His Lady Peregrine (6 page)

Percy reached up, slowly,
and pulled out the pins holding her hat in place.”

“
Wait, I—”

He shook his head, as if
gently scolding a naughty child. “Georgiana, do you trust
me?”

Did she? Part of her knew
she shouldn’t. Not even a little. The other part, though, the part
that controlled her cravings and urges, urges she’d almost
forgotten were even there, stood up and shouted that
yes,
she would do
anything he asked of her. “Yes.”

One side of his mouth rose
beneath a deep dimple. “Splendid.”

“
But I really don’t
think—”

“
You
don’t have to think, just
be.
”

Be?
“Be what?”

He sighed. “You’re not
helping my plan come to fruition.”

She held up one hand.
“Speaking of plans, I thought we were to go—”

“
Go? Who said anything
about leaving this room?”

She lowered her eyebrows.
“But—”

One by one, he removed the pins holding up
her long, thick, graying hair. He smoothed the locks down around
her shoulders and then leaned forward, inhaling the hair just above
her earlobe.

Her thoughts were getting
muddy. What was she… oh yes. “I… I thought we were to have an
outing.”

“
We are. Of a
sort.”

“
But doesn’t an outing
usually mean going… out?”

“
This is
more of an
inning
. Normally I would agree with
you, my dear. But I thought that it might be pleasant—” He kissed
her left temple with such tenderness she nearly cried. “—to stay
here and get better acquainted.”

Georgiana closed her eyes
as he pulled her close. The man was intoxicating. Time slowed, and
a sluggish feeling of having over imbibed on spirits took control.
“So we’re not leaving?”

“
No.” He ran his tongue
just below her right ear.

Georgiana’s eyes popped
open. “But my maid!”

“
She isn’t invited to our
party.”

“
No, I mean what if
she—”

Percy shook his head.
“Your maid won’t bother us.”

“
How could you possibly
know that?”

“
Because I paid her to
make herself disappear for a while. Quite a long while, if I have
my say.” His gaze roved over her face from forehead to
chin.

As if physically touched,
Georgiana’s skin warmed. She blinked. While she should be vexed at
Mary having taken a bribe to leave them in private, she couldn’t
seem to summon any ire. Because the way Percy was caressing her and
pressing her close to his chest was too delicious for her to worry
about anything else.

Percy waited, but
not patiently, while his valet tied his cravat.
His hessian boots, though blackened only two days ago, were given
another shine. The day prior with Georgiana had been magical. Today
he wanted to look his best, because his expectations were to exceed
yesterday’s splendor.

The valet nodded and
stepped away, giving Percy a few moments alone. When he closed his
eyes, he could imagine Georgiana was there with him. Right now. In
his arms. Her soft skin and lavender scent nearly melting him into
a grateful pool of warmth.

How had he been so
fortunate to have met her? Their chance meeting at the Sanctuary
had changed his life. He’d only known her for a little while, but
that time had been the happiest of his existence. Who would have
guessed that he’d meet someone like her when he was past,
no,
well past
his
prime?

That mattered not. Percy was one to live in
the moment. And this moment would be lived to the fullest.

He hurried from his room
and reached the bottom of the stairs just as the footman opened the
front door. Several people stepped in.

Guests? Right now? Oh no.

Once the footman moved
aside, Percy could identify them. Conrad and Amelia. No surprise
there, as they were frequent visitors. But the other…

The dowager. Percy
frowned. For a woman who had never seemed terribly bent toward
being sociable, two visits in one week were unexpected.

Ready to give a quick
hello and then turn them over to his nephew, Percy inwardly
groaned. Barrington and Cecilia were out for the day. The entire
day. Basic etiquette demanded that Percy, as the one at home to
receive them, put aside his own plans and entertain
them.

Perfect.

Percy got the attention of
the maid to bring some tea. Then he turned, forming a pleasant
expression on his face that he didn’t mean. “Please, won’t you join
me in the parlor?”

The younger couple nodded
and preceded him into the room a few feet away. Intending to extend
his arm for the dowager to take, she gasped when her hand didn’t
quite connect with his.

And she
fell!

“
Oh!” He sucked in a
breath and dropped to his knees beside her. “Are your
hurt?”

She lay crumpled next to
the wall. With a groan, she reached her hand up to her brow. “Oh,
my head…”

Why? Why did this have to happen here? When
no one is about but me?

Conrad and Amelia rushed
from the room, calling out to Conrad’s mother.

Instead of the dowager
reaching for her son, she latched onto Percy’s hand and tugged him
close to her face. “Darling, is it you?”

Darling?
Percy frowned. Who did she think—

“
Oh, my love. How I’ve
missed you.”

A gasp came from behind
him. Had it been Amelia? Conrad tried and failed to kneel next to
his mother. Given the lack of space by the wall and the way the
dowager had Percy pressed against her, it was no wonder. The woman
pulled him even closer, until he could feel her hot breath against
his cheek.

What was going on?

Percy was barely able to
call over his shoulder to the footman. “Fetch the physician.
Quick!” Just then, he remembered that their usual physician had
been called away due to a family emergency of his own. Surely,
though, he had someone to take his place in emergencies? Booted
steps hurried away as the footman left to see to his
errand.

Percy closed his eyes
briefly. Georgiana was expecting him. He would be late, even if he
left now. The problem was he could
not
leave now. One, because it just
wasn’t done to have guests and leave when one was injured. And two,
the blasted woman had a hold on him as tight as a falcon on a
shrew!

