you?”
“By God, I’d never thought of that,” Grandleigh said in exasperation.
Georgia gripped the layers of her skirts and scowled at him, otherwise she might very well attack the man. “You said you’d not intervene, and there you just did.”
“I didn’t intervene,” Grandleigh said, looking suitably unabashed. “I merely expressed my outrage, or surprise, as it were.”
“I will not give my permission for you to marry Sir Richard,” Oliver said, barely repressed impatience etched across his features. “Even if he were here on bended knee right this very minute.” He stood and tucked his chair back in place behind the desk. “I want more for you, Georgia. Don’t you see that?”
“I see that you aren’t listening to me at all. I’m a stranger in a strange land, and this part of England is all that’s familiar to me. I want to live nearby. Otherwise, send me back to Virginia. That’s where I’d rather be anyway.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s where I belong.”
“You belong here. Your father wanted you to marry an English peer and live in the place of your mother’s birth. He was absolutely convinced of this, and I agree. I’m the only family you have left, and no one can look after you or care for you as much as we will until you’re married and have a husband to see to your needs.”
The brash honesty cut her deeply. She knew she was alone in this world. She didn’t need to be reminded of it. “I’m abiding by my father’s dying wish, I am, but I’m not going to live just anywhere in England. I want to be within a day’s ride of you and Arabella. Preferably much closer. And the Hamiltons border your estate.”
Oliver looked aptly melancholy. “All right then, we’ll arrange for you to meet James Hamilton. That’s the best I can offer you.”
“I don’t care about James Hamilton. I’ve never met him, but I’ve met his father, and he seems—”
“You are only interested in his father because he’s reported to be in ill health. I’ve seen through your scheme, Georgie.” Oliver’s face reddened. “I will not marry you off to an old man just so you can be a widow within however many years. I don’t want you to be alone.”
“I won’t be alone.” She wanted to stomp her feet—nothing about this was going well. “I’ll have you and Arabella and your child. I’ll have my family nearby, I’ll have horses to ride, and I’ll have the racing stables.”
“You exasperate me, Georgia. Truly, you do.” He stared down at the flowered carpet, his mind seemingly elsewhere. “I don’t have the energy to deal with this right now. That’s why I’ve asked for Will’s help. I should be introducing you to eligible men, but the truth is, the doctor was here yesterday, and Arabella must be on bed rest for the last month of her pregnancy. I have to stay here and attend to her.”
Georgia ran to Oliver’s side. Powerless to help, she wouldn’t have spoken to him about this marriage business if she’d known. “Of course you do. I didn’t know there was a problem. I must see her right away.”
“No, not now. She’s sleeping.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “She’ll be fine, but I’ve entrusted you into Will’s care. He’s arranged for you to see a dressmaker in London. Why not honor his efforts and set out for this appointment he’s made?”
Grandleigh approached them with fear in his eyes. “Are you certain she’s going to be all right?”
“Yes.” Oliver sounded tired. “She’s been doing too much. The doctor said she must rest is all.”
Georgia had a planned agenda, she knew what she wanted, but now wasn’t the time to burden her cousin. He clearly had enough on his mind worrying about his wife. From the looks of things, she was stuck with the Earl of Grandleigh. For now. Splendid. “All right, we’ll go to London today and purchase some new dresses.”
“Yes.” Grandleigh cleared his throat and rubbed a hand across
“By God, I’d never thought of that,” Grandleigh said in exasperation.
Georgia gripped the layers of her skirts and scowled at him, otherwise she might very well attack the man. “You said you’d not intervene, and there you just did.”
“I didn’t intervene,” Grandleigh said, looking suitably unabashed. “I merely expressed my outrage, or surprise, as it were.”
“I will not give my permission for you to marry Sir Richard,” Oliver said, barely repressed impatience etched across his features. “Even if he were here on bended knee right this very minute.” He stood and tucked his chair back in place behind the desk. “I want more for you, Georgia. Don’t you see that?”
“I see that you aren’t listening to me at all. I’m a stranger in a strange land, and this part of England is all that’s familiar to me. I want to live nearby. Otherwise, send me back to Virginia. That’s where I’d rather be anyway.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s where I belong.”
“You belong here. Your father wanted you to marry an English peer and live in the place of your mother’s birth. He was absolutely convinced of this, and I agree. I’m the only family you have left, and no one can look after you or care for you as much as we will until you’re married and have a husband to see to your needs.”
The brash honesty cut her deeply. She knew she was alone in this world. She didn’t need to be reminded of it. “I’m abiding by my father’s dying wish, I am, but I’m not going to live just anywhere in England. I want to be within a day’s ride of you and Arabella. Preferably much closer. And the Hamiltons border your estate.”
Oliver looked aptly melancholy. “All right then, we’ll arrange for you to meet James Hamilton. That’s the best I can offer you.”
“I don’t care about James Hamilton. I’ve never met him, but I’ve met his father, and he seems—”
“You are only interested in his father because he’s reported to be in ill health. I’ve seen through your scheme, Georgie.” Oliver’s face reddened. “I will not marry you off to an old man just so you can be a widow within however many years. I don’t want you to be alone.”
“I won’t be alone.” She wanted to stomp her feet—nothing about this was going well. “I’ll have you and Arabella and your child. I’ll have my family nearby, I’ll have horses to ride, and I’ll have the racing stables.”
“You exasperate me, Georgia. Truly, you do.” He stared down at the flowered carpet, his mind seemingly elsewhere. “I don’t have the energy to deal with this right now. That’s why I’ve asked for Will’s help. I should be introducing you to eligible men, but the truth is, the doctor was here yesterday, and Arabella must be on bed rest for the last month of her pregnancy. I have to stay here and attend to her.”
Georgia ran to Oliver’s side. Powerless to help, she wouldn’t have spoken to him about this marriage business if she’d known. “Of course you do. I didn’t know there was a problem. I must see her right away.”
“No, not now. She’s sleeping.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “She’ll be fine, but I’ve entrusted you into Will’s care. He’s arranged for you to see a dressmaker in London. Why not honor his efforts and set out for this appointment he’s made?”
Grandleigh approached them with fear in his eyes. “Are you certain she’s going to be all right?”
“Yes.” Oliver sounded tired. “She’s been doing too much. The doctor said she must rest is all.”
Georgia had a planned agenda, she knew what she wanted, but now wasn’t the time to burden her cousin. He clearly had enough on his mind worrying about his wife. From the looks of things, she was stuck with the Earl of Grandleigh. For now. Splendid. “All right, we’ll go to London today and purchase some new dresses.”
“Yes.” Grandleigh cleared his throat and rubbed a hand across
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