Rogues Gallery (41 page)

Simon sat up. "You are certain? She has not attended any events this past fortnight."

"I am well aware," Hugh said drily, "since you have bemoaned that fact each night for the preceding two weeks."

Simon frowned again, but it only made Hugh laugh harder.

"So I should attend the Eversby ball," Simon mused.

Hugh shook his head. "No."

"No? Then why did you even mention the blasted thing?"

"You must do more than attend," Hugh said, as if addressing a simpleton. "This is your opportunity to persuade her you have changed—"

"It has only been a fortnight," Simon scoffed. "Even if a miracle had occurred, she is not likely to believe I have transformed in such a short time. She would box my ears for slighting her intelligence in such a fashion."

"True," Hugh said, nodding. "Which is why you must rely on the grand gesture."

"Which would be what precisely?"

Hugh shrugged. "That is for you to decide. Besides, I might have need of a grand gesture myself one day. But, I have it on good authority that females find it quite enticing when a man grovels with his heart in hand."

Simon narrowed his eyes. He was not convinced this was the manner in which to prove his love to Georgiana. He had made similar protestations at their wedding, but to no avail. He had sent flowers to her home each day, along with heartfelt letters begging her forgiveness.

Every single bloom and missive had been returned without a reply.

"I have good reason to doubt the success of your plan," Simon admitted.

"You doubt me? After all I have done to earn the title Lord Wastrel?"

Simon cuffed his friend on the shoulder. "Perhaps I would have fewer doubts if you were named Lord Wedded Bliss. Still, you are correct. I must persuade her my reprehensible behavior has changed, but my love for her has not, and never will."

"And if it does not persuade her, then you are well and truly cursed."

Another cuff on the shoulder obliterated Hugh's satisfied grin.

"How did I ever believe Simon loved me?" Georgiana threw herself onto the nearby chaise longue, realizing in a further fit of pique her behavior rivaled that of a Drury Lane actress. "I was to wed the most perfect man—"

Her best friend Lady Felicia Selby chuckled. "Perfectly rakish, yes."

Georgiana glared. "I cannot hear anyone speak ill of him."

"You are the only one permitted that luxury," Felicia said with another laugh.

Georgiana smiled, albeit reluctantly. "Yes, I know I should despise him. And I do. But at the same time I still love him." She sighed. "You see? I have been well and truly cursed."

"My family is cursed, you know."

"How could that possibly bring you such delight?"

"Because it's not really a bad curse," Felicia explained.

"Perhaps you should enlighten me, for I am at a loss to describe you, or your family, as cursed. You are as rich as Croesus, and beautiful." It was no secret how much attention Felicia's auburn curls and vivacious manner garnered from every male she encountered. "You have also been blessed with a generous heart and all manner of envious personality traits." Georgiana frowned. "No, I cannot in good faith call you cursed."

"It's part of the family lore. How we can only marry our one true love."

"That is everyone's desire." Georgiana inhaled an uneven breath. "It had even been mine once."

Felicia's blue eyes were filled with compassion. "Yes, but the legend has it that we shall be cursed to fall in love with someone who is by all appearances the wrong person for us."

"It seems I have been cursed with that as well." Georgiana managed a half-hearted grin. "It also explains your penchant for eloping every fortnight."

Felicia waved a hand in dismissal. "I am fortunate I discover their unsuitability before we arrive at the church."

"And you do so with your reputation intact," Georgiana marveled.

Felicia's laugh was an infectious one. "That is one benefit to being the sister of a very eligible duke."

"It has earned you a dashing nickname. 'Flighty Felicia'. While I am sure to be known as 'Georgiana the Gullible' for the rest of my born days."

She sniffed and then pulled Felicia into a desperate hug, needing solace while her heart ached so.

"Why did I not heed everyone's warnings about Simon? Even my mother had expressed her doubts, many times over, about this union."

In truth, Mama had railed about rakes so often Georgiana had stopped listening to her lectures, wishing she had her safe, stolid father to chat with instead. If only she had chosen someone like him.

