Loving Lady Georgianna (Spirited #2)

Chapter 10

After the noise and bustle of the ballroom, the ride in the duke's carriage had been a mostly silent one.

Or rather, an awkward one.

So awkward of a silence, in fact, that Georgie momentarily contemplated jumping from the moving conveyance just to be done with it. She had figured, however, that one attempt on her life this evening had been quite enough, thank you.

And something told her the cobblestones would offer more bruises than the slick ballroom floor had.

Now, however, Georgie found herself once more wishing for the quiet.

"Well, I cannot recommend the Fitzroys after this deplorable debacle," Lady Elizabeth said, her pert nose tilted high in the air. Her gaze flickered to Georgie seated across from her, her slim shoulders thrust back and her lips whitened in displeasure. Georgie watched as the lady twitched her nose. It was as if a particularly malodorous scent had solidified upon the stagnant air.

"Rumor has it that old Fitzroy," Lady Elizabeth continued, sniffing in distaste, "-held in such esteem as to be placed upon that ostentatious pedestal, mind you," her gown rustled as she shifted on her seat. "Why, it is said he murdered himself!

Lady Marianne gasped from Georgie's right. Her gloved palm covered her mouth, and her purple gown shimmered like water in the moonlight spreading through the carriage. Her gray gaze, which had been trained so dutifully upon Georgie since the incident, now watched Lady Elizabeth warily.

"I just cannot imagine why the current Marquess would keep that monstrosity," Lady Elizabeth continued, clucking beneath her breath. "I mean, really. Keeping a statue of a deceased and likely mad relative about, which nearly attacks to a future duchess." Sniff, rustle. "And they call themselves members of polite society-"

"Mother." The duke's voice rang out swift and strong, and Georgie's eyes turned to him. His brows dipped in a scowl so fierce it appeared the duke had one long line across his forehead. The black look brought a touch of confusion. It was a familiar gesture...

But then Burkeley's voice interrupted her musings, voicing something so preposterous, her jaw nearly fell upon the carriage floor.

"Georgie is overwrought, Mother. I hardly think now is the time for talk of such things."

Her brows shot up at that.

Overwrought? Her?

Georgie had rather thought she was holding together remarkably well considering that not five minutes prior, she had been thrown to the floor and nearly crushed by fallen debris.

"I am simply appreciative that my daughter came out unscathed." Lady Marianne interrupted, drawing the occupant's collective gaze to her. Her mother's grip, which had latched on to Georgie's since entering the carriage and refused to let go, tightened. It was a silent plea for comfort that brought a thick feeling to the back of her throat. "When I think of what could have happened..."

Georgie let the words go unspoken. Had it been an accident?

Or perhaps something more sinister?

"But of course," Lady Elizabeth agreed instantly, patting Georgie's hand before resettling into her seat. "Lady Georgianna's safety is of the utmost concern. We are quite lucky, indeed. As the future duchess of Burkeley, the idea that something like this happened to her -"

"But she is safe, and that is all that matters," Lady Marianne said, earning a frown from Lady Elizabeth. Lady Marianne met her eyes for one moment before turning to Georgie and the unshed tears in her mother's eyes slayed her. "It was a good thing the Viscount was so close."