“
Oh…” The dowager groaned
again. “You’ve made me so happy, darling, returning to me. Now I’ll
never be alone again.”

Why was she babbling on
about Percy being her
darling
? She must have really struck
her head hard. Why, today of all days, was Barrington not in
residence?

Amelia pressed her hand on
Percy’s shoulder. “I don’t think we’re supposed to move her, but
there’s no way of knowing what the injury is on the back of her
head unless we look.”

“
Please,” moaned the woman
on the floor. “The… the hardness of the wood hurts. It hurts so
badly!”

Percy’s hand was nearly
numb from the way she squeezed it. Angling as far to the side as he
could, which wasn’t far, he addressed the two behind him. “Shall I
carry her to the parlor, then?”

“
Please,” said
Conrad.

The dowager had Percy so
close he could now kiss her. As if he’d ever want to. Horror washed
over him at the mental image that thought produced. After yanking
his hand from hers, and with great effort for the woman was quite
hefty, Percy wrapped his arms beneath her shoulder and knees and
stood.

Blood rushed to his head,
and he closed his eyes, waiting until the sensation
abated.

“
Are you feeling unwell?”
Conrad’s hand rested on Percy’s shoulder.

He shook his head, just
wanting to get the terribleness of holding the snide woman over
with.

Though he wanted to have
it done with quickly, he took great care in his steps so not to
trip. Wouldn’t that have been wonderful? Finally, he reached the
settee and placed her gently on the soft surface.

“
Ahhh.” A smile crossed
the dowager’s face. Her eyes popped open and she stared right at
him. A groan soon followed as if she’d forgotten her pain
temporarily and just recalled it.

How odd.

The maid rushed in with a blanket and handed
it to Percy. He covered the woman and then stepped away. As he
tried to massage life back into his numbed hand, Percy shook his
head. What an extraordinary, awful, terrible turn of events.

And what was he to do
about Georgiana?

A note. He must send a
note post haste as he could not in any way leave, things being as
they were. Perhaps after the physician examined her and things were
well, Percy could finally slip away.

Barrington, come home. I have need of
you!

The next hour was
miserably spent closeted in the parlor with the Loftons and the
dowager moaning and wailing. Percy had grown so warm in the room
that he’d actually loosened his cravat. Not that he cared about his
appearance at this point, and the Loftons were extended family,
after all. But Percy found his entire body wreathed in perspiration
from the stress of the whole situation of the dowager thinking him
to be someone he was not.

Finally, thankfully, the
physician arrived. He appeared to be young, nearly too young for
the post. But Percy was in a tight spot, and he’d take whomever he
could get.

Dr. Hervey was shown into
the parlor. With the physician’s announcement that the room should
be cleared, Percy heaved a sigh of relief. He could at least now
step away from—

“
Wait!”
The dowager reached out her hand. “I need
you
to stay.”

Oh the horror.
Percy glanced at the Loftons who, though
frowning, nodded and stepped into the hall.

Why? Why me?
Percy stayed but didn’t take the dowager’s hand,
though she held it out in his direction until it had to have been
obvious he wasn’t going to abide by her wish.

The physician gave him a
sharp look, as if Percy had committed some treacherous
crime.

“
I’ll be right over here.”
Percy slumped down in a straight-backed chair, glad to be off of
his feet and at least a small distance away from the annoying
woman.

The physician opened his
bag and removed several items. With interest, Percy eyed them. They
resembled the ones their usual man used. Perhaps he’d misjudged Dr.
Hervey.

Low mumblings came from the patient and
caregiver, so low that Percy couldn’t hear. Not that he cared. He
stood and stretched then wandered to a nearby window for a change
of scenery.

Oh,
Georgiana
…

Events had unfolded so
quickly, Percy hadn’t even gotten the chance to send her a note.
What must she think? That he’d ravish her in her parlor one day
then not bother to correspond the next, as if once sated, he was
content to let her go?

He scrubbed his face with
his hand. What a terrible set of circumstances he’d been drawn
into.

“
Sir?”

Percy turned his head at
the physician’s voice. “Yes?”

“
After my examination and,
er, discussion with the lady, it’s my professional opinion that she
must stay here until her head injury has lessened enough for her to
travel home.”

“
Oh… I see. And… when
might we expect that to be?”

“
I really can’t
say.”

Ah. Of course you can’t.

Dr. Hervey stepped up next
to him and whispered, “Since you are her long-lost
husband—”

“
What?”

The physician raised one
eyebrow. “It’s her claim.”

“
It isn’t
true!”

He put one hand on Percy’s
arm. Was he trying to offer comfort? Or condolence? “Be it true or
not, the lady believes that’s your identity. It would be disastrous
to try to tell her otherwise at this point. I’m… uh, quite worried
for her health, physically and emotionally.”

“
Are you trying to tell me
that I must pretend to be this woman’s husband because she is
delusional?”

“
For the sake her health,
I am. You must give her constant assurance of your devotion and
love. Do not do or say anything to her or anyone else that might
get word to her of something upsetting. Otherwise…” With another
pat on Percy’s shoulder, the physician left.

As Percy stood at his
place by the window, the Loftons rushed in from the hall. Now to
covey to Conrad that his mother thought Percy was her
husband.

Hoorah… the joy continues.

A knock on
Georgiana’s door was the only thing that could
have dragged her attention from her bedroom window. She’d been
standing there staring at the drive for the better part of the day.
“Come in.”