But, to her regret, she had reveled in the excitement of being squired about town by a rake. She had enjoyed the envious expressions from those who had completely ignored her previously.

She had fallen in love—as had every female in London—almost the instant she had set eyes on Simon. And he had professed his love for her soon thereafter.

Everything had happened so quickly, it was no wonder Georgiana had not known until too late she had fallen in love with a faithless cad.

Fortunately she had not gone so far as to ruin her reputation, although it might be a while before she would be considered marriageable again. Not that she could ever consider marriage to anyone but Simon. She would rather spend the rest of her days on Wallflower Row, listening to the Dowager disparage the latest batch of rogues bedeviling the
ton
.

Felicia squeezed her tightly, providing comfort in the way only a lifelong friend can. "Perhaps he had good cause for the delay—"

Georgiana sat up, putting Felicia at arm's length. "There might have been an acceptable explanation for being late. I nearly forgave him for that terrible lapse. But there can be no good reason for those ladybirds attending him. I am not even supposed to know they exist!"

"But surely his worst behavior is behind him now."

"Or perhaps it is the commencement of even more dreadful scandals. If I forgive this, he may well strive to outdo Lord Wastrel in shocking me, and the
ton
."

"I am inclined to believe Hugh is responsible for those women," Felicia said. "I have known him since I was a child, and he has always been a rogue."

"You sound like the Dowager now," Georgiana grumbled. "But it was Lord Rakehell's name ringing throughout the chapel that day."

Felicia did not answer, but it was clear she did not think so little of the man. Georgiana felt a moment's remorse for casting Simon in such a horrible light, merely to assuage her unrelenting doubts. Especially since she wanted to leap to his defense each time she uttered anything against him.

What a hopeless muddle it was.

"The most distressing part—" No, she could not confess such thoughts, even to her dearest friend.

"What is the most distressing part?"

Georgiana shook her head, biting her lip to keep the words from escaping.

"I insist. If you do not tell me, I shall tickle you until you do! Or I might pinch you." Felicia began pressing her fingers together in an ominous fashion. "You know what an excellent pincher I am."

Georgiana held up her hands in defeat. "I shall tell you!" She breathed a sigh of relief when Felicia's fingers were safely hidden in the folds of her muslin morning dress. "But it is not something we usually discuss. Or
should
discuss."

Felicia grinned. "I cannot wait then."

"It is patently obvious I should have taken more time to know Simon better. But each time I was in his company, I felt—"

A rush of memories made her face heat so intensely she could only hope she did not set the silk cushions of the chaise longue ablaze.

"What? What was it you felt?"

How could Georgiana possibly explain such sensations? She had never anticipated being so wanton, yet with Simon, it had seemed perfectly natural. His leisurely kisses, his surreptitious touches, his obvious delight at her responses. . .

She shivered. Yet as pleasurable as it had been, it still did not make it easy to describe. Especially to a young miss who had even less knowledge of the topic than Georgiana.

"I felt—stirrings."

Felicia frowned, unable to decipher her meaning. "What sort of stirrings?"

Georgiana could not help but remember all the times Simon had elicited the most delectable, utterly sinful stirrings. Her body had clamored for his touch as soon as he entered a room. Even now she wanted his hands gliding over her skin, slowly moving aside her clothing so he could tempt her—

"Georgie! What do you mean by 'stirrings'?"

She gulped. "Urges. He made me feel desperately. . .urgent." She waved a hand vaguely. "Everywhere."

Felicia's eyes widened. She snuggled closer before whispering, "Was it wonderful?"

Georgiana sighed, blushing at the same time. "You have no idea how wonderful."

"I envy you! I have never felt that, for any of the gentlemen with whom I've eloped."

Georgiana gave her an exasperated look. "Then why do you elope with them?"

"They all appear to have potential, at the beginning," she answered with a grin. "But now I see I shall have to reconsider their qualifications before I hie off to another wedding."

The mention of wedding threw Georgiana's spirits into a downward spiral. Without a wedding, there was no hope of experiencing urges or stirrings with Simon. Ever again.

