Page 23 of Ironvine

“Yes?”

“Make no mistake, Georgina, Hugh is a man of the world.”

“Such as yourself.”

“Yes, but you…you…”

“Charles.” Her voice was raw, and his lungs constricted at the desperation in the way she said his name. She pleaded with him to listen. “I do not wish to be mired in dour. I shall not survive it.”

“Charles, are you going to play with us?” Thomas’s loud voice sliced the air between them, and they pulled away from one another just as he had probably intended for them to do. “Matthew must dance,and we need you.” Thomas glanced at his sister, and he went back to reviewing his cards with great intent.

“No. No, thank you.” Charles cleared his throat and moved closer to Georgina once more. “I understand your predicament, but you are an innocent,” he whispered. “And I would not wish that to alter.” His insides tightened. Damn, why was this so hard for him to articulate his concerns to her for her well-being?

“Surely, a wife does not remain innocent, does she, sir? Is that what you would have for me? I would then truly be an unlucky woman.”

The image of Hugh taking her maidenhood made his vision black. “Oh, Georgina—”

“Charles, I realise you’ve always thought of me as a young girl.”

“Yes, but I do not now. I think of you as a pure spirit, untarnished. A vibrant young lady…” Damn, he’d said too much. Gone overboard. A ragged sigh dragged from his lips.

“I thank you for such fine compliments. But I assure you, I am quite capable of making my own decisions, especially now. If there is the slightest chance I can save myself, I will take it. That is unless you do not approve of me for the Earl.” She bit her lip.

“You are the finest young lady of my acquaintance, Georgina. Be assured of that.”

“I thank you.” She swallowed hard. “I must find an agreeable prospect tonight, and not just any man, a spectacular man that my family could not possibly deny. If I do not, I will be taken back to my sister’s, where I do not want to be, and married off to the dour gentleman, whom I do not want for a husband. Do you understand?” The urgency in her voice bore straight through his chest.

“I do, yes.”For fuck’s sake, this is a disaster.

“Tonight I have an opportunity. I have but one chance to make this right for myself. Should I not try? This is the only avenue available to me.”

Hugh was surely the more impressive candidate for a husband than the dour older man, but if she married Hugh, it would change her intolerably. He was sure of it. She would be trapped, miserable, bitter. She would be forced to accept her husband’s illicit behaviour because he was certain Hugh would not suddenly tame himself once he married, as he’d readily admitted.

And if he took up with a new mistress, which he was sure to do, that would be the ultimate betrayal for this girl and perhaps lead her to risky behaviour of her own.

But Georgie was right in her thinking. She needed a stellar candidate for her fiancé. To see her married and with child from that man made a cold sour sensation slither through his belly. The thought of a man such as he feasting on Georgie whenever he liked…

He tamped down the swell of bile at the images that thought conjured. He gave Georgina a softer, easy smile. “Be assured, you have danced with Ryvves once, spent much time in conversation. And it has been noticed.”

She let out a small sigh. “How wonderful.” She was pleased, relieved.

“Tread carefully. My brother pays his enthusiastic attentions to many young ladies at every party we attend. Do not think that simply because you have charmed him with one dance that—”

“I realise that. I understand. If you could—”

“There you are, Miss Georgina.” Hugh’s voice rose behind them, and they parted at his appearance. “Has my brother been entertaining you or boring you?” Hugh stood before them.

“My lord,” Georgina smiled up at him. “We were catching up on our mutual friends, the Gravens, in Gloucestershire, whom I greatly miss.”

“I greatly missed you. In fact, I need you.” His lips curved. “Stay and bring me good fortune as I play a hand or two here.”

“Of course I shall.” Georgina smiled brightly at Hugh.

Matthew stood up from the table, his gaze dragging over them. Hugh took his seat between Amanda and Thomas.

“Miss Georgina.” Matthew bowed his head slightly. Georgina only tilted her head and kept her gaze firmly on Hugh.

Charles’s throat burned. She was a woman with purpose. She had a strategy. She was on a mission that was life or death.

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