An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House Book #2) (34 page)

“Yes,” she said. “They’re new.”

He lapsed back into silence as they finished the dance. Georgina had never been so happy to curtsy in her life.

“Pardon, my lady, but this is for you.”

Georgina looked at the folded parchment on the servant’s silver tray. This could not be happening. Not in front of the earl, who was suddenly looking at her with narrowed eyes.

“Thank you.” She choked out the sentence as she took the paper. Her fingers were trembling as she opened it.

And then she laughed.

Because the paper held no letters save the large looping
L
in the corner to show that the note was from Lavinia. Instead, the girl had drawn pictures. Very bad pictures. Assuming the stick with a triangle on the bottom and a swirl of loops on the top was supposed to be Georgina, Lavinia wanted to see her on the terrace.

She refolded the note and smiled up at the earl. “If you’ll excuse me, Lavinia has need of me on the terrace.”

Lord Ashcombe’s eyes widened. “You invited her?”

“She is my friend and is perfectly respectable.”

“But I forbade it.”

Georgina straightened her shoulders, wishing Little Colin would deign to revisit her mind for just a moment of encouragement, even though she knew her mental prayer would be much more productive. “My lord, you haven’t the right to forbid me anything. Nor will you.”

He wasn’t happy. Georgina could see his displeasure even through the spectacles.

“The terrace, you say?”

Georgina nodded and led the way across the room.
Dear God, please let Lavinia be there.

She was, though her wide smile drooped a bit when she saw the earl escorting Georgina out.

“My lord.” Lavinia dropped into a curtsy.

Lord Ashcombe looked stunned. Then angry. “Spectacles.” He spat the word at Georgina as if she’d tricked him on purpose.

She touched the rims and pulled out her coyest smile. She’d been trying not to use her practiced smiles much these days, but there were occasions that called for it. And allowing the meanest person she’d ever met to believe he’d been wrong about her was the perfect occasion in her mind. If he wanted to believe she hadn’t been able to read his note because she didn’t have spectacles, she wasn’t going to correct him.

“Thank you for the escort, Lord Ashcombe.” She smiled sweetly at him and almost asked if he intended to visit soon, but it was best to leave well enough alone.

As the earl stomped away, Georgina hugged Lavinia to her and thanked God for brothers who couldn’t keep themselves from helping.

Glasgow’s social whirl was nothing compared to London’s, and Colin wasn’t sure which he preferred. There was something to be said for being openly welcomed. He didn’t fade into the fringes here. Instead he danced, played cards, and speared his sister’s suitors with icy stares he’d learned from Ryland.

It was one of the things he’d enjoyed most over the three weeks with his family. Though they had their fair share of awkward moments, they soon learned how to be a family again—an even better family than they were before. Colin enjoyed Glasgow, spending time with his family, renewing old friendships, and reacquainting himself with the Scotland he’d loved growing up.

But he didn’t think he could stay there. He tried to ignore the fact that he missed the challenge of London, of staying one step ahead of things. He kept checking the paper, reading the marriage announcements with more interest than normal. Her name never appeared, and he wasn’t sure if he was relieved or not. Could he return before she married? Should he? He was afraid that if he saw her again, touched her again, he’d forget that she needed more. He’d promise to shield her secret forever and it would slowly eat away at their happiness.

Assuming she even wanted him anymore.

He sat in the breakfast room, watching a bird fly from tree to tree. These were the hardest times, when there was no one demanding his attention. He missed Georgina so much it hurt. More than one lady had made it clear that he could start a family here in Glasgow, but he couldn’t do it. Any woman he courted would be found lacking when she didn’t possess the intelligence, wit, and nerve to make the rest of the world do her bidding.

Who would have guessed he’d want a woman as manipulative as his mother. As himself.

“A letter has arrived for you, sir.”

Colin thanked the butler and turned the letter over with interest. He recognized Miranda’s loopy handwriting and panic choked him. Was Georgina safe? Had something happened?

Was she getting married?

He tore at the seal.

As he flattened the paper and read the first words, he felt dizzy. He blinked twice and read them again.

