“I wish I could, but Brown overheard it this morning. He walked by Lord Wakefield’s study this morning when he was meeting with his solicitor.”
“This cannot be,” Georgie stated, bringing a hand to her head. “I refuse to marry that horrid man.”
“What choice do you have?” Alice asked.
Georgie threw the covers off and slid her legs over the side of the bed. “I will go speak to Charles at once,” she said. “With any luck, he will listen to what I have to say.”
“And what if he doesn’t?”
“I don’t rightly know,” Georgie sighed as she rose, “but I can’t marry Lord Ransdale. I would be utterly miserable for the rest of my days.”
“Perhaps it wouldn’t be that bad,” Alice said. “He is an earl.”
“I wouldn’t care if he was a prince.” Georgie retrieved her white wrapper from where it was draped over the back of the settee. “I will not marry a man that makes my skin crawl.”
“How do you intend to convince Lord Wakefield of that?”
“I am hoping he will be somewhat reasonable, and we can talk rationally about it,” Georgie replied as she tied the wrapper on.
“He is not known for his flexibility.”
“I have to try,” Georgie said as she walked over to the door. “Wish me luck.”
Alice rose from the bed. “Do try to avoid making him angry.”
“I don’t intend to.”
Georgie opened the door and stepped out into the hall. She had to convince her brother that she would never suit with Lord Ransdale. He was vain, pretentious, and entirely wrong for her. She could hardly stand being in the same room as him; how would she ever survive being his wife?
As she approached the study, she tried to calm her growing nerves. The last thing she needed was for Charles to accuse her of hysterical behavior. She knew this would be a most difficult conversation, but she refused to do nothing and accept her fate. Surely, she thought, my brother wouldn’t wish for me to be forever miserable.
Georgie stepped into the study, where her brother was sitting at his desk. He glanced up when she stepped into the room.
“Ah, Georgie. I’m glad you are here,” he said.
“You are?” She faltered. She had not expected that reaction.
He nodded. “Come here and sign these documents.”
“What would you have me sign?”
Charles reached for the quill. “The details should hardly matter to you.”
“But they do,” Georgie said as she came to a stop in front of the desk and peered at the papers atop it. “I want to know what I am signing.”
Lowering the quill, Charles replied, “It is your marriage contract to Lord Ransdale.”
Georgie straightened and squared her shoulders. “I do not want to sign it.”
Charles gave her an uninterested look. “Why is that?” he asked.
“Lord Ransdale and I would never suit.” There. That was the truth.
“Why does that matter?”
Georgie pursed her lips. “I do not want to marry a man that I detest,” she said after a moment.
“Detest is such a strong word,” Charles said. “Pray tell, what has Lord Ransdale done to earn your ire?”
