He’d made it abundantly clear within their circles what she had done. Abundantly clear in his first year as the new Earl, that the Earldom of Bentley was not a family to be crossed. Their father may have recently passed, and Felix may have only been four-and-twenty, but the Jennings stood by each other. Always. Through anything. Just as they had stood by Felix after his trauma.
Fitz may be different, even from the rest of his family, but that didn’t lessen the strength of the Jennings’s bond for him. He was inordinately grateful for his family, and leaning on them had been what had gotten him through Miss Browning’s betrayal and disparagement.
But he hadn’t loved Eloise.
Enamored, infatuated, besotted? Yes.
But not love.
Egads, how had this even happened? He’d known Georgiana for barely over a sennight. He was no expert on the subject—it wasn’t Italian, after all—but wasn’t falling in love supposed to take a touch more time than that?
The offending muscle residing in his chest said otherwise, thrumming in a soft undeniable rhythm:Gi-gi, Gi-gi, Gi-gi.
It no longer beat for him.
It beat for her.
Fitz couldn’t lose Georgiana because of his ineptitude.
He rested his hand over the letter in his pocket. He would get to London and get this letter delivered.
He would make sure he was the only man his wife wanted.
28
Fitz
Adelaide,
I trust this letter finds you well. I know I dismissed you upon my betrothal. However, I was hoping you would be willing to see me again. I find myself in a situation where I am in need of guidance that I believe you are uniquely positioned to offer. My recent marriage has illuminated that there are some areas where I am woefully uneducated, things that are intimate in nature. You see, I require instruction, and, given your familiarity with my challenges with anxiety, there are few I would feel comfortable seeking this out with. I entrust myself to your capable hands. I eagerly await your response.
With deepest respect,
Mr. Fitzwilliam Jennings
29
Georgiana
AknocksoundedonGeorgiana’s bedroom door. She looked up from where she sat on her bed, a book she hadn’t read a single word of in her lap. She had retired early after dinner and settled in with a gothic novel, hoping she could distract herself until she fell asleep. Fat lot of good that had done.
“Come in.”
The door slowly opened, and Felicity’s head popped out from behind it, amber hair piled atop her head. “Hullo, Georgiana.” Her velvet, forest-green swathed form stepped into the room. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it. She studied Georgiana silently for a heartbeat. “I wanted to check on you,” Felicity said at last. “Are you well? Given…”
Given her husband abandoned her on Christmas. Georgiana was trying so hard not to fall into her melancholy thoughts. But it felt just like his study before they had married. When he’d said quite plainly that conversing with her was inconsequential. That business matters came before her. Apparently, not even Christmas changed that. Apparently, not even—she wrinkled her nose—alovelyevening changed that. She was, as always, not enough, not a priority. An afterthought. Oh dear, there she went, becoming all broody.
“I’m going to take this silence and the fact that you look like someone kicked your puppy as a no.”
Oh, God. Her heart twisted painfully tight. Her puppy. Bernie. Her eyes welled. Shite—
Felicity clapped her hands. “We are going to fix that. Come with me. Chop chop!”
“Wha—”
But Felicity was already exiting Georgiana’s room. She blinked, confusion cutting through her grief.Thank God.Georgiana scrambled off her bed and scurried after Felicity. She quickly grabbed her wrapper on her way to the door, shrugging into it as she entered the hallway. Felicity’s form was nearly at the end of the hall, marching with purpose.
Georgiana finally reached her sister-in-law, breaths puffing past her lips. “Goodness, Felicity. With how fast you’re moving, you’d think a new shipment of French silks just came in. Or they’re giving away free samples at the confectioners.”
