She gave a brief nod, and watched him slip quietly away. No one commented on his absence, so after a few moments she rose and followed him.
He was waiting in the hall, and guided her without speaking into a small, book-lined room. It was now getting dusk, but he did not light the candles. They stood before the fireplace, where the bright glow of the red coals lit their faces.
‘She told me that you love me,’ stated Graham, simply. ‘Is that the truth?’
Georgy nodded, not yet able to speak.
‘I thought you did, at first, when you allowed me to embrace you in the gardens, that time — but when I learnt about the wager, it seemed to me that you must have been play-acting. I was mad — fighting mad — and in no mood to listen to reason. Besides, it seemed against all reason, when I came to consider it, that you could really care for me.’
‘I’m — I’m sorry,’ she said, in a low tone. ‘I do understand how you must have felt. Only, of course, after that I was certain that all your affection for me must be dead — and I was too proud to let you suspect that my own feelings had been genuine, all the time.’
‘All the time?’ he queried, with an ironical smile. ‘We-ell …’
‘When was it? When did you find that you cared for me in earnest, after all?’
‘Oh — that’s hard to say.’ She considered for a moment. ‘No, perhaps it isn’t. I think it was at the ball — when you came to ask me to dance, and I was engaged — do you remember?’
‘I remember very well.’ His voice dropped to a whisper, and he took her hands. ‘It was the moment just before that when I fell in love with you — when I looked across the room at you. I can’t explain, but everything seemed changed in that moment.’
She nodded, smiling up into his eyes. ‘Yes, it was then,’ she said, softly, ‘but I didn’t realize it at the time. Only when you — when we met in the gardens that day.’
‘You mean when I kissed you — like this?’
Some time later, they drew apart, though he still kept his arm about her.
‘So you’ll marry me?’ he asked.
She nodded shyly.
‘What about your family? They won’t like it.’
She shrugged. ‘They’ll come round. Papa is always indulgent towards me, and anyway I am of an age to please myself. Besides Hugh will be on our side now. After what you’ve done for him today, he would most likely give you half his fortune if you desired it, let alone a troublesome sister.’
‘I don’t desire his fortune, or anyone’s. What I achieve will be by my own efforts — with you helping me.’ He looked down at her hair glowing in the firelight, and his eyes filled with tenderness. ‘We shall do wonders together, my love. Though I dare say,’ he added, with a whimsical desire to lend a touch of lightness to his words, ‘that we may quarrel now and then.’
‘I expect we shall,’ replied Georgy, with an arch look. ‘You can be a prodigious bully at times!’
‘And you can be a headstrong minx,’ he retorted, stroking her hair. ‘I wonder what the good people of Edinburgh will make of you?’
‘Pooh, Edinburgh!’ she scoffed, teasing him. ‘‘Tis but an ignorant Scottish township, after all!’
‘It’s a beautiful city, Georgy, and I know you will come to love it as I do. The old castle up there, dominating the other buildings, is a sight to stir the imagination -‘
‘ … of any Scot,’ she finished for him, with a light laugh. ‘But I won’t tease you, dearest. I promise to admire your town as much as even you could wish. Oh, and Jock!’ she finished, excitedly. ‘I have a wonderful notion! Why do we not go to Scotland to be married? We could run away to Gretna Green — it would be most romantic!’
He laughed and drew her to him again. ‘My wild bride,’ he said in gentle mockery. ‘It’s an attractive scheme, but I shan’t allow you to persuade me to it. Our wedding will be the talk of both capitals, as it is. Not but what,’ he added, with a frown, ‘a runaway wedding wouldn’t be preferable to me to one of those dreadful London affairs with all the fashionable world present. I won’t do that, Georgy, and so I warn you. We’ll be wed quietly, here in the village church, as soon as may be.’
‘Whatever you say, my love,’ said Georgy, demurely, ‘the village church will do as well as any other, for my part. But as to quietly,’ she continued, a gleam of mischief in her green eyes, ‘why, I’ll wager ‘
He put his finger on her lips. ‘No more wagers,’ he said, softly, bending his face to hers.
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The Toast of the Town Page 18