Page 116 of Ironvine

Coughing, the clearing of throats rose about them. “Pardon…”

“Oh my…”

Charles’s body tightened, and with an arm around her, he pressed Georgina to his side. Her eyes blinked in the dim light, her fingers digging into his frock coat.

“Ah, ’tis the newlyweds. Our apologies.” Mr. Whatley smothered his high-pitched laugh with a lace-trimmed handkerchief and made a ridiculous bow while a grinning older woman pulled him away.

“He’ll tell everyone now.” Georgina sat on a small cushioned settee against the wall, smoothing her hands down her dress.

“Good. As he said, we’re the newlyweds.” He smoothed a curl of hair against her temple where it belonged. “We’ve done nothing wrong, my wife, only proven our marital status.”

“Isn’t that a refreshing turn for your reputation, Lord Ryvves?”

“And for your recent disgrace, Countess.”

“Quite right. You’d better kiss me some more.”

Cuffing her neck, he brought his mouth to hers and, sliding a hand under her dress, found the wet heat between her legs.

ChapterFifty-One

Charles

”I thinkJustine might enjoy hearing what we witnessed earlier,” Georgina whispered as they entered the grand drawing room.

Charles admired Georgina’s flushed face due to the release he’d just given her with his fingers. “I warrant she will.” He enjoyed the rear view of his wife gracefully walking toward her friend in the drawing room.

“Ryvves, have you seen Amanda?” Andrew Blakelock came up alongside Charles.

“You’ve lost your sister, Blakelock?”

“I do not see her with the other ladies.” His lips pressed together.

In Andrew’s grim eyes, in the set of his mouth, Charles saw not only concern but worry. “I did see her recently. In the sculpture gallery.”

“Ah, very good. Thank you.” His tight features eased and he moved to leave.

Charles gripped his arm, stopping him. “She was with Matthew.”

“Oh.” He let out a groan, his shoulders sinking. “I trust you’ll keep this between us.”

“They were seen.”

“Were they…”

“Afraid so.”

“Christ. She’s going through a rough time of it. She hasn’t been sleeping or eating properly.”

“Only drinking?”

Andrew’s face tightened once more. “Coming here tonight was a terrible idea. Although she is in mourning, I thought that it would be good for her to be in company with people she knows and is fond of. She always so enjoyed a dinner party, and when she learnt of the Oakleys’ invitation, she was most determined to attend.”

“Was she?”

“Yes,” Andrew murmured absently as he looked about the large room. He stiffened, his gaze locking on Matthew, who was attempting to have a conversation with Alice, only Alice looked positively stricken. “Matthew’s here, though.”

Charles followed his gaze. Justine and Georgina appeared alongside Alice, and Georgina put her arm through the girl’s, made a quick remark to Matthew, and led Alice away from him.

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