by Anna Macy
Striding into the brightly lit room, Robert was shocked to see the tall, slim form of Edwin Conning standing stiffly by his mother’s favorite settee. The sunlight from the expansive windows illuminating the other man’s grimace, so out of place among the cheery yellow and blue furnishings.
“Mr. Conning,” Robert greeted his competitor politely, unsure of what Georgiana’s older brother could ever be doing in his townhouse. On the one hand, he was relieved to speak with the man alone finally. On the other, he dreaded what news he might bring. Heart pounding, Robert worried over Georgiana’s safety.
Edwin turned to him, his face sparking a thousand blurred memories of a childhood spent with the Connings at the Devonshire country seat. Edwin was only a few years older than him, and once upon a time, Robert had presumed them, friends, as children often do. Now that the Conning’s had gone their own way, Robert wasn’t sure where that left the two of them.
Edwin gave a polite, nervous smile, his hands clasped in front of him. Robert tried not to see the lightly worn edges of his coat or the way that his hair was a fraction too long to be on-trend. Georgiana had told him about the family’s slowly crumbling financials, and while not significant, Robert’s sharp eye could see it.
“Can we do away with the formalities and honorifics? Our childhood friendship should at least warrant that,” Edwin asked solemnly, his expression guarded.
Robert moved into the room, gesturing to the other man to join him in sitting on one of the plush velvet upholstered chairs scattered throughout the space. “I can abide by that,” Robert said as Edwin sat, remaining as stiff as a plank across one of the decks of their ships.
An uncomfortable silence fell. Robert resisted the urge to withdraw his pocket watch and examine the time. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit then, old friend? I trust Georgiana got home safely last night.”
Edwin’s glinting eyes jumped to Robert, then around the room, obviously taking in the luxurious comforts. “I spoke to my sister this morning. She informed me about what happened last night. How she disobeyed my father -,” Edwin swallowed, “And how you certainly saved her from a horrific fate.”
Robert shifted in his chair, heat creeping up his neck.
“I am not my father, Robert. I know when there is an apology needed and gratitude expressed.” Edwin stood swiftly, crossing the room with quick steps. Standing above the still seated Robert, Georgiana’s brother, stood proud. For a second, he could see a familiar flash of gold in Edwin’s eyes, that streak of determination that he must share with Georgiana.
Edwin held out his hand. Unwavering, it hung in the air between the two. “Regardless of what she may say or think, Georgiana is quite dear to my heart. Thank you, Robert, for what you did for my sister.”
Robert stood carefully. Meeting Edwin’s gaze straight on, he gripped the other man’s hand with a firm handshake. They were more alike than either would ever admit. Both heirs to a family legacy, one thriving, one crumbling.
Robert suddenly felt sheepish for the complaining he had done regarding his effort towards the family business. What Edwin must weather on a daily basis was much more than Robert had ever considered. No wonder he was such an emotional creature.
“I was glad to be there for Miss Conning,” Robert said jerkily, unsure of what to come next. For the briefest moments, he wished his father was here to offer some guidance. A former friend turned competitor now called on him to provide him with gratitude. This had not been covered in his lessons.
Edwin nodded, unperturbed by Robert’s uncomfortable silence. He turned to leave the room. Clearly, Edwin had accomplished what he came for.
A footman by the door stepped off to usher Edwin out the door when Robert finally got out the words that he'd been debating over since he had first run into Georgiana at that theatre. A million thoughts raced through Robert’s mind, his frantic thoughts a jumble from the sleeplessness. But they all centered around her, those sparkling eyes, the sweetest mouth.
“Edwin, I’d like to call on your sister. If you would allow it,” Robert said quickly.
Edwin turned at the doorway, his copper-colored eyes sparkling with barely contained amusement. “I would allow it. And between the two of us, I think she might be a little sweet on you. My lord.” Edwin sent Robert a quick bow before following the patiently waiting footman to the door.
Robert’s heart soared. The thought of being able to see her again consumed him. He must’ve been grinning like a fool, wringing his hands as he paced the room.
“That smile is for Georgiana Conning then?” His mother’s voice rang out across the room, halting Robert in his tracks. She approached, stopping directly in front of him to tug lightly at his clothing, fussing over him as if he were still a small child. For a moment, he went to scold her to push her hands away. But the affection, however distributed, was comforting and the traitorous part of him craving the maternal attention.
Robert stared at his mother, her slight figure barely reaching his collarbones. Many in London, and probably just as many across England, would say that the Lady of Devonshire was a harsh commander of her household who ruled her throne with an iron fist.
But he, Marian, and Laura, they knew better. Catherine loved fiercely, passionately, and wanted the absolute best of everything for her children.
“It is,” Robert admitted. Guilty, Robert cleared his throat. “I know Marian will struggle with her in my life.”
“Your sister is a great deal stronger than you give her credit for, my son,” his mother said placidly.
“Perhaps. But she’s still my sister. It is my job to protect her, even if it is at the expense of my happiness,” Robert said.
“And Miss Conning, does she make you happy?” Catherine raised a brow quizzically.