My dearest Colin,

I don’t know how to tell you this. Miranda is writing this for me. I hope that tells you something. She’s a bit slow about it and keeps telling me what to say. (I am not the one being slow—she is! She should just tell you what she wants to say.—M)

Harriette could get this done much faster, but I thought having Miranda write it would mean more to you. That we spent time in prayer before writing it might mean even more.

Colin dropped the paper and rubbed his hands hard over his face. They came away wet.

There is a time to keep silent, and a time to speak. Perhaps I am speaking too late, but I have to try. You were right about Miranda. She still doesn’t understand, but she’s trying. (I can’t believe you kept this secret!—M)

Here the handwriting changed from Miranda’s familiar loops to a more precise, slanted hand.

I am having Harriette finish this letter. Miranda would not stop putting her own thoughts on the page.

Then the writing changed back to Miranda’s. A smile stretched across Colin’s face.

Miranda has promised to be good. We shall see if that remains true.

I miss you, Colin. I am delivering this letter myself in the hopes—

Colin stopped and reread the last sentence. The letter went on for another half a page, but he couldn’t move on as the implications of that sentence sank in and the breath hardened in his lungs.

She was delivering it herself.

Which meant . . .

Colin jumped from his seat, knocking the chair to the floor with a crash, but he didn’t care. He was out the door and down the stairs before he was even sure he’d started breathing again. His chest was heaving as he pushed open the drawing-room door.

There she stood.

In the middle of the drawing room, with her lower lip caught in her straight, white teeth. The confidence she so often wore like a suit of armor was gone.

And she was wearing green.

Georgina pinched her lip between her teeth, hoping the sharp sting would keep her patient, remind her to give him time. He didn’t know what all she’d been through the past few weeks. It would take him a while to catch up.

Silence stretched and still he stood in the door, breathing like
a man who’d just run a foot race across London instead of one who’d simply run down the stairs.

So she waited.

His breathing returned to normal but still he said nothing.

Still she waited.

Her own breathing started to pick up as panic set in. What if she was too late? Why hadn’t she sent a letter right away? She’d needed those weeks. Needed them to rebuild her relationship with her family, to have Harriette read more about the sacrifice of Jesus and how it let God be
her
God, not just the higher being spoken about in church.

Without the need to hide constantly, she was discovering more about herself as well. It had seemed important at the time, but had it cost her a chance with Colin?

“You look good in green.” His words were low and scratchy, but they were the most beautiful music she could have imagined.

“So I’ve heard.” She plucked at the skirt. “It’s Miranda’s.”

His eyebrows rose at her comment, and he stepped fully into the room. The tight band squeezing her chest relaxed and blessed air rushed in.

“I told Miranda.”

“So I read.” Colin crossed the room until he stood just far enough away that she couldn’t reach him. His hair was mussed. It was so strange to see him looking anything but perfectly polished. She liked it.

She wished she had the courage to bridge the gap and run her fingers through it, to straighten the wave that had fallen across his forehead, but her resolve had gotten stretched a bit thin the past couple of weeks, and her courage was failing. “I’m sorry, Colin. You were right. I should have listened to you earlier.”

His eyes closed for a moment before opening again and staring straight into her gaze. “Is that why you’re here? I don’t want apologies and gratitude, Georgina.”

Georgina’s knees trembled beneath her borrowed skirt. She squeezed enough breath through her tightening throat to whisper, “What do you want?”

“You.”

“I was afraid you’d changed your mind.”

Colin swallowed and eased another step forward. “I’ll never be more than a gentleman.”

“I’ll never be able to read.”

He smiled. “I’ll never go back to working for my father.”

“I’ll never tell all of England my secret.”

“I’ll never protect you without your knowledge again.”

The absurdity of the conversation made Georgina smile. It might not seem romantic to anyone else, but she heard the honest caring behind every negative promise. “I’ll never hide myself from you.”

“I’ll never stop loving you.”

Georgina sucked air between her teeth. “Me neither.”

Colin’s hands reached out to cup her cheeks. He took a final step to close the gap, until their breaths mingled and she could see the flecks of light brown in his blue eyes. “Lady Georgina Hawthorne, I love you. Do you think you could be happy splitting your life between London and Glasgow? I find I have a great need to spend more time here.”

