Page 49 of Ironvine

“Your engagement is only hours old, and luckily, has not yet been made public, so all is not lost.” His intent gaze searched her face for tears, for emotions, but she betrayed none. She had none left to give.

Again, in a matter of seconds, everything around her spun like a whirligig in a gale of wind. She cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should go see Amanda, brother. Pay our respects. Inquire as to her well-being. After all, she and William are our friends from home.”

His eyes narrowed. “I’ll do that later. You need to leave.” Thomas shook his cousin’s hand. “Malcolm, good to see you again, old man.”

“You too, Thomas. Georgina.” He took her hand and pressed it between his, his lips in a firm line.

“Do stay in touch, Malcolm. Please.”

“I shall.” He leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear: “Whatever you may need, call on me. I shall help you.”

Thomas gripped Georgina’s arm and led her to his carriage. Her breath cut, her legs numbed, her feet barely remembered how to walk. Was this to be the end? Treated like an insolent child? Packed up and sent away? Punished for her sins? Blurry darkness squeezed around her. She stopped. It couldn’t be the end. No.

The footman held the door of the carriage open. The horses whinnied and stomped on the ground.

Her brother held out his hand to her. “Come.”

If she took that hand, if she took that hand–

“Georgina!”

His voice pierced through her haze, fisting in her chest. She swerved.

Charles. Charles in Malcolm’s black cape, which was bulky for his slimmer frame, making him look like some sort of Medieval villain. His face had gone pale again, his eyes shadowed, his jaw a sharp, stony line. His long blond hair was loose and ruffled, feet planted wide, eyes cold and fierce. Her pulse charged in her veins. This man would brook no denial.

“What areyoudoing here?” Thomas thundered. His gaze darted to his sister, Malcolm, and back to Charles. “What is going on?”

Charles came to her. “You don’t have to go with him, Georgie.”

“The devil you say!” Thomas exclaimed.

“You cannot take her away. You cannot marry her to someone else. Your sister, sir, is engaged to the Earl of Ryvves. An agreement for Miss Georgina Townsend for marriage has been signed. A legal, binding agreement.”

The air was sucked out of her lungs. Her heart pounded.

Thomas’s gaze darted between them. He was on alien ground. “I don’t know which one of you killed William today, but that agreement is now broken.” Thomas pointed at her. “Georgina, get into the carriage this instant.” He turned back to Charles. “You, sir, are an arrogant licentious lout, just like your brother, and your father before you.” Thomas held his hand out to his sister. “Georgina, come!”

One decision.

One action.

One life.

She grabbed Charles’s hand, and on a grunt, he pulled her into a carriage that stood behind Thomas’s. Slamming the door behind them, he thumped on the roof. “Now! Go! Quickly!”

A whip cracked, the horses bolted, and her heart flew out of her chest. The carriage pitched as the horses charged down the road, and their bodies jolted back, the two of them colliding against the cushioned seating.

Their lips a breath apart, Charles grinned. “Well then, Miss Townsend, your sordid downfall at the hands of a Montclare has now begun.”

ChapterTwenty-One

Charles

“Don’t worry.Hugh won’t bite you.”

“Are you certain?” Georgina’s shoulders tightened as they entered the Ryvves townhouse. She was worried.

“My brother has inherited our father’s temper, but I’m sure that by now, he’s cooled off and is grateful that he escaped the duel unhurt. It’s good we’re here together to speak with him.”

---