Page 40 of Scandal’s Daughter

Chapter 19

“Wherein Almack’s hallowed grounds are daunting.”

Sebastian strode in through the impressive doors of his home on Grosvenor Square, surrendered his hat and coat to the footman and shut himself in his study.

Good God but what a tedious and unprofitable afternoon. Two days earlier he had obliged his mother by presenting his own list of eligible females and between them they had whittled the names down to five. Five possible choices for his future duchess.

He had gone this afternoon to pay a call on the one that had risen to the top of the list. Lady Anne Scunthorpe was the granddaughter of an earl. Her family came from a distinguished and well-respected line. Whilst she was no beauty, she was by no means unattractive with a sweet, round face and a pleasing figure.

She was also accomplished and well used to hosting her father’s impressive rout parties since her mother died some three years earlier. She would make a perfect duchess and, to make the match even more desirable, her marriage price included a vast tract of land that Sebastian had always coveted as it sat cheek by jowl to his own estate and was ripe for development.

And yet.

She had smiled at him, laughed at his - frankly appalling - jokes, and never ventured an opinion further than, “I’m sure you’re right, your grace.”

She would never do anything to displease him, she would look the other way to his affairs if he was discreet, and she would always tell him he was right.

He felt sick.

And now he had to face bloody Almack’s. Dammit all if there was another place he detested more on the face of the planet, he couldn’t yet bring it to mind. He’d have to stand there, like a prize bull, while mothers chivvied their daughters into smiling and batting their eyelashes at him in the hopes of casting a lure to hook a duke on.

He groaned and sat back in his chair clutching a large glass of brandy. Holding the cool glass to his temple he closed his eyes, and his thoughts immediately strayed to Georgiana.

Oh God. He couldn’t bear it. Not one more day without her. He would leave, he decided. First thing tomorrow he would go back and find her and ... and ...

His brain stalled. Could he really offer her marriage?

Beau was right about one thing his mother might fear him falling into the clutches of The Siren but bringing home a country doctor’s daughter as his bride might be enough to finish the old girl off for good.

Ever since he was old enough to understand the concept, she above all others, had drummed into him the duty he owed his position. The privilege he had been given was great and he must make his own sacrifices to be worthy of it. But did that truly mean he could never be happy?

There was only one thing he knew with any kind of certainty. He could never be happy without Georgiana.

So, he would leave tomorrow, and he would find her, and he would see what he felt, how she felt, when they met again. But if she loved him still, he didn’t think he was strong enough to say goodbye to her a second time.

***

“Look at this one!” Céleste said with glee, waving another newspaper at her.

Georgiana snatched it from her hand and poured over the relevant page.

Last night at Lady A’s fabulously attended rout party, the great and the good of the ton were treated to their first glimpse of the dashing Lady D.

Dressed demurely all in white this elegant lady seemed to take all in her stride and charmed many, much to the dismay of others. Our own dashing M of B was dressed to the height of fashion and was noted to have spent much time in admiring the lady himself. We await with impatience ...

“The bloody impertinence!” Alex thundered, snatching the newspaper off the table in front of her and glowering at it. “Georgiana, you must stay away from Beaumont. I know he’s an entertaining chap but he’s nothing but trouble, and he certainly can’t do you any good.”

“Oh, Alex, don’t be so stuffy,” Céleste replied laughing at him and feeding her spaniel a piece of buttered toast from her fingers. “His interest has already done her a great deal of good, and besides, from what Georgiana said he’s not toying with her. He means to take a wife.”

Georgiana nodded. “Oh, of course it is my fortune that tempts him, my lord. Please be easy, I have no silly ideas that he would look at me twice if not for that.”

“Oh, he’d look at you twice,” Alex muttered with a grim smile. He looked back to Céleste and Georgiana watched with amusement as his face softened. “So, it’s Almack’s tonight?”

“Yes,” Céleste replied with a heavy sigh.

“What’s this?” he demanded, his cool, grey eyes frowning with concern. “There have been more plots and intrigues to get these blasted vouchers than the Duke of Wellington ever employed in the entire bloody war. Don’t tell me you don’t want to go?”

“Oh, non,” Céleste replied, reaching out and clasping his arm. “But you won’t be there, so it won’t be any fun at all.”