Page 33 of Counting on Love

“We have not been introduced, but at this point, the formality would appear to be moot. I am Mr. Taverston.” He bowed a little. “The youngest son. And you are Miss Fogbotham?”

“No, unfortunately. I am Lady Georgiana.”

He bit his lip. How awkward. “How long have you been here? In the library, I mean.”

She looked to the wall clock, then groaned, “Nearly two hours.”

Both their heads turned, as if connected by a string, to check the library door. It was firmly closed. A shiver ran down his spine. This was the fabled situation where a young man must go, hat in hand, to speak with a girl’s father and pray not to be shot.

Lady Georgiana turned back to face him, her eyes a bit wide. “This is not going well, is it? What should we do?” Her calm impressed him.

He considered for a moment, then said, “Jasp—that is, Lord Taverston is not generally an early riser. And Lieutenant Taverston, unless his habits have changed, will go for a long morning walk before breakfasting. Olivia sleeps late. So we really need worry only about my mother.”

“And mine.”

He nodded, feeling rather sick.

“I don’t suppose that window behind you opens?” she asked.

He turned and looked at the bay window. “Why?”

“Well, you could climb out, couldn’t you? Walk around the house. Approach from the front. Say you have been out walking? Like Lieutenant Taverston does?”

“In the rain? Without my coat?”

She frowned at him, and he realized he sounded rather missish.

“I could,” he amended quickly. “But I usually work in the mornings and walk later in the day. My habits are well known. My brothers would be on me like terriers on a rat. And I’m not a good liar.”

“Generally, that recommends a man, but it doesn’t help now.”

“Can you li—um… prevaricate?”

She flushed. “Perhaps if we simply confessed? It is rather funny, don’t you think?”

Funny? They would not actually be forced to the altar. But Jasper would be annoyed that Reginald had put Georgiana in such an embarrassing position, even unwittingly. And Jasper wouldn’t blame her either, but he’d be peeved at the error.

“God,” he groaned. “You don’t know Crispin.” Only Crispin would find it amusing—he would never let them live it down.

“I could slip out. Return to my guestroom.”

“Would anyone ask where you’ve been? You can’t say the library. Wait! I know. The music room is three doors down the hall. You play the piano, don’t you?”

“Am I to go bang on the keys?” She sounded faintly amused.

“No, but there is sheet music on the piano and more in a basket on the shelf. Collect a few pieces and take them to the breakfast parlor. Someone is bound to be there. Say you’ve been poring over them for over an hour and hope for some advice on which ones Lord Taverston would prefer to hear.”

He thought it a clever suggestion, but her flush deepened and she frowned. “For someone who claims he does not lie, you have apparently mastered deceit.” She adjusted the shawl which had slipped down her shoulders. “You are not the only one with established habits, Mr. Taverston. My family will also notice something amiss if I behave out of character. And I am not a coquette.”

“I beg your pardon.” He made a short, apologetic bow, and felt himself flush at his own gaucheness. This was why he did not like to meet new people. Jasper charmed multitudes, while he could not…well, he could not.

The lady tilted her head then, her eyes peering upward as she tapped her finger on her chin. “Although…” she mused. “It would appease Mama to see that I have chosen to make an effort.”

An effort? To do what, exactly? “Excuse me?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Is the music room to the right or the left?”

“Left.”

“You do know that when we’re introduced later today, you’ll have to pretend it’s the first time. Can you prevaricate that much?” She looked at him with one of her eyebrows raised, as if she was skeptical of his ability to lie.

Prevaricate, rather. He drew himself up. “I believe I can muddle through a pretend introduction,” he replied, amused to think he and his sister-in-law would always have this little deception to smile about.

She smiled at him. “Thank you. I do apologize for upsetting your morning.”

“Not at all.”

It occurred to him that she was an exceptionally pretty woman. Though not at all in the way that Annie had been. Even disheveled as she was, Lady Georgiana was proper. She would be perfect for Jasper’s countess. Proper yet just addle-pated enough for him to mollycoddle. Reginald made a polite bow and let her go.

Then he went to the kissing chair to retrieve the novel she’d hidden. He knelt on the floor and reached for it. Bulky thing. He pulled it out.

Principia.

He looked at the closed library door and then back at his book.

Good Lord.