An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House Book #2) (27 page)

Colin grumbled at the knocking sound that interrupted his sleep. He was blissfully enjoying a morning in his own bed for the first time in well over a week, and he did not care to be interrupted. “Go away!”

The butler opened the door instead. “I do beg your pardon, sir.”

“Is the house on fire?” Colin grumbled into the pillow.

“No, sir.”

“Has someone fallen down the stairs?”

“Er . . . no, sir.”

Colin was fast running out of options to merit the butler’s interruption. “Did the prince regent come knocking?”

“Very nearly, sir.”

Colin lifted his face out of the pillow and turned his head to look at the butler. “I beg your pardon?”

“You’ve a summons from the Duke of Riverton.”

A groan ripped from Colin’s chest as he dropped his head back into his pillow. He had traded on Riverton’s trust and friendship when he’d sent the message asking the duke to avoid the Earl of Ashcombe for a few days. What he hadn’t been able to do was come up with a good reason for the request. He’d had several days to think about it, knowing the duke would demand answers eventually, and he’d yet to think of anything besides the truth.

A truth he couldn’t share, because then he would have to reveal Georgina’s secret.

“The footman is belowstairs waiting for your reply, sir.”

With another groan Colin rolled out of bed and grabbed the note from the butler as he crossed to the desk on the other side of the room. The paper had a single line on it.

Please see me at your earliest convenience. —R

The underlying command jumped out from the overly polite words.

He scribbled his answer on the bottom of the paper and returned it to the butler. “Send breakfast up so I can eat while I dress. And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.”

“Very good, sir. Perhaps I should arrange for a bath as well?”

The breeches and shirt Colin had fallen asleep in were covered in road dust and wrinkled beyond hope. And he was beginning to itch. “Yes, I believe a bath is in order.”

The butler nodded and left the room, leaving Colin alone with thoughts he didn’t want to dwell on.

He rubbed rough hands over his face. What was he going to tell Riverton? It needed to be something good, because he was also going to have to come up with a story for Ryland as well, though he probably had a few days before that happened.

Not that the past eight days had been all that helpful.

After spending well over an hour praying in the chapel garden, Colin had come to the realization that he had to save Georgina. He had the means and the overwhelming feeling that God wanted him to use them.

Even if it changed the very course of Colin’s life.

Part of Colin wanted to leave her to her fate. A fate she’d sought with her every breath. The fact that it wasn’t going to happen quite the way she’d envisioned wasn’t his business.

Why was he forever landing in the middle of other people’s disasters, or at the very least, Georgina’s disasters? Did God think Colin had all the answers, or did He simply get pleasure from making Colin uncomfortable?

Faced with deciding between protecting his family and maintaining his honor would have been very hard on Riverton. It wouldn’t have been the first time someone had tried to force Riverton into doing something. Never before though, to Colin’s knowledge, had someone threatened the duke’s family.

It wasn’t right.

And Colin liked things to be right.

So he’d sent the message about Ashcombe round to Riverton, and then he’d borrowed the best horse Ryland had in London. Ryland’s man hadn’t questioned Colin’s use of the animal, but he had no doubt sent word to Ryland about it immediately. Even now there was probably a letter from Ryland on Colin’s desk.

He’d ridden the horse as hard as he dared all the way to Cheshire.

During his hour of prayer, bits and pieces of Colin’s communications with Ashcombe’s estate manager had come to mind.

The man had grown up playing in the sea, on the coast of
Northumberland, very near the Scottish border. He’d started in shipping before moving into estate management to better support his family.

He’d mentioned hoping to eventually do something more than oversee Ashcombe’s meager holdings, but he had been unable to grow them as he’d intended because Ashcombe kept spending the profits.

Alastair may have wanted Colin for family purposes, but when it came to managing the Glasgow Atlantic, Hugh Carson was as good a choice as Colin was.

Hugh had jumped at the chance to utilize his skills at the shipping company. The bonus Colin had paid him to resign and move immediately hadn’t hurt.

