Courting the Forbidden Debutante

by Laura Martin

  She hadn’t seen her friend since making the decision so she didn’t know how Caroline had worked this out.

  ‘Quiet,’ Georgina instructed, moving over to the open door and peering out in to the corridor to check it was deserted before closing it.

  Caroline’s mouth fell open. ‘You actually are going to run away with him?’ she asked in disbelief.

  Nervously Georgina nodded her head. It mattered to her what Caroline thought, nearly as much as it mattered what her parents reaction would be.

  Caroline sat down on the bed, her skirts billowing out underneath her, and stared at her friend, shaking her head every few seconds as if she couldn’t quite digest what Georgina was saying.

  ‘Do you love him?’ she asked eventually.

  ‘I do.’ Georgina had realised it some time while they were making love in the old gatehouse. She wouldn’t have given herself to anyone but the man she loved and she had loved Sam for quite a while.

  ‘Does he love you?’

  ‘I think so.’ He’d never said the words, never declared anything for her, but she believed he did. Sam was an honourable man, he wouldn’t have asked her to run away with him for anything less than true love. She knew it was she making all the sacrifices, which was why she suspected he hadn’t asked her earlier, but Sam loved her, she was sure of it.

  ‘Then I suppose there is nothing else to be done,’ Caroline said, standing and crossing the room to Georgina. She wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight. ‘It’s not like your parents will approve of you marrying him here.’

  Georgina nodded sadly. That would be the ideal solution, to be allowed to marry the man she loved and stay close to her family, but it was never going to happen. Even without Sam’s history as a convict they would never approve of her marriage to someone from such lowly origins, no matter how rich and successful he was now.

  ‘Will you...?’ Caroline started asking, but had to pause as her voice broke a little. ‘Will you be returning to Australia with him?’

  Georgina nodded. At least she expected that would be the plan. Once her family had disowned her there would be no reason to stay here and Sam had his business to take care of.

  ‘I’ll miss you,’ Caroline said quietly.

  ‘I’ll miss you, too. Promise me you’ll come and visit?’

  ‘I promise.’

  They both knew it was a promise she probably wouldn’t be able to keep. Australia was so far and not part of the civilised world. Caroline would not be allowed to travel there alone and Georgina very much doubted any future husband would consent to taking his wife to the other side of the world to visit an old friend.

  Suddenly the enormity of what she was about to do hit Georgina. She was giving up her entire life, everyone she knew and loved, all for a man she’d only known a couple of months.

  Forcing herself to take a couple of deep breaths, she pictured Sam’s face. She loved him, that was why this was worth it. Instead of a lifetime of marriage to a man she merely tolerated, she would have a lifetime of passion and love. That was worth anything.

  ‘Be brave,’ Caroline whispered in her ear, sensing her momentary uncertainty. ‘You’re taking your future into your own hands, you won’t regret it.’

  Georgina felt the tears trickle down her cheeks as she realised this might be one of the last times she saw the friend who had been more like a sister to her.

  ‘Hush now,’ Caroline said. ‘Let us focus on the practical considerations. You will need enough clothes to last you your journey. Nothing too fine, it would be better to choose warm and hardy materials.’

  In unison they both looked at Georgina’s wardrobe. None of the dresses had been designed to be practical. They were all pretty, carefully crafted to show off Georgina as an attractive young woman to a potential husband, not withstand the extreme weather conditions aboard a ship to Australia.

  ‘Well, I’m sure Mr Robertson can purchase you a few pieces before you set off,’ Caroline said. ‘When will you leave?’

  ‘I’m unsure, but Father is expecting me to be engaged by early next week, so I suppose we will have to leave before then.’ It seemed so soon, but she wasn’t prepared to promise herself to another man, not when she knew she would never go through with the marriage.

  She wasn’t sure Sam had made any firm plans. His request for her to run away with him had been spontaneous, Georgina knew that—it was as if he couldn’t help himself. Most likely he hadn’t thought through the practicalities, but Georgina was sure he would not change his mind. He loved her.

  ‘Promise me you won’t go without saying goodbye,’ Caroline said, hugging Georgina one last time.

  ‘I promise.’

  With a sad smile on her face Caroline left the room and Georgina turned back to her wardrobe and began selecting a few of her more practical dresses, folding them as best she could and placing them in her trunk.

  * * *

  ‘Mr Robertson,’ Georgina said, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. Their efforts to meet clandestinely before dinner had been thwarted by her mother first wanting to discuss the next day’s events and then insisting Georgina look in on the invalided Lord Rosenhall.

  ‘Lady Georgina.’ He bowed his head, not risking anything more intimate.

  ‘We should...’ she began to say, but stopped as her mother stepped closer.

  ‘Georgina,’ her mother practically hissed at her, ‘the Duke is all on his own.’

  Georgina glanced over to the window and saw her mother was correct. It was rare for a man of the Duke’s status and fortune to be left alone at any social event. Either the young ladies would be trying to snare him, or the gentlemen, both young and old, would be trying to make a lasting connection with a man who wielded more power than the rest of them put together. Despite this the Duke was standing by himself by the window.