Robert let out a rattling breath. “She does. Maddeningly so. I’ve only spoken with her a few times, and yet I cannot stop thinking about her.”
Catherine’s smooth face tightened, her lips puckering as she sighed. She looked up at her son, meeting his eyes with her piercing stare.
“Then, there is nothing more to discuss. Years ago, I tried to change how your sister felt about somebody, and it ended tragically for all parties involved. I will not stand in the way of your love. But, you should speak to Marian. I believe she may be more supportive than you think.”
Catherine reached up to pat his cheek, her eye suspiciously teary as she looked at her only son. With a quick smile, she walked back across the room, leaving Robert to his celebration.
“Mother,” Robert called. Catherine turned gracefully, every line of her body a mark of her rigorously upbringing.
“Marian doesn't blame you. And neither do I.”
Catherine looked at him, her face grave. “Thank you, Robert. Someday when you have children, you will know what it means to share their pain. It isn’t something you can fix, but something you will live with, something you will regret, even if your part in that sadness was small.”
Without another word, she swept from the room, leaving Robert staring after her, dumbstruck by the love and pain that mixed in her voice.
SEVEN
The sun was bright and warm, thawing the frozen English ground and bringing the citizens of town out in droves. But Georgiana Conning was hiding. She stood in the kitchen, a pile of vegetables waiting for her attention. At the moment, she was too afraid to wield a knife, the anxiety of waiting for Robert to call had driven her to the kitchens by midday. She had thought that keeping her hands busy would help. But so far, the only thing she had accomplished was to infuriate the cook.
Her father’s words screamed out across her thoughts. He wanted her to marry Robert. And the truth was that his offer more than tempted her. She could play the part, help the family, and keep Robert Wains to herself. Couldn’t she?
The idea made her breath stop in her lungs, and her heat bloom in her chest. There had been no acting on her part the other night at the docks. She had felt something with Robert, those sparkling moments th
at she had been in his presence. But she had no experience with love. If their relationship built from here on pretenses, would they still have a chance to be happy?
She hoped so.
In order to get her happy ending, she would have to allow her father to have control. She had no idea what the man had in mind for Wains Shipbuilding Company or Robert, but she knew it couldn't be good. Yet, at the same time, he had promised no one would be hurt. Georgiana pressed her hand to her temple, trying to slow her racing thoughts.
Taking a long, deep breath, Georgiana steadied herself. Today, she would allow today to happen. Then she would take Robert’s lead. Perhaps the man wouldn’t even like her. Maybe they would both despise each other the moment they were alone again.
Secretly she knew that it would be a much easier road if they did. A bell rangs through the kitchen; someone requesting a refreshment. The noise startled Georgiana out of her trance, and she went stumbling across the kitchen, barely managing to stay upright.
Clucking her tongue, the cook glared at her silently. She was only at the Conning house for a few hours each day and obviously had little interest in sharing the space with an incompetent young woman with limited knife skills.
Sighing, Georgiana slipped the apron off her body and left the kitchens, resigned. It was growing later in the day. Perhaps Edwin had misled her and that Robert wouldn’t be coming by. Her oldest brother had seemed more himself than she had seen in a long time when he returned from the Devonshire townhouse.
She had meant to corner her sibling and explain what their father was asking of her. But the look he had given her when after his visit to Robert reminded her of the days that she had idolized Edwin, looked up to him as the smiling, brilliant young man he had been. For a moment, she had seen that version of this man, and it had given her hope. Perhaps he could be that way again. Georgiana couldn’t bring herself to ruin Edwin’s mood with her father’s planning.
A flash of steel grey through the window caught Georgiana’s eye, and in an instant, adrenaline flooded her body. Robert was casually strolling up the stairs to their front door, outfitted in an impeccably cut navy waistcoat. She briefly wondered where the Devonshire rig must be tucked away. That thought vanished as she heard a footman greet Robert.
Squealing silently, Georgiana hurtled herself backward, almost toppling over a dining table chair before racing to find a seat in the parlor. Thankfully, neither Teddy nor her mother was anywhere to be seen.
Unfortunately, Serena was sitting by the fire, her wide dark eyes staring at Georgiana with something between rapt interest and disapproval. Her eyebrow raised as Georgiana joined her with a flourish.
As she opened her mouth, a scalding comment undoubtedly ready for Georgiana, the butler walked into the room, his stooping figure coming to a stop just inside.
“An Honorable Robert Wains for Miss Conning,” the butler announced. Georgiana could’ve sworn that the butler gave Serena a glowering look during his emphasis on the Miss portion of her name. It was no secret that the house's remaining staff were not fond of Serena and Teddy’s shenanigans.
Perhaps Georgiana bothered the cook with her poor chopping skills, but Serena was a menace all her own. Demanding, anxious, and loud, she was continually pushing the staff to their limits.
Serena gave a brief huff but returned to her embroidery, not even bothering to rise as Robert stepped into the room after the butler. Heart pounding, Georgiana couldn’t stop staring at Robert. She dropped into a deep curtsy, allowing her eyes to slide further down his body.
