Page 78 of When the Marquess Was Mine
She started. “That almost sounds like you propose we elope.”
“Does it?” He leaned closer, as if they shared a secret. “What would you say if I did propose that?”
Oh Lord. She would say yes, fool that she was. After spending most of her life expecting to marry Sterling, here she was, ready to run off with a man she’d known less than a month. What had got into her? “I would say that would be very scandalous,” she said, only a slight tremor in her voice. “Most people still believe I’m engaged to Sterling.”
As soon as she said his name, she wanted to cringe. The intimate air vanished, and the playfulness faded from Rob’s face. “Do they?”
“Because I had to inform my brother first,” she blurted out. “I sent him a letter the day after I broke off the engagement, but he’s a prickly sort, and if he heard it from someone else, I don’t know what he would do.” She forced a grim smile. “I wasn’t afraid of Sterling, but my brother is a different matter.”
A frown touched his brow, then disappeared. “You don’t need to be afraid of him.”
You don’t know Alistair, Georgiana thought. “I’ve told my dearest friends and Lady Sidlow. I’m not trying to keep it secret, or nursing some hope of reconciliation.”
“Is Sterling?”
She frowned. Why had she brought up Sterling? “He shouldn’t.”
Rob’s shoulders relaxed. “Ah. He certainly didn’t mention it last night.”
“No, he—he what?” she demanded, thrown. “When did you see Sterling?”
“We met at the Vega Club last night.” Rob resumed walking.
Apprehension clutched at her, for no good reason. “What did he say?”
“Nothing much,” replied Rob vaguely. “He didn’t correct someone who mentioned it.” He shot a glance at her, some of his mischief returning. “Tom mentioned it, more than once.”
Georgiana wished the earth would swallow her. “Your brother tweaked him about me?” she asked weakly.
“Tom just tweaked him,” Rob corrected. “No one said your name. Tom was trying to stir up trouble.”
“Was Sterling angry?”
For answer, Rob just grinned and tapped his jaw—right near his split lip, she realized. Her eyes rounded. Had Sterling punched him? It seemed incredible, and yet—Rob had been very concerned that Sterling might not take it well—
They had circled the green. The figure of Lady Sidlow was still visible in the drawing room windows, and Georgiana raised one hand in acknowledgment as Rob led her back across the street.
“What happened last night?” she whispered.
“Ah, it’s much too thorny a tale to relate now. I shall have to come visit again. The story would be worthy of Scheherezade herself, and I must rehearse my performance of it, to match yours.” He winked.
She couldn’t help smiling, and then Higgins was opening the door, his face impassive. Rob escorted her up the stairs, where the major sat with Lady Sidlow over the remains of tea. After a few banal pleasantries, Rob and his brother took their leave, and Georgiana sank onto the sofa, feeling as if she must be glowing with happiness.
She had not been mistaken in him. Whoever he had been, the Rob she had known, and fallen half in love with, was the same man who had come to visit today. He couldn’t stop thinking about her—about kissing her. He wanted to know if she would run off with him. He was straying dangerously close to the silly romantic dreams that had plagued her since they parted, and she was having a hard time keeping calm about that.
“Georgiana,” said Lady Sidlow, breaking into her thoughts, “does Lord Westmorland mean to court you?”
She couldn’t keep her expression neutral.What would you say if I did propose we elope?“I think he might.”
“My goodness.” The woman sounded dazed. She poured herself another cup of tea and drank half of it in one gulp. “I did not know you had ever met His Lordship before last night.”
“Oh.” She flushed. “I believe we were introduced once or twice. Last Season, perhaps.”
“Indeed.” Her chaperone eyed her suspiciously. “It seems strange he would decide to call based on two introductions. You seemed very familiar with him in the square just now.”
Georgiana made a vague noise neither agreeing nor protesting. “Are you suggesting I ought to turn him away? Is he that improper and scandalous?”
Lady Sidlow’s mouth compressed and her eyes narrowed. “He has a rather scandalous reputation, but he is extremely eligible... I suppose, if he has honorable intentions, I cannot counsel you to refuse him. Yet.”