She tilted her head, pretending to be deep in thought. “Have they a decent modiste here? I find I have a great need to replace my entire wardrobe.”

Colin laughed and wrapped her more firmly in his embrace. “Will you do me the greatest honor of my life and marry me?”

“I will.” Georgina went up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. Her arms reached around his middle, thrilling at the warmth of his body. This man was nothing she’d been looking for, but he’d known everything she needed.

He took her for a walk then, introducing her to the city of his childhood. The unfamiliar sounds and smells were exciting to her because here, with Colin, she was going to get a fresh start with people who wouldn’t know her as anything other than the woman God had meant for her to be.

Colin couldn’t stop watching his wife across the room. She was smiling and laughing with the ladies of Glasgow, and none of it was forced. Well, no more forced than your average society matron. Two years of wedded bliss and she still made his heart flutter.

A few minutes later he was appreciating the sway of her rose silk skirts as she made her way back to him. She stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. “The Earl of Kennelwhite is unhappy with his current shipping arrangements.”

Colin looked at her in surprise. “And how do you know that?”

The false innocence stamped across her face nearly made him burst out in laughter. “Because his wife is tired of coming to Glasgow.”

Colin lifted a brow. Considering the earl was from the Highlands, the wife’s distaste for the journey was not entirely uncalled for.

“And”—Georgina drew the word out—“she is especially tired of hearing about ships and warehouses.”

Colin grinned. “We shall have to tell my father to call upon the earl tomorrow.”

“Are you truly not going to involve yourself? Even though we’re spending several months a year up here?”

They’d decided to split their time equally between Glasgow, London, and Crestwood, with which Griffith had surprised them all by adding to Georgina’s dowry. Colin found he enjoyed managing the estate almost as much as he’d enjoyed handling investments. He’d cut back considerably on that front, not bothering with anyone’s finances outside the family. It was almost more of a hobby now, though a lucrative one. He occasionally advised Lavinia and Mr. Dixon, though they didn’t need much help. With Lavinia at his side, Mr. Dixon was on his way to becoming one of the wealthiest gentlemen in his district.

Harriette was certainly enjoying her role as Crestwood’s housekeeper. She still did most of Georgina’s writing, but Colin had taken over the reading duties, and after a few months of adjustment, Margery had turned out to be a fine lady’s maid.

With one arm wrapped around his wife’s shoulders, Colin steered them toward the door. “I am truly not going to get involved. Father and I are getting along well now. We talk business but only in a casual sense. When he asks for my input, I give it, but other times I hold my tongue. I no longer find I have to be right all the time.”

“How very mature of you.” She looked around the front hall. “Are we leaving?”

“Yes. As much as I enjoy watching you gather information for me, I find I’d rather spend the rest of the evening alone.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “You knew I was getting tired.”

“Yes.”

She turned so he could help her with her cloak. “I thought we’d agreed you wouldn’t protect me without my consent.”

“I’m not protecting you.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I’m protecting our child.”

Her gasp was, for once, not feigned or exaggerated for effect. “How did you know?”

He laughed. “Darling, it doesn’t take a genius to do the math or realize you spend your mornings in rather close proximity to the chamber pot.”

“How indelicate of you to say.”

He handed her into the carriage and climbed in after her, pulling her close to his side as he settled on the seat. They sat like that, her head resting beneath his chin as they drove to the small terrace house they kept in town.

As they prepared for bed, Colin thumbed through a stack of letters he’d missed earlier in the day. “Darling, you’ve a letter from Jane.”

Georgina smiled as she brushed through her hair. “And?”

“She met a man.”

Georgina groaned. “I think that harrowing tale can wait until morning.”

They chatted about everything and nothing as they finished preparing for bed. Once snuggled beneath the covers, Colin pulled her close and lifted the large book from the bedside table. “What shall we read tonight?”

Georgina’s eyes drifted shut on a sigh. “The part where Jesus tells them to let the little children come to him. I find myself quite preoccupied with such a visual.”

Colin chuckled as he turned to Mark and began to read.