His clothing was perfectly tailored to his frame, from his shoulders to his powerful thighs. The fabric hid nothing. His body a powerful reminder of what she had felt the other night. More than a little heat seeped into her bones, drawing a bright flush to her cheekbones. One she could feel as she straightened.
From the swaggering smile that Robert was giving her, he must’ve been thinking something similar. When she returned that smile, his face flushed slightly too. Serena snorted behind them, drawing Robert’s eyes.
“Mr. Wains, I’d like you to meet my sister-in-law, Mrs. Serena Conning.” Georgiana gestured at the dark-haired beauty behind her. Serena rose slowly, her eyes curving seductively over every delicious inch of Robert.
“It’s so nice to meet the man who saved our Georgiana,” she said smoothly, offering a hand to Robert.
“It was nothing, I assure you. And the pleasure is mine.” Robert stepped forward, bending over Serena’s hand with the ease born of a life in decorum. Georgiana shifted, feeling uncomfortable as her sister-in-law carefully observed Robert.
When Robert straightened, Serena looked from him to Georgiana. “I must say, when Teddy told me that it was Mr. Wains who wished to call on Georgiana, I was a little shocked. Seeing that it was his sister who trailed after Teddy all those years.”
Georgiana’s jaw dropped. Where had the sweet, supportive sister-in-law from the night before gone? This venomous creature before her bore almost no resemblance. But to Robert’s credit, he didn’t react; not even his lungs breathed as she spoke. With a deadly quiet whisper, Robert’s face finally moved, plastering a fake smile across his lips as he replied.
“I’m glad to hear that Teddy’s still the magnificent storyteller that he was years ago. I’d be so interested to hear which one he used to garner himself such a lovely bride.”
Serena froze, her face furrowing at his lack of response to her comment. Georgiana glared at the other woman, wanting to applaud Robert’s ability to handle her awful sister-in-law.
“Serena, I don’t think that I will need a chaperone while most of the family is home. Perhaps it would be more comfortable if you joined father or Teddy in the library?” Georgiana spoke with as much finality as she could muster.
For the first time in their relationship, Serena seemed inclined to follow Georgiana’s advice. She would thank God later when she said her prayers.
Robert watched the woman sweep from the room, her dark scowl doing nothing to wipe the polite smile from his face. As soon as she was gone, Georgiana found herself staring straight into those bright eyes. Behind the vestige of polite good manners was a lurking hunger that threatened to catch fire.
Bending at the waist, he reached out to clasp Georgiana’s hand to his mouth. Georgiana’s heart sped as his lips lingered over her hand.
“I'm glad to see you are well this morning.” Robert’s breath warmed her skin.
Breathing deep, Georgiana gently extracted her hand from his. “I am, thanks to you.”
For a moment, Robert looked like he was going to shrug it off, but instead, some emotion she couldn’t place flew across his face. In a quick movement, his hand reached around her nape, tugging her easily to his body. His long fingers held her there, as he seemed to inspect her further, the long column of her neck exposed.
Leaning into her, Robert’s eyes never left hers, even as the softness of his lips on hers made her eyelids flutter. The kiss was brief; his lips gone from hers before she even had time to respond. Reflexively she wetted her lips as he pulled back a bit, straightening his shoulders with a shrug.
“I apologize; I didn’t mean to do that.” Robert stepped away, releasing her and swinging his arms lightly, as if embarrassed.
Georgiana grinned at him, unable to stop letting her fingers follow the path his hands had taken across her face. Her skin was warm, humming at all of the places he had touched. Even her traitorous body couldn’t help but wonder how his hands would feel on other parts of her, as they had last night. Under her conservative day dress, her skin tingled, racing the pulsing heat that he seemed to provoke in her.
Georgiana laughed softly, ducking her head. “No apologies needed. Won’t you please come in?” Moving across the room, she sat on her favorite chair, staring out at him as he made himself more comfortable on the sofa across from her.
Silence fell. Robert fidgeted slightly in his chair. His clean-shaven face turned away from her.
“How
is your family?” Georgiana asked calmly, enjoying the opportunity to put Robert off his usual smooth nature.
Robert straightened, his face flushing slightly. “Actually I just received a letter from my father this morning with some exciting news.” She looked at him, eagerly urging him on. “He’s hoping to come back to England after the New Year.
“Your mother must be thrilled,” Georgiana offered softly, forcing a smile to her lips. Her father would be angry to hear the news if the elder Robert Wains was back in town. That only meant bad news for Conning Shipwrights.
Robert chuckled, “She’s sorely missing him. Make no mistake, my mother is the master and commander of the entire family, but he is her most valiant supporter.”
“I must admit that I was quite terrified of your mother, even though there is no logical reason for it,” Georgiana remarked.
Robert looked at her, thoughtfully. “I still forget that you are the same little girl that we knew at the Devonshire summer seat. I remember Edwin well enough and even have a few sparse memories of Teddy. But you, I just can’t make the leap between the toe-headed child who ran along the yard and the woman you are today.”