Page 31 of The Season for Loving
He stuck his head in the room. “Am I interrupting?”
Sitting on a chaise by the fireplace, Georgie was garbed in a pretty blue dressing gown, with a white, fluffy lap blanket covering her legs. Her hair was in a simple braid down her back, and she wore a silly little lace cap that barely covered the top of her head. Her face lit up as soon as she saw him, and she threw off the blanket and stood. “Fergus, I’ve been waiting for you. I’m so glad you’re here.”
And that was all it took for his doubts and fears to dissolve like a Highland mist on a summer morn. He strode into the room and scooped her into his arms, then deposited her gently back on the chaise.
“Lass, the doctor said you should be resting,” he said. “You just sit back down and let everyone take care of you.”
She gazed up at him, her eyes shining with love. What a fool he was to think he could walk away from her, or refuse anything she asked of him.
“I’m fine. The doctor said so.” Georgie rolled her eyes. “That’s what I told everyone, of course. Not that anyone ever listens to me.”
“I do, and I will from now on.”
One of her hands fluttered up to her throat. “Do you promise?”
His own throat was so tight he could barely speak. “Yes.”
“Oh, Fergus,” she breathed.
Someone behind him cleared her voice. “Excuse me, Mr. Haddon. Would you like a cup of tea while we wait for my husband?”
Fergus could feel his cheeks going hot. He’d been so taken up with Georgie that he hadn’t noticed anyone else in the room.
Georgie smothered a giggle. Fergus turned and gave Eliza a sheepish smile. “Yes, Mrs. Gage. That would be most welcome.”
“I’ll get it,” another voice said.
Fergus winced and glanced over his shoulder to see Mrs. Clotworthy rising from a window seat in the alcove. There’d been quite the little audience for his emotional display.
Eliza smiled at him. “You needn’t be so formal, since it looks like we’re going to be on rather close terms in the future. Please call me Eliza.”
“Er, yes, of course.” He sounded like a dolt, but he hadn’t even proposed to Georgie yet—much less asked her brother for his permission. But it was rather nice to know he had at least one family member on his side. He suspected, however, that Bertie Gage might not be as easily convinced as his wife.
“Sit next to me, Fergus,” Georgie said, patting the cushion beside her.
He was just getting settled and about to accept a cup of tea when the door opened and Bertie strode into the room, followed by Will and Evelyn. Mrs. Clotworthy snatched back the cup and beat a hasty retreat.
What Fergus really needed at the moment was a shot of whiskey. And, by the looks of it, so did Bertie, who didn’t look happy to see him sitting next to his sister.
“Should she be having all these visitors?” Bertie asked his wife.
“And who invited Will and Evie to join us?” Eliza asked in a polite tone.
Bertie looked sheepish. “Oh, I suppose I did, but the point still remains that Georgie shouldn’t be overdoing it.”
“Sheis perfectly fine, and perfectly capable of deciding who can visit her,” Georgie said. “Bertie, stop making a fuss. Everything’s fine.”
“I know you’re fine, Sis,” Bertie said in a gruff voice. “And I’m more grateful than you can imagine. But you’re not to do something like that again. It would kill me if anything happened to you.”
Georgie took his offered hand and briefly pressed it to her cheek before letting it go. “Yes, I know, but you’re missing the point, dear.”
“Which is?” Bertie asked, sounding wary.
“That everythingisfine. Fergus saved me, in case you failed to notice.”
“Because you didn’t panic,” Fergus said. “You didn’t thrash about, and you had the presence of mind to hold your breath when you went under.”
In fact, her head had popped up immediately. Georgie had looked surprised but not one bit scared. Instead, she’d calmly followed all his instructions.
