“The masked ball?” said Arthur, tapping one finger against his lips. “I assume she knew you knew who she was, that night.”
Dominic shifted in his chair. “No. But I told her I did know later.”
“How later?”
Exasperated, Dominic frowned at his brother-in-law. “At the Massinghams’ rout.”
“After our little visit to Lincoln’s Inn.”
With a long drawn sigh of frustration, Dominic stretched and crossed his arms behind his head. “You’re right.” He considered the inkstand again. Then he said, as if talking to himself, “So I’ll just have to remove that little obstacle from my path.”
Perfectly satisfied with the effects of his interference, Arthur leant back in his chair and watched as his brother-in-law planned his next moves. Finally Dominic looked up.
“There are only two more days left to the Season. How long do you plan to remain in Green Street?”
Arthur smiled. “For as long as it takes you to settle this business.”
A quick smile lit Dominic’s face. “You are coming to Candlewick, aren’t you?”
Arthur nodded. “I’ve already sent instructions for Jonathon and his nurse to travel direct to Candlewick. The weather’s closing in and, as you know, I’m not one to take chances. They should be there by now. I’d thought to send Bella down as soon as she’s free of her social activities. Mrs Landy can fuss over her more effectively than anyone else. I’ll go to the Lodge and check through business there, then come across before Christmas.”
To all this, Dominic nodded. “It’ll take a day or two to deal with the Place. But once I’ve cleared that hurdle from my path, I don’t expect any further impediment to our affairs.” He paused, then added with a slightly grim smile, “I would be obliged if you would inform Miss Hartley that I have some…pressing business to attend to, but will call on her in two days’ time to continue our discussion of her future.” He considered his words, then shrugged and rose. “With luck, I’ll be able to escort both Bella and Georgiana down a few days after that.”
“Good,” said Arthur. “The news from the country is that there’ll be early snows. I’d feel happier once Bella’s safely installed at Candlewick.” He watched as Dominic crossed to the door, waiting until his fingers were on the handle to say, “By the by, do let me know if you feel the need for any further assistance in this matter.”
Dominic smiled sweetly. “My friend, I’ve often thought it was a good thing for England that you were born an Englishman. God only knows what might have happened if Napoleon and his generals had had you as a quartermaster.”
Arthur laughed.
With a neat bow, Dominic left, closing the door softly behind him.
TO GEORGIANA’S dismay, relief was not her predominant emotion on waking the next morning to no extravagant gifts, no note requesting her company on a drive, nothing. She sighed. She told herself sternly it was how she wanted things to be. He had at last accepted the fact she would not marry him.
Feeling at one with the gloomy morning, close and grey with drizzle, she dressed without interest and wended her way downstairs, wondering what she could do to fill in the bleak hours.
But she had barely left the breakfast-table to join Bella in the back parlour when Johnson came to summon her.
“A legal gentleman, miss. Name of Whitworth.”
Brows rising, Georgiana stood and laid aside her embroidery. “In the drawing-room, Johnson?”
The butler bowed and escorted her to where Mr Whitworth the elder waited patiently, his bright eyes darting curiously about the white and gilt room.
As soon as he had bowed to her, Georgiana waved him to a chair. He looked alarmed when it creaked protestingly under his weight. But Georgiana was too puzzled to waste any time reassuring him. She hadn’t sent for him. Why was he here?
Apparently agreeing his presence required immediate explanation, Mr Whitworth made haste to answer her unvoiced query. “My dear Miss Hartley, forgive my calling on you unheralded, but we have received a very generous offer for the Place. The bu
yer is most urgent to settle, so I took the liberty of calling in person.”
Georgiana’s immediate reaction was of immense relief. She would be rid of her albatross of an inheritance. If it hadn’t been for the Place, she would not now be subject to the most deadening melancholy. And she would certainly never want to return there, as close as it was to Candlewick. But, hard on the heels of relief, came a swift understanding of what it would mean to Dominic—no! Lord Alton—if she sold the Place to another. A sharp stab of empathy brought an impulsive denial to her lips. But she bit the words back and forced herself to consider more carefully.
Dominic wanted the Place…wanted it so badly that he would even marry to get it. But, although she loved him, he didn’t love her. She would not, could not, allow him to sacrifice either himself or her to the misery of a one-sided marriage. But she could give him what he wanted.
Mr Whitworth stirred uneasily, then cleared his throat.
Before he could launch into one of his long-winded discourses, Georgiana held up a small hand, commanding silence.
Only a moment’s thought was required to convince her Dominic would not accept the Place as a gift from her. But there was nothing to stop her offering to sell it to him. He had tried to buy it from Charles, after all.