  ‘Mother!’ Georgina exclaimed, inclining her head towards Sam. Her mother might not approve of his presence here, but it would be inexcusably rude to just abandon him in the middle of a conversation, even to go and talk to the Duke.

  ‘I shall keep Mr Robertson company. I would like to have a private word.’

  That sounded ominous, but try as she might Georgina could not think of a reason not to obey her mother’s request. She threw a quick glance at Sam, but he looked distracted this evening. Perhaps planning on how to execute their escape.

  With an apologetic smile Georgina stepped away, glancing back nervously over her shoulder to try to glean the topic of conversation between her mother and Sam.

  ‘You look radiant tonight,’ the Duke said as she approached.

  Georgina looked down at the deep red evening gown she’d chosen for dinner. It was low cut at the front with a delicate gold-thread embroidery around the hem and the sleeves.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said.

  ‘May I have a moment in private with you?’ he asked with no further pleasantries.

  Her eyes wide, Georgina nodded, allowing the Duke to escort her to an unoccupied corner of the room. Here no one else would be able to overhear their conversation provided they spoke in hushed tones.

  ‘Please let me assure you, Lady Georgina, my purpose tonight is not to rush your decision on my offer. I said you must consider my proposal until the end of the weekend and I stand by that.’

  Nodding gratefully, Georgina tried to adopt a serene but interested expression. It wouldn’t do to let on to anybody that she was thinking of turning down every suitor her parents had carefully chosen to be here this weekend in favour of eloping with a man who would never be part of their world.

  ‘I think we would make a fine match, Lady Georgina,’ the Duke said quietly, ‘and, although we would of course share certain activities, I am a man used to the life of a bachelor. I can promise you a union where you would be free to continue with your pastimes and pleasures.’

>   Georgina knew he was looking to reassure her that he would not take over her life, but his idea of a good marriage saddened her a little. In his mind, as was the case for most of the people she socialised with, a good marriage was one where both parties were happy spending most of their time apart, perhaps only meeting for the odd meal or social occasion, and of course to beget the heirs.

  ‘However, I do not wish to stand in the way of something more.’

  She looked up sharply.

  ‘We barely know one another and I would be lying if I told you I feel anything more towards you than a mild affection. Of course more might come in time, but if we married I think we can both agree that it would not be a love match.’

  Not knowing how to react or where this conversation was going, Georgina nodded her head, holding her breath as she waited for him to continue.

  ‘As I said, I do not wish to stand in the way of something more. While I have never experienced love, I have seen friends marry entirely unsuitable women because they loved them and they have found happiness.’ He paused and fixed her with his gaze before continuing. ‘If there is someone you feel this way towards, I would not want to jeopardise what you may have with him.’

  No words would form on her lips. How did he know? They’d been careful, especially since Sam had arrived for the house party. And more pressingly, if the Duke had guessed what was going on between her and Sam, who else suspected?

  Unable to stop herself, she glanced over his shoulder to where Sam was still cornered by her mother. He looked calm, while she could see her mother getting more and more agitated.

  ‘How...?’ She trailed off, wondering if she should deny it. ‘I...’

  The Duke smiled. ‘I like to watch people, Lady Georgina. I find it the most interesting of pastimes.’

  Looking around, she saw her father begin to move in their direction.

  ‘Never fear,’ the Duke said, ‘my lips are sealed. I am assuming you have a difficult decision ahead of you.’

  She couldn’t believe he was being so relaxed about the possible feelings the woman he’d proposed to harboured for another man.

  ‘I shall await your decision tomorrow.’

  ‘You are not withdrawing your proposal?’ she asked, her voice hushed.

  ‘No. It is your decision.’

  She nodded as he took her hand in his and kissed it. Georgina knew it was a passionless kiss, but all the same she glanced guiltily in Sam’s direction before catching herself. Perhaps she was easier to read than she had hoped.

  The Duke moved away and she tried to plaster her sunniest smile on her face as she turned back to face the room. Her mother had finished whatever discussion she’d been having with Sam and now he was off in one corner, his head bent as he and his friend, Mr Crawford, talked about what looked like a serious matter.

  * * *

  ‘Mr Robertson, would you oblige me by stepping outside for a moment?’ Lord Westchester asked calmly as the ladies began to withdraw from the dining room. Sam had been expecting this summons—the Earl had seen him in the glasshouse and no doubt he wanted to ensure he could rely on Sam’s silence.

  It was still icy outside, with fresh flurries of snow arriving every couple of hours, certainly not the most comfortable place for their discussion, but Sam supposed the Earl wanted to ensure no one would overhear what they were about to talk about.

  ‘Of course,’ he said, waiting while the Earl instructed a footman to bring their coats.

  Georgina was the last of the ladies to leave the dining room and Sam caught her eye as she glanced back over her shoulder. They had things to discuss, right after he’d decided how to best deal with her father.

  ‘How are you enjoying the weekend?’ the Earl asked conversationally. His tone was friendly, overly so, and he clapped Sam on the arm as if they were co-conspirators in some grand scheme.

