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He brought both of her hands up, observing the fine bones of her fingers, before kissing each palm right at the center. Then he entreated with his eyes, locking onto hers.
“As you wish.” She dipped her head elegantly, turned, and walked away, leaving him under the sheltering leaves of the ancient oak.
He stood frozen, powerless to move, only able to watch over Georgina until she found her way safely inside the house.
Jeremy was positively savaged with worry for her. Yes, he was fussing already. Might as well don a nanny’s apron and cap, he thought, wryly. The urge to hover and stay close by was difficult to curb. In fact, Jeremy had no intention of curbing the impulse. What he wanted to do was flay Pellton and snarl at anyone who looked at his Georgina in a way they shouldn’t. Then, he’d take her sweet, innocent form into his arms and kiss her senseless. Or until he was senseless. Hell, he was already senseless! Yes, she will be my Georgina.
Was he really going to do this?
Yes, you are.
Jeremy needed a whiskey right now, or three. He felt surprisingly steady in the nob, considering what he would be doing come midnight. Hellfire and damnation! Courtship is torture on a fellow, he thought.
Chapter Eight
His love was passion’s essence—as a tree
On fire by lightning, with eternal flame
Kindled he was, and blasted.
—Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (1812)
Honesty was the only option open to her. Georgina knew she would have a difficult time denying Jeremy anything that he asked. She also knew she couldn’t betray him either. He was too worthy and good. She’d have to tell him the ugly truth before he asked her the question. And then he’d no longer want her. He’d be repulsed and embarrassed, and she hated do that to him, but couldn’t see any other way.
Life felt so very unfair at the moment. It had not turned out at all how she’d imagined when she was an innocent and still whole, and dreamed of the fairy tale. Dreamed of the brave knight who battled dragons and rushed in to sweep her to safety. Her life was no fairy tale. Although Lord Pellton could fill the role of a dragon, she thought wryly. No, the knight of her dreams married her and took her away to his castle where he loved her for the rest of their days.
Making her way to the library with a heavy heart, she could guess what the honorable Mr. Jeremy Greymont would be asking her, and she also knew what her answer must be.
Georgina quietly entered the library to find Jeremy pacing impatiently. He faced the clock as it closed in on midnight. The click of the door latch caught his attention, and he turned abruptly.
Her heart stuttered painfully as she drank him in. His sharp blue eyes fastened on to hers and softened. Still in his evening clothes, his hair was a little tousled, as if he’d been dragging a hand through it. Pieces of sandy brown skittered over his brow. His lips stood out smooth and full against the shadow of beard that surrounded them. They were the same lips that had kissed her forehead and her palms. What a beautiful man you are, Jeremy Greymont.
He kept still for a moment, his stare raking over her fast before coming to rest upon her face. She’d worn her hair down but tied together onto one side, and had covered up with a blue brocade dressing gown over a lacy nightdress.
She suspected he liked how she looked because he swallowed deeply before speaking. “Thank you for meeting me, Georgina. Please sit down?” He indicated a chair for her.
Seeing the swallowing and the admiration in his eyes, she felt even more regret for what she must tell him. She took the seat, lifting her eyes to him. “Mr. Greymont,” she whispered in greeting, wanting his admiration for her to go on, but knowing he wouldn’t feel it once she explained why she couldn’t accept his hand.
He cleared his throat. “You told me today that your father has imposed the requirement of marriage for you. I confess I did know of his intentions to see you wed. Your brother told me when I met him in London. And the idea intrigued me. I have admired you for years, but you were too young before, and I was not of a mind to settle down then. But now, my aspirations have changed.” His voice trailed off as his eyes swept over her again.
She looked up at him, stil
l standing, so tall and strong before her and thought he was the most handsome man she had ever known. And then she felt the pang hit her in accepting that she would probably never see him again after this night.
He sat down in the chair opposite to her. “I had to come to see you again and learn more about you. Being in your company has not been a disappointment. Rather, it has been quite the opposite. Georgina, I think you are perfect for me.” He reached out and gently clasped her hand. “My grandparents raised me, and my grandfather, Sir Rodney, will leave a baronetcy when he goes. He is getting on in age and wishes to see the line secured, impressing urgency for me to wed and get an heir for Hallborough Park, our estate in Somerset. So you see I also have the necessity of marriage on me.”
Georgina felt the urge to laugh at the absurdity of fate. Jeremy wanted to marry for the purpose of getting an heir just like Lord Pellton did. But he’s not like Lord Pellton. How could two men want the same and her reaction be so vast in difference? Easy answer, that. One man was good, and one was bad. Jeremy saw her as a person, while Pellton thought of her as something to use. Jeremy was kindness and comfort. Pellton was lecherous and frightening.
He gathered up her other hand so that now he held both of them in his. “If I could bring about such with you, it would not be a burden in any way. It would be a privilege. I would be honored to have you for my wife.” He straightened in his seat and swallowed. “Georgina, will you—”
“Jeremy,” she interrupted, “don’t.” She bowed her head. “Do not ask the question.” The regret in her voice sounded so pitiful, even to her own ears. She tugged her hands out of his clasp.
He resisted her withdrawal for just an instant before letting her hands go. “What is it?” he asked.
“I cannot marry you because I am not fit to be wife to any man,” she whispered, praying she could get through the rest of the explanation when he demanded it.
“Because of Pellton today? I don’t care about him, and I stopped him before he could…hurt you.” He stroked her cheek with a knuckle. “No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll protect—”
