Page 56 of Ironvine

“In all things, I was his second, and he was mine.” Such a bitter truth now had a fresh new meaning. “She shall be my countess.”

“You bastard!” Thomas exploded. “I will not allow—”

Charles threw him a dark look. “I might add that Georgina has been with me all day.”

John and Thomas shared a quick glance.

“There are witnesses,” continued Charles. “She has been in my carriage riding through London, and she has been in my house alone with me for hours. You understand my meaning?”

Thomas’s chest expanded as his piercing gaze went from his sister to Charles. “No. No. It cannot be.”

Georgina pushed that loose lock of hair from her flushed face. “It is true.” She slid her hand in Charles’s, and he raised it to his lips and kissed it slowly, tenderly, his gaze shooting to Thomas as his tongue peeked out and stroked her flesh.

“Oh Lord, no,” Thomas muttered.

“What have you done?” John raised his hand in the air.

Darting forward, Charles grabbed it. “You dare to strike my fiancée?”

“She is not yours.”

“She is. In every way—save for a vicar’s blessing.”

Georgina met John’s gaze. “In every way.”

John shoved off from Charles. “You are a fool, Georgina. And you, an evil seducer. Did your brother have her first, and now that he’s dead, you’re cleaning up the mess he’s left behind?”

“How dare you say such a thing about her.” Charles gritted his teeth against the burning tide of anger fomenting in his throat.

“Your brother dies in a duel and within the hour you are claiming his fiancée for yourself? I find it all quite suspicious, my Lord Ryvves. Do your ambitions and carnal passions have no bounds? What of respect, honour, morality?” John turned his blazing eyes on his sister-in-law. “And you—”

“You have spewed quite enough sewage, sir. Leave my house.”

“You shall pay for this.”

“I expect to—” Charles put his hand on Georgie’s belly, her body seizing under his possessive grip. “—in nine months’ time when my heir is born.”

A grunt left John’s mouth. He was outraged. Disgusted. “Come away, Thomas. We are done, here.” His eyes narrowed. His lips a snarl.

“I never expected this of you, Georgina,” said Thomas. “I am utterly shocked. How shall I ever tell our sister and mother? This is folly. You shall only find unhappiness and despair on this course you have chosen because he—”

“Get out. Now,” said Charles.

John cast her a final spiteful glance as he and Thomas stalked out the door and it was shut behind them.

It was over.

He and Georgina had accomplished their objective.

Marriage.

“Georgina? Are you all right?” his voice the roughest whisper.

“I am,” her voice the softest whisper.

“I am certain you’ve never gone against your family’s wishes before and in such a way.”

“No. Never.”

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