Read Online The Ice Duchess: Scandalous Regency Widows, Book 2 by Amy Rose Bennett - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amy Rose Bennett
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rattling against the saucer revealed all too well how perturbed she was by Helena’s question. She glanced to the door to make sure it was fully closed—it wouldn’t do for any of the servants to overhear their conversation. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Helena put down her cup as well. “Of course you do, my darling friend,” she said softly, the expression in her eyes gentle. “The only time you give a man like Lord Markham a glance is when he’s sitting across a card table from you. And even then, it’s usually with cool calculation in your eyes.”
Helena was being kind. It was more likely to be a look of disdain. But Georgie only shrugged. “I like to win.” Her mouth lifted into a rueful smile. “Or at least I did until last night.”
Helena inclined her head, studying Georgie’s face. “Markham rattled you, didn’t he? More than anyone has before.”
That was true. Georgie couldn’t deny it. “Yes. But perhaps it’s because I’m widowed now. I must confess to feeling quite vulnerable without Teddy by my side.”
Helena laughed. “You mean, you don’t have your personal guard dog with his razor sharp wit and hard black stare scaring any potential suitors off anymore.” Her brow suddenly creased in thought. “All the years of your marriage, you never did take a lover did you?”
“No.” Helena was perhaps the only person in the world—apart from Jonathon—who would dare venture such a personal question. Indeed, Helena and Phillip were the only friends who had known about the true state of her marriage. And the clandestine—illicit—relationship between her husband and Jonathon. There were few who could be trusted with such a powder keg of a secret.
Georgie fiddled with the tassels at the end of her shawl and stared into the fire as she spoke. “To be perfectly honest, I occasionally contemplated the idea. Teddy and Jonathon even suggested that I should find someone. They reasoned that it wasn’t unusual for a married woman of some years to do so. Aside from that, Teddy assured me that he wouldn’t have minded in the least if I’d produced an heir that wasn’t actually his. But in the end I just couldn’t.” Georgie couldn’t disguise the sudden rough edge to her voice. Clearing her throat, she reached for her tea, blinking away sudden tears as she took a careful sip. She had lost so much. Too much. And all because of a scoundrel of the worst kind.
The worst part—the part that hurt the most and still kept her awake and fretful in the dead of night—was that she didn’t know if she would ever recover what had been stolen from her. Even after a decade.
But what if Lord Markham was her remedy? Remember his kiss, Georgiana. How he made you feel deep inside. Alive . Her cheeks burned so fiercely as she recalled the feel of his mouth and hands on her, she had to take another large sip of her tea to mask her unease. Or was it sexual frustration?
“Georgie, darling,” Helena said softly. “I don’t know who wronged you, or how exactly, but I’m sure Lord Markham is different. Phillip has known him for quite some years and swears he is a man of honor. A good man. He is not the rogue you suppose him to be. You should give him a chance.”
Georgie bit her lip to stop her lower lip trembling. Helena saw far too much. She drew in a shaky breath and shook her head. “Despite what you or Phillip say, I don’t think I can. Markham’s far too...” Too arrogant, too clever, too devil-may-care, too handsome. Too dangerous. She lifted her chin, determined to make Helena understand she would not be swayed. “He’s not the type of man I would consider a suitable suitor.”
Helena sighed heavily and picked up her tea again. “Pity. I happen to know that despite appearances—and what you may have heard—he is looking to settle down in England. And he has quite a sizeable income and inheritance headed his way—not that you need worry about that—but he’s certainly not a
Helena put down her cup as well. “Of course you do, my darling friend,” she said softly, the expression in her eyes gentle. “The only time you give a man like Lord Markham a glance is when he’s sitting across a card table from you. And even then, it’s usually with cool calculation in your eyes.”
Helena was being kind. It was more likely to be a look of disdain. But Georgie only shrugged. “I like to win.” Her mouth lifted into a rueful smile. “Or at least I did until last night.”
Helena inclined her head, studying Georgie’s face. “Markham rattled you, didn’t he? More than anyone has before.”
That was true. Georgie couldn’t deny it. “Yes. But perhaps it’s because I’m widowed now. I must confess to feeling quite vulnerable without Teddy by my side.”
Helena laughed. “You mean, you don’t have your personal guard dog with his razor sharp wit and hard black stare scaring any potential suitors off anymore.” Her brow suddenly creased in thought. “All the years of your marriage, you never did take a lover did you?”
“No.” Helena was perhaps the only person in the world—apart from Jonathon—who would dare venture such a personal question. Indeed, Helena and Phillip were the only friends who had known about the true state of her marriage. And the clandestine—illicit—relationship between her husband and Jonathon. There were few who could be trusted with such a powder keg of a secret.
Georgie fiddled with the tassels at the end of her shawl and stared into the fire as she spoke. “To be perfectly honest, I occasionally contemplated the idea. Teddy and Jonathon even suggested that I should find someone. They reasoned that it wasn’t unusual for a married woman of some years to do so. Aside from that, Teddy assured me that he wouldn’t have minded in the least if I’d produced an heir that wasn’t actually his. But in the end I just couldn’t.” Georgie couldn’t disguise the sudden rough edge to her voice. Clearing her throat, she reached for her tea, blinking away sudden tears as she took a careful sip. She had lost so much. Too much. And all because of a scoundrel of the worst kind.
The worst part—the part that hurt the most and still kept her awake and fretful in the dead of night—was that she didn’t know if she would ever recover what had been stolen from her. Even after a decade.
But what if Lord Markham was her remedy? Remember his kiss, Georgiana. How he made you feel deep inside. Alive . Her cheeks burned so fiercely as she recalled the feel of his mouth and hands on her, she had to take another large sip of her tea to mask her unease. Or was it sexual frustration?
“Georgie, darling,” Helena said softly. “I don’t know who wronged you, or how exactly, but I’m sure Lord Markham is different. Phillip has known him for quite some years and swears he is a man of honor. A good man. He is not the rogue you suppose him to be. You should give him a chance.”
Georgie bit her lip to stop her lower lip trembling. Helena saw far too much. She drew in a shaky breath and shook her head. “Despite what you or Phillip say, I don’t think I can. Markham’s far too...” Too arrogant, too clever, too devil-may-care, too handsome. Too dangerous. She lifted her chin, determined to make Helena understand she would not be swayed. “He’s not the type of man I would consider a suitable suitor.”
Helena sighed heavily and picked up her tea again. “Pity. I happen to know that despite appearances—and what you may have heard—he is looking to settle down in England. And he has quite a sizeable income and inheritance headed his way—not that you need worry about that—but he’s certainly not a
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