Page 121 of Ironvine

“That is natural. Now that you have a husband and are familiar with the male figure, with the ways of lovemaking, that excitement shall only multiply.”

“Yes,” Georgina breathed.

“Of course, if your husband is good to you, all the better.”

“He is very good to me.”

“I’m very glad to hear it,” the Duchess said.

Out of all the young ladies of her acquaintance, Georgina was always the one who was eager to discuss coupling—the hows, the what it would be like, all of it. And she did so often with her sister, and later with Justine. She’d wanted to learn, to understand, to be prepared. She smiled back at the Duchess. Now that she was somewhat experienced, it was satisfying to be able to discuss such things with an experienced, more worldly woman like the Duchess of Oakley yet who was not too much older than herself.

“You realize, this sort of thing isn’t only for men?” said the Duchess.

Georgina’s shoulders lifted. “I quite agree.”

“I am pleased to hear you say so, Georgina.” A grin slashed over the Duchess’s lips as she drew closer to her. “Did you sketch from the painting in the box?”

“No, no. That painting is extremely personal and I could not transgress…”

“You are most thoughtful. Would you want to paint such subjects, especially now that you are gaining in experience?”

Georgina wasn’t quite sure if she was referring to her bedroom skills or her painting skills. “I…perhaps, yes. Yes, I would.”

“The artist who painted it for me is a very dear friend to His Grace and myself. He’s French. Last year he returned to France, but shortly he will be coming back to England to escape the troubles there.”

“How awful, yet how wonderful that he has you as patrons.”

“It is one of our great delights. The Duke greatly enjoys such works of art, and you have a seamless aptitude for the human form. Perhaps I will commission a painting from you as a gift to my husband.”

“You would?”

“I would. Such a commission would require your utmost discretion.”

“Of course, but what…how would I…”

“You would paint the lady from life.”

“The lady?” Georgina bit her lip. The Duchess meant another lady, not herself.

The Duchess eyed her. “Let me be frank—my husband keeps a mistress, sometimes more than one. There’s an idea, you could paint all of them together.”

All of them? Together?

“Would this painting be a miniature such as the one in your snuffbox?”

“Not necessarily. His Grace does have a collection of many miniatures, but also a variety of large paintings for his private enjoyment. He likes keeping mementos. And each mistress has her own memorable talents.”

“I see.” Georgina’s lungs squeezed in her chest. The Duchess seemed to know an awful lot about her husband’s lovers.

“Theirs is no ordinary playground,”Charles had told her. This was what he had meant.

She’d wanted the Duchess to trust her, for the two of them to become friends, and the thing of it was, she did like her very much. Right now, she had to risk all that to press on in her quest for the necklace. There was no going back now.

The Duchess’s hand stroked Georgina’s arm. “We should arrange a visit to our estate in the north for you and the Earl.”

“I shall have to ask my husband about his schedule first.”And then he will promptly burst into flames.

“There shall be, of course, payment for your services and your creation.”

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