Page 45 of Ironvine

“You must rest. You—”

“I can rest later. Now I must speak with him. It is urgent.”

“But—”

“Georgie, you and I took off together. You did so against his wishes. He threatened to tell a terrible lie about you—”

“About us.”

“And I will not allow it.”

“How could he be so cruel to you?”

“What matters is that your engagement is made public immediately before your family can break the agreement. Otherwise…”

Her shoulders sank. “Yes, you’re right. News of the duel will only feed their righteous indignation against your family. They suffered your quick and unrelenting offer, and the very next day, my fiancé kills a gentleman who he had cuckolded.”

“Knowing Amanda, I feel she may enjoy that the duel was over her and not some debt or insult, and she will not deny that she was the reason.”

“How can everything twist and pervert in a matter of moments—”

“Listen to me. I won’t let them break the engagement or take you away. I won’t. Unless, of course, you no longer wish to marry Hugh?”

“I had no illusions about Hugh. I still need to marry, and I imagine so does he.”

“Now, more so than ever before.” The words were bitter on his tongue. “We must go find him and assure him that you are not his enemy. And I shall agree to take the blame for the duel.”

“Oh, Charles, why must you?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not! It’s not right.”

“I’ve been doing this all my life with Hugh and my father, Georgina. But this time, it’s not for them. I’m doing this for you.” His vow vibrated in the air between them as he brushed her temple with his lips. Heat flared over her skin at his kiss, at the press of his body against hers. The citrusy scent of him filled her senses.

“I can’t let you do this, Charles. This is all my fault. I—”

“It’s not your fault. This truly has nothing to do with you, my sweet girl.”

Indeed it did not. It was ages old.

Every time he was close to her, something inside him spiralled out of his control, something molten and hot. Clearing his throat, Charles stepped away from her. “Indeed, how did you find out about the duel? Where we were?”

“After you and Hugh left my house, I went to see Amanda.”

“To find out about the note?”

Her face reddened. “Yes.”

“Zounds, woman, you went to Amanda’s yesterday?”

She bit her lip. “I did. I found out that she had sent that message which arrived at my home for Hugh. You both seemed so surprised and angry. I wasn’t sure if it had to do with you or with Hugh, but I had to find out. I’m glad I did. She was waiting for you. She assumed that you’d sent me.”

“And you let her assume so.”

“Yes. She and I had a rather odd conversation, and then William came home and told us Hugh had accepted his challenge. I asked him for the particulars, and he told me.”

“Your curiosity and insistence were spot on, Miss Georgina.” His shoulders eased as his fingers brushed the side of her face leaving a trail of warmth on her flesh. He owed her his life.

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