“I don’t know why I feel as if I should confide in you, but it feels right,” Lord Grenton murmured. “Your voice soothes me, and you make me rethink everything I have believed to be true.”
He slowly leaned close, and she realized that he was going to kiss her.
And she was going to let him.
Just as she felt his warm breath on her lips, Wilson’s voice came from the doorway, startling her. “Miss Ashmore’s coach has arrived.”
Lord Grenton took a step back and cleared his throat, looking deucedly uncomfortable.
Wilson remained by the door, regarding Lord Grenton with disapproval. “Would you like me to escort you outside now?”
After she had taken a moment to recover, Georgie said, “Will you notify the driver I will be just a moment?”
“Yes, miss,” Wilson responded, but he made no effort to move, nor did he remove his gaze from Lord Grenton.
Georgie gave Wilson an understanding look. “I will be fine. You need not worry about me.”
Wilson’s eyes shifted towards her before he tipped his head.
Once Wilson had departed, Lord Grenton sighed. “I would like to apologize for my untoward behavior.”
“That is not necessary.” She didn’t want Lord Grenton to admit that it had been a mistake, because she had wanted to kiss him.
A frown tugged at Lord Grenton’s lips. “I did wish to speak to you about something disconcerting, but I’m afraid I got distracted.”
Georgie clasped her hands in front of her. “What do you wish to discuss?”
“I went to see your brother this morning.”
She could feel the color draining from her face. “Why would you do such a thing?” she demanded. “I told you that no good would come out of speaking to him.”
“You did, but I wanted to see if I could reason with him.”
“There is no reasoning with my brother,” Georgie said.
“I am aware of that now,” Lord Grenton said with a nod. “He was expecting me. He even threatened me with a pistol.”
She gasped. “You could have been killed!”
“I was fortunate that Hawthorne accompanied me. He was able to diffuse the situation and even got a shot off at your brother.”
“Did he kill him?”
“No, he only grazed his arm.”
Georgie processed this, then put a hand on her hip. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I wanted to help you.”
“And did you?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid I made it worse.”
“How is that possible?”
A line appeared between Lord Grenton’s brows. “He says if I don’t turn you over to him by tomorrow, he will kill one of the girls for every day that you aren’t home.”
Georgie’s legs wobbled and she wavered. Lord Grenton rushed to steady her.
