Chapter 27

Lord Irlam did not go to see his sister that night, but upon parting from the Duke in perfect amity made his weary way up to the bedchamber that had been prepared for him, and slept like a log for eight hours. When he arose, he found upon enquiry that the ladies of his family were taking breakfast in their private sitting room, and made his way there.

Miss Spry greeted him in a friendly fashion, and tactfully absented herself just as soon as she could do so without an appearance of discourtesy, leaving the three Pendleburys alone. Georgiana was looking tired, her brother observed, with dark circles under her bright blue eyes and a pinched look about her mouth.

‘I'm sorry you were dragged away from Cassandra, Hal, and for such a reason,' she said quietly. ‘I know talking pays no toll, but honestly I am.'

‘I feel we've been here before, Georgie. I do not mean to ring a peal over you. There's no point, is there? And I'm damnably tired of it, to be brutally plain with you. But I think we have gone past the point where I can rescue you. I see no alternative but marriage, and swiftly.'

Her eyes leapt up to his in pained surprise. ‘I did not think you would force me, Hal!'

‘But I should not have to. You surely realise the gravity of what you have done. Setting everything else aside – and you have Louisa to thank for the fact that I am prepared to do that – you know that Northriding must marry. That was the whole point of the nightmarish house party he was obliged to host. If you jilt him now, he will find it devilish hard to do so – or at least, I suppose he could go into the common street and find all manner of bold hussies who would be delighted to take him on tomorrow, but not one of them would be the sort of woman he could or should make his Duchess. Unlike you.'

Louisa said, ‘I don't think that's quite fair to Georgie…' She fell silent when her nephew shot her such a look as she had never received from him before.

‘No, Louisa, I'm afraid it is perfectly fair. I know you're right, Hal,' said Georgiana, looking down, her face pale and drawn. ‘Believe me, I do. I said as much to him yesterday, and told him how sorry I was that I had overset all his plans. I did not mean to.'

‘You're always sorry, Georgie. Unlike the twins or Fred, you never mean to do it. But it's not enough this time. You can't run away – you have to put it right.'

Her voice was a little cracked, and wobbled as she answered him. ‘I do not even know if I can give him the heir he needs so desperately. And then what will I have done to him in all my thoughtlessness?'

‘Nobody knows that,' said Louisa. ‘It's impossible. He doesn't know if he can either, for that matter, as far as I am aware. You can't worry about that now. You have quite enough to think about without tormenting yourself over things no one can ever give guarantees on.'

‘You're right,' she said listlessly again. ‘Both of you. I'll go and make myself ready, then find him and tell him I will marry him. I am sure he will be delighted to hear it. Will you come with me? It is better I am not alone with him, for when we are alone you know what happens…' They both nodded without saying anything more, for they had every reason to know, and she stood – she had not touched her breakfast – and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Louisa raised her glass and looked at her nephew through it, a question on her lips, and saw to her astonishment that he was smiling broadly now. He winked cheerfully at her. ‘Pour me a cup of coffee, would you, Aunt?' he said.

‘I suppose you know what you are about?' she said drily as she did so.

‘To be honest, I wasn't sure until I opened my mouth whether I was going to command her to marry him unless she wanted to be cast off, or strictly forbid her from doing so. I thought in the end the effect would probably be much the same whatever I said, but I felt sorry for the poor fellow last night, and so I thought this way would be kinder to him. If I'd said I meant to forbid the banns, we'd have had to leave here directly, which would have caused complications. I couldn't be sure just how long it would take her to convince herself she "owed it to him" to elope with him, or some such Drury Lane nonsense, and all the while he'd be fretting himself to a shade over it. Besides, can't have a Pendlebury running off to Gretna, dash it all. Not the done thing. And damned bad roads for it, too, if it comes to that.' He took a gulp of coffee. ‘Much less trouble this way, get them safely leg-shackled so they can sort it out between them and leave the rest of us in peace, as you said yourself last night. But d'you think I should have shouted at her like a Dutch uncle, made it more convincing, or would that have been laying it on too thick?'

‘You've never shouted at one of the children in your life, Hal, under the worst provocation. This is no time to start.'

‘You're probably right. Too late to start coming the stern brother now, you think?'

‘Much too late.'

‘Pity, but I dare say you're right.'

‘I'd say I often am, but all this has taken me completely by surprise, so I shall not. Hush, she is coming. Wipe that foolish grin from your face, Hal, or she will suspect something!'