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It was not the first time such a thought had occurred to Georgiana. That very evening she had told Tobias what she had overheard and demanded to know the truth about his friend. But he had set her straight.
Georgie, he came to London to marry a wealthy wife.
In other words, not a girl like her.
Then I suppose I saved both of us some trouble.
Questions tangled with long-buried memories, keeping her awake for hours. But this tiredness was not the result of just one night. It was a bone-deep exhaustion that had been accumulating for years from the great weight of regret pressing into her shoulders. The viscount’s death had lightened her load a little, but it had all come rushing back the moment her gaze met Captain Harris’s across his tiny, tidy office.
Just as her mouth began to twitch from another yawn, the train pulled into the station. She stepped back from the platform as the scent of oil and hot metal invaded her senses, and she closed her eyes for a moment against the heat rolling off the massive piece of machinery. She opened them just in time to see Captain Harris emerge through a burst of steam, his dark coat flaring out behind him. It was a most dramatic entrance, made even more so by the ever present scowl on his face. Georgiana saw the exact moment he spotted her because his frown immediately deepened.
Sometimes irritation can mask attraction.
She muffled a snort. If that were true, then the captain must be utterlymadfor her. She did her best to ignore the answering pulse of interest. It was an unwelcome reminder of just how much she had once wanted him.
Once, she reminded herself.Not anymore.
And yet Georgiana couldn’t help noticing the captain’s long legs as they strode toward her, along with the sight of his gloved hand sheathed in black leather atop his cane. Her breath caught as he tightened his grip on the handle.
It was another moment before Captain Harris reached her, and another still before she realized she had been staring.
The captain raised an eyebrow. “You should be waiting in the lounge,” he scolded. “It isn’t safe out here.”
“And good morning to you, Captain,” she said briskly.
His lips twitched for a moment as he stared down at her, but Georgiana could swear there was the slightest glint in his eyes. “Good morning, my lady.”
This felt like a small win, and Georgiana couldn’t help smiling at him. “Ready for our journey?”
He let out a grunt and scanned the platform. “Surely I don’t need to explain that this is a terrible idea.”
It’s best if we keep our distance from each other.
And this was the exact opposite.
But before she could respond, someone called her name. Georgiana and the captain both turned to the speaker. It was Tommy Pettigrew.Here.
“My Lord,” Georgiana gasped, too surprised to hide it.
“Good morning, Captain. Lady Arlington,” he said with a sweeping bow much too grand for a train station. When he straightened, Georgiana noticed the bouquet of flowers. “Forgive me, but I couldn’t let you leave the country without seeing you off.”
As he handed her the bouquet, he darted a nervous glance toward Captain Harris, who looked properly intimidating and very much like a mysterious duke in a Gothic novel. Georgiana couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for Tommy in this moment.
She accepted the flowers and brought them to her nose. “Thank you. Ah, daisies. My favorite.”
“A lady as lovely as you deserves roses, but you once mentioned that daisies reminded you of your family home in Kent.”
“How thoughtful you are,” she said, smiling with genuine pleasure.
Tommy grinned back. It put her in mind of the first time Barnaby successfully rolled over when she gave the command. How pleased they both looked to win her approval.
“Isn’t it a bit early for you, Lord Pettigrew?” Captain Harris asked gruffly. “I thought gentlemen of leisure didn’t rise before noon.”
If his lordship picked up on the cut, he did not indicate it. “Oh, I’m quite the early riser, Captain,” he said with his usual cheerfulness. “Always have been.” Georgiana’s smile grew as the captain’s expression noticeably darkened. Perhaps this young man was exactly what she needed. Someone to draw her out from under the dark veil that had shrouded her all these years. Tommy Pettigrew may be many things, but Georgiana felt certain he would never intentionally hurt her or withhold his affection. No, one always knew exactly where they stood with him. And that was very,veryappealing.
The train whistle went off, and passengers disembarked. It was nearly time to leave.
“Well then, enjoy your trip. I will call on you when you return,” Tommy said to her before addressing the captain. “I trust you’ll take good care of the lady.”
