Page 6 of The Season for Loving
“Well, er, I…that is, I suppose I did. Not that I necessarily think it’s the right thing to do,” she added hastily.
Georgie had to repress the impulse to growl. Mrs. C was devoted to her but hated going against Bertie’s wishes. Although Georgie adored her, she did not adore the lady’s old-fashioned inclination to defer to every decree made by the man of the house.
“I should think not,” Bertie said, sounding relieved. “Although I don’t understand why you would even have agreed in the first place.”
“She is Georgie’s chaperone,” Eliza said. “Of course she would go wherever her charge would wish to go.”
Mrs. C flashed Eliza a grateful if rather timid smile.
Georgie mentally sighed. She could wish that her chaperone was a tad stronger-willed, but she couldn’t blame her. Mrs. C was entirely dependent on Bertie’s support. He would never dream of letting her go or fobbing her off with only a tiny annuity, as so many did with unwanted family dependents. Still, Mrs. C felt a great deal of gratitude toward Bertie and would never willingly do anything to upset him.
“Why you’d want to move back to dirty old London,” Bertie said, “when you have such a fine life at The Friar’s House is beyond me.”
Georgie finally let her frustration burst out. “Because it doesn’t feel like my life anymore. It feels like your idea of what my life should be.”
Bertie looked shocked at first, then his handsome features subsided into an anxious frown. He rose from his seat to join her, going down on one knee and taking her hand. “Is that truly how you feel, my dear?”
She nodded, feeling miserable. But she had to tell him the truth or she’d begin to resent him. That was the last thing she wanted to do to her beloved brother.
His regarded her with a somber expression. “You must forgive me for being so selfish. It’s just that I’ve been happy here with you and Mrs. Clotworthy—watching you get well again. I honestly believed it was all I wanted from life after everything we’ve gone through.”
Georgie had to swallow before she could speak. “And then you found Eliza, which was the most wonderful thing. And I’m so happy for you. Truly.”
“Yes, I’m the luckiest man in the world to be surrounded by the three best women who ever lived. No man could be as fortunate. I hope that explains a bit why I don’t want things to change. And I do admit that old habits are hard to break. It’s just that—” He grimaced and broke off.
“You don’t want to see anything bad happen to me,” she finished for him.
“Exactly.”
“Bertie, how will you feel when I get married?” she asked.
He actually blanched under his tan. “Are you thinking of getting married?”
“Well…no.” Although Georgie sometimes feared that marriage was the only way she would ever get out of her brother’s house. It was almost impossible to meet eligible bachelors in Hemshawe, and even Tunbridge Wells wasn’t exactly fertile hunting ground—especially with Bertie hanging around, scowling at every man under the age of fifty who talked to her. She knew he worried with the best of intentions. He simply didn’t think anyone was good enough for his sister. And then there was the whole issue of fortune hunters, given her substantial fortune.
“I would like to get married one of these days, you know,” she said. “It’s perfectly natural.”
“Of course it is,” he said. “But you’re young and you’re still recovering from your illness. You need to get your strength back before you can even begin to think of taking on the duties of a wife and mother.”
Georgie’s patience began to slip again. “As I’ve told you repeatedly, my strength is back.”
Bertie stood, shaking his head. “Not according to Dr. Field. He says you’re much too thin.”
“He said no such thing,” she said indignantly. “He said I was in prime twig. He’d simply like me to gain a little more weight.”
Eliza put aside her embroidery and came to her feet. “Darling, I believe I hear a carriage coming up the drive. I’m sure it’s Captain Endicott and his party.”
Bertie glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Good Lord, I’m sure you’re right. They’re already late as it is. We’d best go down to meet them.”
Georgie huffed out an exasperated sigh. “Just so you know, I’m not giving up on this particular subject. Wewillbe discussing it later, guests or not.”
Bertie tried to look stern but failed miserably. He just couldn’t do stern, at least not with her. “No, we won’t. The discussion is closed.”
Georgie narrowed her gaze on him but decided not to push it for now.
Her brother glanced at Eliza. “Are you coming, my sweet?”
“I’ll be there in a minute. You go on down.”
