Read Online The Ice Duchess: Scandalous Regency Widows, Book 2 by Amy Rose Bennett - Free Book Online
Authors: Amy Rose Bennett
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the latest on-dit .” Jonathon patted her shoulder. “Just promise me again you won’t up and leave.”
Georgie dropped her hands before clasping them behind her back. “All right,” she said on a resigned sigh. “I promise.”
Jonathon’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Now promise again but uncross your fingers. Don’t think for a moment that I can’t tell what you’re doing.”
Georgie only just resisted the childish impulse to poke out her tongue before she held up her hands so he could see her fingers. “I promise to stay here in London. Happy now?”
Her brother smiled. “Yes. Now why don’t you take a seat by the fire again and I’ll order some tea for you before—Yes, Reed?”
Their butler hovered near the open door. “Excuse me, sir. Your Grace. Lady Maxwell has called to see the duchess.” Reed turned in Georgie’s direction. “I encouraged her ladyship to leave her card, ma’am, but I’m afraid she’s most insistent on seeing you.”
Georgie sighed. There was no putting off Helena—she could be like a force of nature. Besides, there really was no point in delaying the inevitable examination of each and every detail related to the ball… especially Georgie’s encounter with Markham. “Show Lady Maxwell in, Reed. I shall receive her here. We shall take nuncheon as well.”
Reed bowed. “Very good, Your Grace.”
Jonathon began to take his leave also. “As much as I would like to stay and join in your tête-à-tête with Helena, I will bid you adieu as Lord Farley awaits.” He kissed her forehead. “Don’t be too harsh on her for her attempts at match-making. She cares for you like a sister, you know.”
Georgie gave a wry smile. “I know.”
Within a matter of minutes, Helena was ensconced in the matching shepherdess chair positioned directly opposite Georgie’s. Smartly dressed in a walking ensemble of claret wool trimmed with black, military-style frogging, and a beaded black reticule on her arm, she was the epitome of elegance. Georgie, on the other hand, dressed as she was in one of the gowns she’d worn during half-mourning with only her shawl, a crumpled kerchief and a red nose as accessories, felt quite the frump. However, she had little time to dwell on her wardrobe’s shortcomings.
“So tell me what you think of Lord Markham,” Helena began without preamble, her dark brown eyes dancing with mischief. “Isn’t he one of the handsomest men you have ever seen? And obviously taken with you.” She waved her hand toward the roses. “I’ve never seen such beautiful blooms.”
Georgie stifled the urge to groan. It seemed her interrogation was to begin even before the tea arrived. But she wasn’t going to be the only one subjected to an examination. Helena had a bit of explaining to do. She narrowed her eyes. “How do you know that it was Lord Markham who sent them?”
Helena only flushed a little as she continued to meet her gaze. “Well, it’s obvious isn’t it? I mean, he did play cards with you twice. And waltz. Why, the man couldn’t take his eyes off you. It’s even in The Times.”
Georgie curled her fingers into the ivory brocade covering the arms of her chair. “Hmph. It must be true if it’s in The Times then.” She glanced over to the flowers before settling her gaze on Helena again. “Strange how he knew pink roses are my favorite.”
Helena’s blush deepened. “Yes... Well—”
At that moment, a pair of chambermaids appeared with the tea trolley laden with a Spode china tea set, a silver urn and tea caddy, and plates bearing an assortment of cakes, biscuits and sandwiches. Once everything had been deposited on the low table gracing the hearthrug between herself and Helena, Georgie dispensed the tea for both of them. She was about to take a fortifying sip from her own cup when Helena surprised her with a question.
“Why do you dislike him—and others like him—so much, Georgiana?”
Georgie put down her tea untasted; the cup
Georgie dropped her hands before clasping them behind her back. “All right,” she said on a resigned sigh. “I promise.”
Jonathon’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Now promise again but uncross your fingers. Don’t think for a moment that I can’t tell what you’re doing.”
Georgie only just resisted the childish impulse to poke out her tongue before she held up her hands so he could see her fingers. “I promise to stay here in London. Happy now?”
Her brother smiled. “Yes. Now why don’t you take a seat by the fire again and I’ll order some tea for you before—Yes, Reed?”
Their butler hovered near the open door. “Excuse me, sir. Your Grace. Lady Maxwell has called to see the duchess.” Reed turned in Georgie’s direction. “I encouraged her ladyship to leave her card, ma’am, but I’m afraid she’s most insistent on seeing you.”
Georgie sighed. There was no putting off Helena—she could be like a force of nature. Besides, there really was no point in delaying the inevitable examination of each and every detail related to the ball… especially Georgie’s encounter with Markham. “Show Lady Maxwell in, Reed. I shall receive her here. We shall take nuncheon as well.”
Reed bowed. “Very good, Your Grace.”
Jonathon began to take his leave also. “As much as I would like to stay and join in your tête-à-tête with Helena, I will bid you adieu as Lord Farley awaits.” He kissed her forehead. “Don’t be too harsh on her for her attempts at match-making. She cares for you like a sister, you know.”
Georgie gave a wry smile. “I know.”
Within a matter of minutes, Helena was ensconced in the matching shepherdess chair positioned directly opposite Georgie’s. Smartly dressed in a walking ensemble of claret wool trimmed with black, military-style frogging, and a beaded black reticule on her arm, she was the epitome of elegance. Georgie, on the other hand, dressed as she was in one of the gowns she’d worn during half-mourning with only her shawl, a crumpled kerchief and a red nose as accessories, felt quite the frump. However, she had little time to dwell on her wardrobe’s shortcomings.
“So tell me what you think of Lord Markham,” Helena began without preamble, her dark brown eyes dancing with mischief. “Isn’t he one of the handsomest men you have ever seen? And obviously taken with you.” She waved her hand toward the roses. “I’ve never seen such beautiful blooms.”
Georgie stifled the urge to groan. It seemed her interrogation was to begin even before the tea arrived. But she wasn’t going to be the only one subjected to an examination. Helena had a bit of explaining to do. She narrowed her eyes. “How do you know that it was Lord Markham who sent them?”
Helena only flushed a little as she continued to meet her gaze. “Well, it’s obvious isn’t it? I mean, he did play cards with you twice. And waltz. Why, the man couldn’t take his eyes off you. It’s even in The Times.”
Georgie curled her fingers into the ivory brocade covering the arms of her chair. “Hmph. It must be true if it’s in The Times then.” She glanced over to the flowers before settling her gaze on Helena again. “Strange how he knew pink roses are my favorite.”
Helena’s blush deepened. “Yes... Well—”
At that moment, a pair of chambermaids appeared with the tea trolley laden with a Spode china tea set, a silver urn and tea caddy, and plates bearing an assortment of cakes, biscuits and sandwiches. Once everything had been deposited on the low table gracing the hearthrug between herself and Helena, Georgie dispensed the tea for both of them. She was about to take a fortifying sip from her own cup when Helena surprised her with a question.
“Why do you dislike him—and others like him—so much, Georgiana?”
Georgie put down her tea untasted; the cup
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