  ‘It has been a very diverting weekend,’ Sam replied. The memory of Georgina’s naked body underneath his flashed into his mind and he had to quickly distract himself before Lord Westchester guessed something was wrong.

  ‘I am pleased to have been able to include you in our party,’ the Earl said, subtly reminding Sam normally he would have not got an invitation. He coughed, cleared his throat, and coughed again. Sam knew the request to keep quiet about what he’d seen in the glasshouse was coming next. ‘I wanted to talk to you, man to man, about what happened earlier today.’

  Sam nodded, keeping his face neutral.

  ‘I think you might have witnessed...er...a moment of weakness I am a little ashamed of,’ he said, glancing at Sam. ‘I am of course grateful for you keeping quiet at the time and wanted to ensure you would continue to do so. For the sake of my family, of course.’

  ‘Of course,’ Sam murmured. There was no of course about it. The Earl’s request was purely selfish. He didn’t want society knowing he engaged in the same immoral behaviour he’d built his entire political campaign on with Mr Moorcroft. He wasn’t thinking of his daughter and he most certainly wasn’t thinking about his wife.

  It was difficult for Sam to keep the anger from his voice, so he pressed his lips together and said no more. No doubt the Earl had been taking advantage of the maids in his household for at least two decades and it made Sam feel sick to think of all the young women he’d forced himself on.

  ‘I knew I could rely on you, upstanding chap, that’s what I told Lord Rosenhall the other day.’

  The Earl made to turn back towards the house but Sam stopped him with a light hand on his arm. As soon as the Earl paused Sam withdrew it, not wanting to touch the man for any longer than was strictly necessary.

  ‘There is something I would like to discuss, Lord Westchester,’ Sam said, trying to keep the tremor from his voice. Every time he looked at the older man he felt a deep-seated revulsion and wave upon wave of anger at how he’d so casually ruined Sam’s life all those years ago. The Earl looked momentarily irritated, but covered it well as he remembered he needed Sam’s goodwill.

  ‘Of course, would you like to retire to my study? The night is cold.’

  Sam could see no harm in having this discussion in the warm, so allowed the older man to lead the way back inside the house.

  * * *

  Georgina edged away from the other young women, catching Caroline’s eye, but certain no one else had noted her departure. Her mother had retired early this evening, exhausted after three long days of playing hostess and matchmaker at the same time. This meant Georgina was free to do the same, or at least pretend to be making her way to her bedroom. She knew her father had accosted Sam for some reason, probably to discuss his politics further with someone willing to listen, and she was eager to catch him on the way out.

  The best place for her to wait was the library. Her father’s study had a door into the hall, but also a set of sliding doors into the library. Normally these were kept securely fastened, but she should still be able to hear when Sam left the next room from there.

  She was just about to enter the library when she noticed with a frown that the door to her father’s study was wide open. Entering, it was clear the room was empty and clear that it hadn’t been used all evening—the fire had died down in the grate and the room had a slight chill to it. Puzzled, she was just about to leave when she heard Sam’s voice, approaching from the corridor, and her father’s shortly after.

  ‘Thank you for your time, Lord Westchester, I am most eager to discuss this matter with you.’

  ‘I’ll pour us a brandy each and we can get down to business.’

  Georgina should have left, or at least stayed, but made herself known to the two approaching men. She’d never before spied on her father, never listened at a keyhole or below an open window, but as she stood frozen in the dark study she felt a sliver of indecision. The proper thing to do would be to slip out, but then she would never know what Sam had to discus
s with her father. Panic seized her as she wondered if he would be foolish enough to actually ask for her hand in marriage. If he did, their plans to run away together would be ruined. Her father would lock her up, accept a proposal from the Duke on her behalf and only let her out again to go to the church on her wedding day.

  Before she could properly think through her actions she crossed to the door adjoining the library, unlocked it, and slipped through into the darkened room. She pulled the doors back together again, but didn’t close them completely, allowing a small chink to let the voices drift through.

  * * *

  Sam settled back in the comfortable armchair, trying to get the revulsion and years of pent-up anger for the man in front of him under control. The Earl had summoned a maid to bring candles and rebuild the fire and already the room was feeling warmer. This was the moment he had been waiting for all those years and suddenly he just wanted the Earl to sit so he could get it over with.

  How did you confront the man who had ruined your life?

  ‘What can I do for you?’ Lord Westchester asked as the maid left, closing the door behind her.

  ‘I wanted to ask you about a matter that occurred some years ago,’ Sam said, his voice strong and his manner confident. He was no longer the small, scared boy he’d been years ago when he’d stood in front of the Earl accused of stealing Lady Westchester’s emeralds. ‘Do you remember a crime that happened in this house? A young boy accused of stealing some jewellery?’

  The Earl nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing. ‘The cook’s son, I think.’

  Sam didn’t correct him. The servants would be interchangeable to a man of Lord Westchester’s station.

  ‘Why do you bring it up?’

  ‘Do you remember what happened to the boy?’

  ‘The thief,’ the Earl corrected. ‘I’m not sure. Probably went to prison, that’s what normally happens to thieves.’

  ‘And the emeralds? Were they found in the boy’s possession?’