The plan had been risky, but it had paid off. Colin passed Ashcombe on his way back to London, though he’d taken pains to make sure the earl hadn’t seen him. The earl was going to have a hard time replacing a man of Carson’s caliber. In the meantime, Ashcombe would have to see to managing his own holdings.

With any luck it would be enough time for Georgina to safely marry someone else. It couldn’t guarantee that Ashcombe wouldn’t still use the information to try to force Riverton into selling the property, but his power would be decidedly diminished if Georgina were already settled.

At the very least the girl would be free from a man willing to use her as a pawn in a business deal.

Because he’d run the horse ragged on his way to Cheshire, Colin had taken three times as long to return home, and his door had been a welcome site indeed.

Even that leisurely journey home hadn’t provided enough time to figure out what to say to Riverton. He couldn’t even think of a viable lie. He didn’t feel right about lying to explain this situation, but he couldn’t tell the truth either.

As he soaked in the tub, he wondered what he was going to do now that he’d given up the job in Scotland. What did that do to his convictions that it was time to go home? Should he simply go
home and manage his investments from there? It would be difficult to stay abreast of the things that didn’t find their way onto reports.

The answers to his questions weren’t in the near-scalding bathwater.

Nor were they in the clouds as he meandered across the square toward Hawthorne House.

As the mansion’s columned façade came into view, Colin took a moment to drop his head forward in prayer, begging God to put the right words in his mouth. His mind was still blank as he climbed the stairs and knocked.

Harriette held the door open with her hip as she carried in the tray with Georgina’s morning chocolate and the collection of society papers sitting atop a large book.

Georgina was already up and dressed, with her hair rolled into a simple chignon. “Will you tie me, please?”

After setting the tray down, Harriette fastened Georgina’s dress before crossing her arms over her chest. “What are you doing up this early?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” Georgina spun around on her stool. “Is there anyone remaining on our list? Anyone who hasn’t married, fled the city, or turned into an absolute and total wretch?”

Harriette gave Georgina an assessing look. “We’ve marked off marrying wretches, then, have we? I don’t remember that being a requirement before.”

Georgina became very interested in her mug of hot chocolate and the ripples caused by her short, shallow breaths. “It isn’t too much to ask that I have some modicum of happiness in my marriage, is it?”

“Of course not. I’ve always said as much. I just don’t know that you ever have.” Harriette took the book and the papers over to the desk.

Distracted by curiosity, Georgina set her mug on the dressing table and crossed to the desk to open the book. It was a ledger. “What’s this?”

“Oh.” Harriette looked up from sorting the papers. “The household accounts.”

Georgina lifted her brows in silent inquiry.

“You’re going to be getting married soon, and those lessons your mother gave you on running the household were one of the few things I didn’t always get to sit in on.” She shrugged. “I’ve been helping Mrs. Brantley with them so that I could learn before you marry and we’re taking care of a house on our own.”

Tears threatened to spill across Georgina’s cheeks. She reached for the maid and wrapped her in a tight hug. “You could do so much more than this, Harriette.”

“Something more than fool the entirety of the civilized world?” Harriette scoffed. “Anything less would be an utter bore.”

Georgina smiled as she returned to her chocolate and savored a long, deep drink. Then she frowned. Why had Harriette brought chocolate? “Harriette? Has something happened this morning?”

Harriette flicked the edge of one of the society papers but didn’t pick it up. Her gaze caught Georgina’s in the mirror, and the maid refused to look away. “Mr. McCrae is downstairs.”

Georgina’s eyes widened. “He is?” She set down her mug and turned halfway around on the stool before remembering that she shouldn’t care if Colin was downstairs. She picked up her mug again and sipped. “Why would I care about that?”

She didn’t care about that or wonder where he’d been for the last week—and if she repeated it enough someone was going to believe her. The fact that she’d been able to go about her business without running into the man had been bliss.