That dire thought had her reaching for her handkerchief once more. But then she remembered it had been missing since the day of her ill-fated nuptials. It had disappeared, along with her hopes of a happy and passionate future.

She could feel her bottom lip quivering, readying itself for the bout of tears sure to follow.

"I am convinced you can trust Simon," Felicia said, giving Georgiana another heartfelt squeeze. "He loves you. I cannot believe he would dare to break your heart anew."

"Perhaps that is true," Georgiana conceded. "But I am not convinced I can trust my own feelings. How can I know for certain I am not being guided solely by my—"

"Urges?"

"Yes! My greatest fear is that I agreed to marry him simply because of these urges. In truth, they may have misled me from the very beginning, clouding my judgment." She sniffed. "One evening at dinner with Mama, my mind drifted to the last time Simon had made me feel such stirrings, and. . .I believe Mama knew precisely what I was thinking!"

She hid her heated face in Felicia's shoulder.

"Georgie, you must seek out a rapprochement with him, at once. I am convinced he is the husband for you."

"No one else has caused such sensations in me," Georgiana admitted.

"Which should cause you to feel hopeful, not fearful," Felicia exclaimed.

"He is a notorious rake! How could he be considered one without possessing such talents? He may be plying his skills on another gullible miss at this very moment."

"If that were true, he would not have asked you to be his bride."

"Possibly," Georgiana answered, tempted by her friend's logic. "But even so, it is not likely such sensations can form the basis of a long-lasting marriage."

Felicia nodded as they both contemplated the many unions of their acquaintance, none of which seemed filled with any urges, passionate or otherwise. "But surely there are other reasons you love Simon."

"Of course. There are many reasons. His appreciative laugh whenever I mocked his rakish behavior. His continued kindness to the Dowager at every social gathering we attended. His unbridled enjoyment of each moment we spent together."

Felicia beamed, as if she had won Georgiana over to her way of thinking. "Your heart is telling you what you must do."

Georgiana envied Felicia's ability to follow her heart's desire, without a care for the consequences.

But as much as Georgiana loved Simon, her heart was tender, and unsure, and unwilling to suffer through additional pain after her wedding day failure.

"It is telling me I cannot make another mistake," she finally answered.

Felicia bit back a sigh. "What shall you do then?"

"I must do something," Georgiana said, with determination. "I have never been prone to tears, and I have expended a lifetime's worth this past fortnight. I am eager to return to a more normal existence."

"Perhaps it is time to make a public appearance," Felicia suggested. "The Eversby ball would be an excellent choice, since Hugh informed me Simon is attending." Before Georgiana could protest, Felicia added, "I shall be with you, so you need not face Simon, or those wretched gossips, alone."

Georgiana's heart thudded, but was it with dread, or excitement? She did not know anymore.

"And now you must tell me more about these stirrings," Felicia said with a devilish grin. "I am certain I shall have need of this information in the future."

Georgiana could only hope she would have the opportunity to utilize it in the future as well.

Georgiana made her way through the ballroom, pretending not to see the gossips whispering behind their carved ivory fans. If she were lucky, they were chattering about Felicia and her current elopement, not the fact that this was Georgiana's first appearance since her ill-fated wedding.

It was not easy to ignore the pitying stares from every debutante and society matron in attendance, but if the
ton
was intent on discussing her wedding day disgrace by a notorious rake, then Georgiana would insist it be done in her presence. In truth, it was more heartbreaking to remain at home, wondering if Simon was at the same rout or ball she had declined to attend, enjoying himself while she fumed over his perfidy.

She preferred to see for herself how he chose to entertain himself rather than read about his exploits in the newspapers, the way the Dowager did. Though she had no doubt Lady Thornham would be happy to inform her of anything she gleaned from her daily examination of the scandal sheets.

Georgiana continued her slow turn about the opulent room, nodding and smiling, ensuring everyone could see how unscathed she was by the latest nine days' scandal. She merely had to stay the requisite amount of time, and then she could depart without it appearing as though she were fleeing.