Georgie sighed. “I assumed as much. He hit me rather hard this time,” she said. “Thank you for saving me when you did.”
“I wish I could do more.”
Georgie attempted to smile but the pain in her cheek prevented her from doing so. “You did enough,” she assured him.
“Would you like me to retrieve Alice for you?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Georgie replied. “I think it might be best if I go lie down for a while.”
“I will go to the kitchen and find something to help with the swelling.”
Tears came to Georgie’s eyes. “It’s getting worse,” she admitted.
“Aye,” Wilson replied in a solemn voice. “That it is.”
“If you hadn’t come when you did… I fear what my brother could be capable of, especially since I had no intention of relenting.”
“You are much too stubborn for your own good.” Wilson smiled to soften his words.
Georgie reached up and wiped a tear that was rolling down her cheek. “I won’t marry Lord Ransdale.”
Wilson’s smile slipped. “Then he will kill you.”
“I wish I could disagree.”
“What are you going to do?”
Georgie shrugged. “What can I do?” she asked. “I have nowhere to go that Charles couldn’t find me.”
“That is what I am worried about.”
Georgie stared out the drawing room window as she attempted to come up with some sort of plan to escape from her brother’s clutches. She did have some of her mother’s jewelry that she could sell, but she didn’t even know how to go about that. And where would she live if she did leave? Her life was far too sheltered for her to even begin to believe that she could manage to live on her own.
She was trapped in a gilded cage, and she hated it. How she wished she had the strength to run away and defy her brother! But that required knowledge of the streets that she did not possess. She was brought up to be a lady, not to live like a pauper.
The door opened and Alice stepped into the room. “You need to come with me,” she ordered.
“Where?”
“To the servant’s quarters,” Alice replied before she disappeared back into the hall.
The strange behavior piqued her curiosity, and Georgie followed Alice into the hall. They walked in silence as Georgie hurried to keep up with Alice’s quick pace. Once they arrived at the red door that led to the servant’s stairs, Alice opened it and stood to the side.
Georgie put her hand on the railing and carefully descended the rickety stairs. Once she was at the bottom, she saw a group of servants standing around the kitchen, all of them intently watching her.
Alice brushed past her and said, “Come along.”
Georgie walked towards the kitchen and saw the rounded Mrs. Peters standing next to Wilson. “What is all of this?” she asked.
Mrs. Peters frowned when her eyes landed on her face. “He hurt you really bad, didn’t he?”
Georgie placed a hand to her swollen cheek and winced. “He did, but it is nothing that won’t heal.”
“This time,” Mrs. Peters said. “Which is why we have come up with a plan to help you.”
Georgie gave her a weak smile. “That is kind of you, of all of you, but I’m afraid no one can help me.”
Mrs. Peters gestured towards a stool. “Have a seat and we will tell you of our plan,” she said. “We think it is quite brilliant, and have been busy crafting it all morning.”
