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harder.
    “I’ve agreed to this tutoring charade for one reason and one reason only: so Harland can keep his employment here. I will humor Oliver.” She tossed her chin up and recrossed her arms. “I’ll bloody well humor you with your lessons, but I will decide who I’m to marry.”
    “There’s no need for blasphemous curse words, Miss Duvall,” he ground out. She was full of more spit and fire than any woman he’d had the chance to encounter. “I think I’m very clear that you will decide whom you’re to marry—you and no one else.” He held up his hands. “I heard you.”
    “Good. I’m glad that you did.”
    “Are all American woman this belligerent or just you?”
    “My lord, I find your question insulting.”
    “No insult intended, but I apologize just the same. My manners aren’t always up to standard. This concludes our lesson for today, Miss Duvall. I think we’ve covered quite enough material.”
    “I think so as well, Lord Grandleigh.”

Chapter Five
    The next morning, Eloise helped Georgia with a simple traveling dress, although she had no interest in going to London to get fancy clothes. Somehow, she had to convince Oliver that Sir Richard would be perfectly happy to marry her.
    As soon as she spotted Lord Grandleigh’s carriage, she bounded down the stairs hoping to speak with Oliver, otherwise she’d be going to London whether she liked it or not. She didn’t have much time.
    Around the corner, her slippers sliding on the floor, she nearly ran smack dab into her tutor, who had unfortunately already entered the foyer. Damn.
    “Good morning, my lord,” she said. That fluttery feeling came over her again, and she was determined to crush whatever it was. She didn’t have time for feeling light-headed; she had a great deal to accomplish.
    “Good morning to you, Miss Duvall. Are you ready for our journey to London?” He stood so confident and stiff, she wondered if he ever relaxed. Did he take off his boots and sit by the hearth with his feet up? Or did he always stay ramrod straight?
    “Not quite yet. I need to have some words with my cousin first.” She brushed past him to the drawing room, where Eloise had said he was working this morning.
    “We do have an appointment and mustn’t be late.” Grandleigh followed close behind her.
    “Don’t worry,” she said, but she imagined he did worry about things like being on time to an appointment. However, it didn’t matter, because if she had her way they wouldn’t be going anywhere together.
    Georgia entered the drawing room, where Oliver was hunched over his desk with papers in hand, a grim line running across his brow. She’d interrupted his work. Not the best way to start. “Good morning, Oliver.”
    He set down the papers and stood. “Good morning to you. Ah, and I see Grandleigh is here, as well. I understand you’ll be traveling to London this morning?”
    “Yes…about that.” Georgia clutched her hands together. “There really is no need.”
    Grandleigh cleared his throat, as though he was about to make some grand announcement, then said, “You are very much in need of some quality dresses. The party at Lady Laurel’s is a grand affair, even for a country location. The modiste I’ve arranged for you is able to make a dress for you in two days’ time. However, we do have much work to do between now and when the party begins.”
    Georgia swung around to stare at him. “If you’ll allow me to speak with my cousin , I would like him to know that none of this is necessary.”
    “By all means, go ahead.” Grandleigh opened his hand as though inviting her to a waltz.
    She supposed it was a waltz of types, dancing between these two men, but she’d been in tighter situations than this before. Hadn’t she proven what she could accomplish when she set her mind to something as she rode Perseus in that race?
    “Oliver”—she strode to the edge of his mahogany desk—“I don’t believe there’s any need for me to go