Page 112 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

Georgie watched silently as he left the cabin and closed the door behind him.

Who did he want if not an Englishwoman? Did she dare hope that it was her?

Foolish, of course, but even if it was, would she be willing to risk a lonely life away from her family to be with a man who admitted that all his waking hours were spent at Trade Wynd?

That would be no marriage.

Chapter Forty-Six

Damian did not return to the cabin right away. He needed to be alone with his thoughts.

He had come close to confessing to Georgie that he was in love with her when he said that it was not an Englishwoman that he wanted. Would she realize that he was speaking of her?

Could they be married but live apart, as his parents had?

Except those two never saw each other again, but that was because Father was bitter and stubborn. It also took nearly half a year to sail to and from Cape Colony whereas traveling to Carrera would only take a month, then another back.

It could be possible that he remained in Southampton and at Trade Wynd while she lived with her parents in Carrera, and they would take turns sailing to visit the other. When it was his turn, he would have plenty of time to make arrangements for his absence, unlike now when he left work to be done.

Those very arrangements could be made whenever she visited him or he traveled to her.

Then he would never have to worry about her being lonely or despondent before she left him for good.

It was a foolish dream and one that he must forget.

She wanted to live in Carrera with her family and he was needed in England and no matter how much his heart ached at the idea of never seeing her again, he also had to be sensible.

Yet, he also knew that he must tell Georgie how much he did care for her before she left. She needed to know even if she did not feel the same.

*

When Damian did not return, Georgie found one of the books and began to read, except she could not keep her mind on the story because she kept remembering what Damian had said.

Even if he had meant her, it changed nothing.

They were from two different countries and had only known each other such a short time.

No future should be based on so little.

Yet, that didn’t mean her heart did not ache for him, but she also knew that in time it would stop and she would carry on and likely lead a lonely life while she ran Accetta Panetteria and Damian ran Trade Wynd. It was their destiny and these days spent together would be nothing more than fond memories.

However, despite having made up her mind and believing herself very wise, Georgie could not read and set the book aside, then closed her eyes. She was tired, even though she had not done anything, but at least her heart would not ache once she abandoned her thoughts to sleep.

Georgie did not know how long she slept, but when she awakened, Damian was seated beside her on the bed, pillows behind his head, and reading Glenarvon, just as she had found him before.

“Is it still riveting?” she asked with a smile.

“In a way, yes, it is,” Damian answered. “If this was truly written by Lamb and if what Society has claimed is true that the characters portray real people such as Byron, then it is indeed scandalous and very unflattering to those she has encountered in the aristocracy.”

“Then I look forward to reading it, even if I do not know who the characters are supposed to be in real life.”

“If none of it is true, then you have a gothic novel full of passion and betrayal.” He set the book aside and stood. “I shall retrieve our evening meal and return.”

“Evening!” She could not have slept all day.

“You are recovering,” Damian said as if to answer her unspoken concern.

“What if I cannot sleep tonight because of too much rest.”