“Gardening?” Alice asked. “But you hate getting your hands dirty.”
“True, but I will need to find something to occupy my time besides reading.”
“You could always marry,” Alice suggested.
Georgie shook her head. “I have no designs on matrimony. I want to control my own destiny and not rely on someone else’s good graces anymore.”
The dinner bell rang downstairs, beckoning her to the drawing room.
Alice jumped back and rushed to the bed. “We must get you dressed!”
A knock came at the door just as the last ribbon was tied. Alice hurried over and opened the door, revealing Georgie’s brother.
Charles remained in the hallway, his eyes perusing the length of her. “You look lovely,” he acknowledged. “I am glad you are wearing that dress. Dark colors make you look drab.”
Her brother looked so much like their father, with his dark hair and strong jaw, but the similarities stopped there. Her father had been warm, kind and inviting, whereas Charles was domineering, his eyes cold and unfeeling. Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a necklace.
“I thought you might want to wear Mother’s pearl necklace this evening,” he said.
Georgie was surprised by his thoughtfulness. He wasn’t one to do kind things for her. What was he about? Realizing that her brother was still waiting for a response, she said, “I would love to.”
Charles stepped into the room and indicated that she should turn around. He looped the pearls around her neck and fastened them in place.
“Thank you, Charles.” Georgie fingered the strand of pearls as she turned back around to face him. Memories of her mother came flooding back to her, and she blinked back tears. She knew how her brother felt about her crying in front of him, and she didn’t want to upset him.
Charles offered his arm and asked, “May I escort you to dinner?”
Georgie allowed him to lead her out of her bedchamber.
“I wanted to apologize for striking you last night,” Charles said, glancing over at her as they walked down the hall. “That was in bad form.”
Georgie remained silent, unsure of what to say. What about all the other times he had hit her without provocation? Did he have remorse for those times, as well?
“I do not take pleasure in hitting you, mind you,” Charles continued, “but sometimes I feel that it is the only way you will listen.”
“I listen to you,” she attempted.
Charles frowned. “Not well enough. You are much too headstrong for a woman of your station.”
“I disagree,” she replied. “Mother and Father raised me to have a voice.”
“They were wrong to do so,” Charles stated. “Women are meant to be seen, but not heard.”
“How archaic of you, brother.”
Charles tensed, and Georgie feared that she had pushed him too far, which was something she was doing far too often lately.
“It would serve you well to learn how to bite your tongue,” he warned.
“I know how to behave.”
“Then prove it to me,” Charles said as they started descending the stairs. “I want you to be most attentive to our guest this evening.”
“Why did you invite Lord Ransdale?”
“He is my friend and just arrived in Town,” Charles said. “It is in your best interest to behave, or else I can assure you that you will not like the consequences.” His words had grown curt, and she had little doubt that he was in earnest.
“I understand,” she murmured. She knew there was no point in arguing with him, not when he got like this.