Harriette rearranged her papers. “He is in His Grace’s study.”

Of course he was. What would Colin say if he knew Lord Ashcombe was no longer an option?

Ashcombe should never have been an option in the first place.

Had she actually entertained the thought that she’d missed her
infernal imaginary friend? “I believe I need a change of scenery, Harriette.”

“Change of scenery, my lady?” A poorly hidden smirk decorated Harriette’s face as she set the papers on the desk in the corner. “Perhaps you’d care to take breakfast downstairs this morning?”

“Yes. Breakfast downstairs would be ideal.” But not because Colin was here. “I’m sure a change of routine is all I need to come up with a solution to my latest problem.”

Harriette gave up pretending to hide her laughter. “I’m sure it is, my lady.”

Georgina frowned and flounced out of the room. Who knew agreeable servants could be so frustrating?

The footmen threw questioning glances at each other as soon as she entered the breakfast room. When she chose a seat at the table, they started whispering.

Let them whisper. From this seat she could see the doorway to Griffith’s study. She took small bites of her breakfast, unsure of how long she’d need to linger before Mr. McCrae made an appearance. She told herself it was mere curiosity that made her want to see him.

The man in her head laughed.

She pretended to stab him with her fork.

Her mouth was full of toast when the door across the hall clicked open and Colin and Griffith emerged laughing. Her heart picked up speed, and the toast seemed to swell until it filled her entire mouth. Why hadn’t she considered what to do when she actually saw him? What if he didn’t see her? She could hardly call out an invitation for him to join her. Crumbs coated her mouth as she tried to chew, swallow, and take a quick drink all at the same time.

Hacking coughs ensued as the soggy mess lodged itself part way down her throat. It was not the way she’d intended to draw the men’s attention, but she suddenly had it, as they had both been drawn to the breakfast room door.

“Georgina, are you all right?” Griffith circled the table and pounded her on the back. As if bruising her spine was going to help her breathe.

She nodded, waving a hand in front of her face in some sort of request for the air in the room to make its way into her lungs.

Colin appeared on her other side, setting a glass of water next to her mug of chocolate. “Perhaps this will help.”

After a few gulps of water, Georgina had control of herself once more. Deciding her best option was to pretend the entire incident hadn’t happened, she turned a bright smile to her brother. “Won’t you join me?”

Dark blond eyebrows arched over suspicious green eyes. She couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t come down for breakfast since they’d arrived back in Town.

“I would enjoy that.” Griffith straightened. “Won’t you join us, Colin?”

Colin looked from brother to sister as if he’d like nothing better than to decline, but it wasn’t easy to say no to a duke, even one you were friendly with.

“Do join us, Colin,” Georgina added. The widening of Griffith’s eyes made her instantly aware of her mistake. Griffith had no idea Colin had given her permission to use his name. Or that she considered them close enough acquaintances to accept the offer.

Colin bowed his head. “I would be honored.”

There was an awkward moment as the men decided where to sit. Georgina’s placement in the middle of the table made conventional seating impossible. “Oh, bother,” she mumbled as she rose and took her plate to the seat to the right of the head of the table.

Griffith looked worried as he sat in the head seat. Colin looked like he wanted to laugh as he settled into the chair across from hers.

It’s funny. Admit
it.

Georgina nearly choked on a laugh of her own.

“So, Mr. McCrae, what brings you here so early?” Hopefully Griffith would forget her earlier use of Colin’s name.

Both men sent looks her way that told her there was nothing
at all wrong with their memory. Breakfast downstairs had been a colossally bad idea.

Colin exchanged a glance with Riverton. “I had business with His Grace.”

Georgina nodded her head as if the answer had imparted some great information instead of simply restating the obvious. He could hardly tell her that he had been summoned to explain why he’d told her brother to avoid her suitor while Colin arranged an emergency to draw said suitor away from London for an extended period of time.

