Page 124 of Ironvine

“No!” Georgina darted forward. Her face stung, her body swung. Her head exploded with pain.

ChapterFifty-Four

Charles

His swordstill in his hand, Charles stormed into his wife’s morning room.

The moment he’d seen his servant’s face etched with worry, his heart had flown out of his chest, and he’d gone running to find her. “Georgina?” He tossed his sword to his manservant.

Hiccupy breaths filled the air, stabbing at his heart. The Duchess leaned over his wife murmuring.

“Georgie?”

The Duchess turned around and pulled back. And there was Georgina, her one cheek flushed scarlet, eyes wide and filled with water, biting on her lower lip. Fire raced up his spine, swirled in his chest, burst in his brain. “What have you done to her?” He grabbed the Duchess’s arm. “Did you strike my wife?” he growled through clenched teeth.

“No, I did not.”

Georgina’s hand reached out, coming between them. “Her Grace helped me, Charles. I am so thankful she was here.”

His hands cradled Georgina’s marked face. “Who has done this to you?” His wife flinched at his raised voice. “Tell me now.”

“Amanda.”

“She is here?”

“She burst in uninvited and would not leave,” said the Duchess.

“Mrs. Treharne was just shown out, sir,” said a servant.

Charles took in a tight breath. “Your Grace, may I ask you to stay with my wife?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

“Charles, please,” Georgina cried out. “She is not herself.”

“No one does this to you. No one. Ever.”

He stalked through the foyer to the still open front door, and he spotted a female figure in the front drive stumbling, a dark cape flying out behind her.

He tore down the steps. “Amanda!”

She turned, her face pale and drawn, and stumbled once more.

Charles grabbed her arm and shook her. “How dare you lay a hand on Georgina? How could you do such a thing?” She swayed in his grip, something like a howl bursting from her lips. He knew the signs so very well. “How much have you had to drink today?”

She yanked herself out of his grip. “Just a bit to ease my discomforts of which there are so many.”

“Discomforts indeed. Why did you strike my wife?”

“I meant to strike that woman, but your wife got in my way! The impudence!”

“Why would you do such a thing to the Duchess? What is wrong with you?”

“Let me begin with last evening. You’ve ruined any chances I had to—”

“I did nothing of the kind.”

---