“My darling, Georgiana…”
She gasped and covered her mouth.
“Will you do me the immeasurable honour of consenting to be my wife?”
Now Georgiana knew she had reached the peak of happiness. She nodded with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Yes,” she laughed nervously. “Yes, Richard. I will be your wife.”
Thirty-two
Christmas Day
Georgiana and Richard spent the next hour cuddled up on the settee, kissing, and whispering about their hopes and dreams for the future. Richard kicked off his shoes and Georgiana covered their laps with the blanket, losing all track of time.
The passion did not wane, and both fought hard to restrain themselves. The temptation was great, but Georgiana delighted in his deep kisses. They were filled with the promise of things to come and a desire she had long hoped for in a husband.
Richard looked up at the clock. “My goodness. Do you realise what time it is?”
“No,” Georgiana replied, shifting position and sitting up.
“It’s almost two o’clock in the morning.”
“We’ve been talking that long?” Georgiana couldn’t believe how quickly the time had passed. She squinted at the clock. Sure enough, it read twelve-fifty.
Richard chuckled, folding up the blanket and pulling Georgiana to her feet. “I don’t believe there was much talking going on at all.”
She willingly melted into his embrace, savouring the scent of his neck, the taste of his lips still upon hers.
“That means it’s Christmas Day,” he muttered.
“Yes, it does.” She moaned as his mouth found hers, and he kissed her with such devastating passion that her knees buckled.
“Happy Christmas, my darling angel,” he breathed, continuing to kiss her so tenderly.
“Happy Christmas, my love,” she sighed back.
“Happy Christmas indeed!”
Georgiana and Richard spun around and stood to attention, looking guilty.
“Mother!”
“Aunt Henrietta!” Georgiana took a step backwards.
“So this is what you get up to when I am absent, is it?” Aunt Henrietta stormed towards them and stopped just in front of Richard.
Georgiana feared she would strike him. Instead she leant forward and embraced him.
“I’ve had my suspicions for days!” she cried out, her face glowing with joy. “I may be old, but I am not out of my wits. There were times I wanted to shake some sense into the pair of you.” She glowered teasingly at Georgiana. “So, what does all this kissing mean?”
Georgiana’s throat was dry from the shock. She looked to Richard to answer for her.
“Mama, I have asked Georgiana to marry me,” he informed her, unable to contain his own delight.
A grin spread across Aunt Henrietta’s face. “And what did you reply?” She leant in closer.
“Yes,” Georgiana whispered, giggling nervously. “I said yes.”
“Huzzah!” Aunt Henrietta cried, pulling Georgiana into a tight hug. “I could not be happier. You are made for each other, but I feared neither of you would think of it, what with the age difference of ten years and all.”
“What is that when we are in love, Mama?” Richard asked, picking up Georgiana’s hand and kissing the back of it.
“What indeed. It is nothing.” She embraced them both at the same time. “Your father, Richard, and your parents, Georgiana, would be so elated at this news. And,” she pulled back, her eyes twinkling, “if I remember correctly, there was a difference of eight years between your parents and twelve between dear Thomas and myself.”
“I just hope Fitzwilliam will be happy for us and consent,” Richard piped in, suddenly filled with nerves.
“Of course he will be,” Aunt Henrietta reassured them both and waving away the comment. “How can he not be when he sees how happy you are?”
Georgiana suspected she was right. Her brother was a kind and loving man. He would see in her and Richard the same affection that he enjoyed with Elizabeth.
“Now, if you aren’t too excited to sleep, it is time we retired for the night.” Aunt Henrietta declared and led the way out of the room.
When they reached Aunt Henrietta’s room, Richard asked her, “How long were you standing there watching us, Mama?”
She chuckled as she disappeared into her room. “Long enough, son. Long enough.”
Georgiana was reluctant to leave Richard even for one minute, but her door was opposite Aunt Henrietta’s, and she knew they could not stay up all night, even if they wished to.
Richard took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. “When the snow is clear enough, we’ll travel into Hertfordshire where I will formally ask your brother’s permission to marry you.”
Georgiana smiled happily, knowing Fitzwilliam would appreciate that. “They will be so happy for us.”
Again he kissed her, sending her head into a spin. “Good night,” he whispered, his voice throaty.
“Good night,” she replied, reluctantly pulling away from him.
She opened the door, slipped inside, then turned and watched Richard walk halfway down the landing and turn back around.
He blew her a kiss. “Georgiana…”
“What is it?”
“Happy Christmas.”
Georgiana rested her head against the doorframe, a permanent smile gracing her lips. She could not have imagined, when her aunt invited her to London, that the trip would end in an engagement and her falling deeply in love.
She blew him a kiss back. “Happy Christmas.”
THE END
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