He hadn’t even been able to tell Riverton the whole truth. The entire business made him uneasy, but for some reason he felt a sense of loyalty to Georgina, a requirement that he keep her secret as long as possible even though he felt she should share it with those closest to her. If she’d had a few more people in her confidence, Ashcombe might never have suspected it.

Which would have put Colin in Scotland right now, having an awkward breakfast with his family instead of hers.

Riverton turned to his sister. “What brings you down at such an hour? You rarely poke your head above the covers this early, much less grace us with your presence.”

One delicate shoulder shrugged. Colin had a suspicion that Georgina was in actuality a very early riser. If she and her maid did half the things she claimed they did—such as read novels, memorize poetry, and collaborate on correspondence—they would need time. What better time than morning when no one would disturb them, thinking her still abed?

The woman was diabolically clever.

“Whatever the reason, I am happy to see you up and about. You’ve been rather dejected since Ashcombe left town. He’s no great loss, you know.”

Georgina’s eyes widened. “You think I’ve been pining for Lord Ashcombe?”

Riverton looked to Colin for help. Colin stuffed an inelegantly large bite of ham into his mouth. The duke sighed. “You haven’t been?”

“Hardly.”

He leaned back in his chair. “What’s with the long face and the yelling at the servants, then?”

One brow lifted in a look of disdaining superiority that only a sister could get away with giving a duke. “I’ve always yelled at the servants.”

Colin choked on his ham. This family was going to be the death of him.

Gibson, the butler, entered the room and crossed to Riverton’s side for a quiet exchange. Riverton stood. “Pardon me. I shall be but a moment.”

Georgina watched Riverton leave the room.

Colin watched Georgina. She did seem more subdued than normal this morning, though that could be attributed to the early hour.

Despite her claims to the contrary, was she upset over the loss of Ashcombe, or was it her plan’s lack of success that was giving her a melancholy air?

“Ashcombe has left town.”

Georgina’s words startled Colin. “So I’ve heard.”

She didn’t suspect he’d had anything to do with it, did she? He was hoping very much that his absence several days before and after the earl’s departure would keep anyone from connecting him to the issue.

She leaned forward. “Have you heard why?”

He matched her posture, leaning in as if the two were conspiring over coddled eggs. “Have you?”

Her eyes narrowed. He shouldn’t have prodded her. Now she was suspicious. “I’ve heard it had something to do with an urgent business issue.”

“I have heard the same.” Colin made himself take his time as he cut another bite off the ham.

“He was my last hope, you know.” She stabbed at her eggs, sending a river of liquid yolk across her plate.

Colin bent over his own eggs. The longer he knew Georgina, the more convinced he was that she didn’t require a man to make herself the most elite personage of the
ton.
She could perform the feat married to a baronet. “I know nothing of the sort.”

She frowned at him. “You think I’m being nonsensical.”

“What time do you get up every morning?” Colin placed his fork down on his plate. It was time they had this out once and for all. Did she truly not understand what she’d been able to accomplish? How much more she was capable of?

“I beg your pardon.”

“What. Time. Do. You. Arise?” Colin said slowly. “On average, of course.”

She swirled her fork across her plate. “Harriette brings me tea and toast at half seven every morning. Sometimes she brings chocolate instead.”

“Yet your family is under the impression that you spend an additional four to five hours in bed each day. So, yes, my lady, I do think you are being nonsensical.”

“You think I should tell them.”

“Yes, I do.” In the past few weeks he’d seen her genuinely mad, tired, worried, and a host of other emotions her carefully practiced veneers were not prepared for. Those moments of authenticity were the only thing that kept him from washing his hands of her completely. Sometimes he felt that the Georgina he’d seen in those moments, the real Georgina, was begging him to help free her. To help her escape from the cage she had created for herself.

The woman had turned him fanciful.

“You are mad. That is all there is to it.” The moment of vulnerability disappeared, shuttered behind her cool exterior once more.

He sighed at the loss of it, even as he knew he should welcome it. When she was cloaked he found it easier to keep his distance.

“What was that for?”