet girl,” he whispered. All too soon, he set her away from him, at arms length. “Now I must go and tell Mother the good news.”
“Will you come for dinner tonight?” she asked, marvelling at how calm her voice sounded when every nerve in her body sizzled and popped like a Yule log.
“Would that I could, love, but I shall be quite busy informing family of our good news.” He stepped toward her and, unmindful of Anna’s presence in the room, kissed her hard on the mouth. “Until tomorrow, Georgiana.”
It was only when the door to the room closed behind him that she realized she still stood with trembling fingers touching her lips. Such longing filled her body. A longing for what she did not know, but was assured in her heart that Maxwell completed her like no other person in the world. Her wedding could not come soon enough.
~~~~~
Amber liquid glinted in the light from the fireplace as Max slowly rotated the cut glass tumbler, deep in thought over his upcoming nuptials on the morrow. He raised the brandy to his lips and liquid fire trailed past his tongue and worked its way into his belly, leaving behind a warm glow.
“What?” An exclamation from the direction of the door to his study brought him out of his musings. “Drowning your sorrows already, brother?”
Max smiled as George entered the room, followed closely by Nathan.
“Not drowning. Enjoying a quiet moment before the busyness of tomorrow.”
He signaled Hutchins, who remained by the door, to pour each of his brothers a drink and then dismissed him.
“Aye,” Nathan said. “When you look back, you’ll find you remember only a few key things. The rest of the day is but a blur.”
George nodded in agreement. “All I remember is my Catherine walking toward me.”
“You both are such romantics,” Max teased.
“Laugh now, but I guarantee the minute Georgiana enters the room on her brother’s arm everyone in the sanctuary will fade away.”
“You may be right, George,” Max conceded. “I’ve waited a long time for this day.”
Understanding dawned on George’s face and he turned to Nathan. “Georgiana Darcy is the one Max mooned over all these years?”
Nathan nodded and smiled. “From what I’ve witnessed first hand, our eldest brother has quietly admired Miss Darcy for a long time. I’m happy to report she returns his affection.”
Satisfaction coursed through Maxwell’s body. Knowing Georgiana viewed him in a favorable light bode well for their future. Over the past few weeks, they’d enjoyed many conversations but not once did either of them bring up the tender subject of love.
Circumstances surrounding their hasty engagement and marriage made such conversations difficult. If Nathan’s assertations were accurate, their marriage would be felicitous and the intimacies of their union not as awkward as he feared.
A discreet knock at the door announced the arrival of Hutchins.
“Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, your Grace.”
Hutchins stepped to one side, allowing Darcy to enter the room, followed by his cousin.
“Darcy. Fitzwilliam. What brought you here?”
“Too many conversations revolving around lace, flowers, and fripperies,” Richard groused, helping himself to a tumbler of brandy after Max waved Hutchins off. “We desperately needed some conversation about dogs, horses, and hunting.”
Laughter filled the air and soon all five of them were comfortably ensconced in chairs dotted about the room.
“Are you and Georgiana leaving immediately after the wedding breakfast?” Darcy asked.
