Chapter Twenty-One

Mary Kate confided to the others, "Seamus narrowed his gaze at me when I asked what was going on. He has never done that before! Normally, I can get his attention—at least for a few moments—but whatever is going on has all of the guard on edge."

Georgiana's blood ran cold. "It has to be the viscount… He's coming for me!"

"Do try to calm yourself, Georgiana," Aurelia said. "That despicable man will never get past the duke's guard."

"Or our husbands," Calliope added.

Georgiana's belly churned at the thought that the viscount was nearby and could claim her as his bride! She had no doubt the man had already taken possession of her family town house in London…after he murdered her father during their duel. If Papa had not urged her to flee, she knew in her soul that the viscount would have claimed her as his intended. But she had thwarted him and escaped, although she could not recall what happened between the time she climbed into her father's carriage until she woke up staring into the brilliant green eyes of the man who had saved her.

Her mind raced while she sorted through the rest of her situation. If the viscount was in residence at Trenchert Manor, had he inserted himself as lord of Eggerton Hall as well?

Gathering her flagging courage, she asked, "Do you think he will try again?"

Aurelia frowned, and Georgiana imagined being carried off by the man her father despised, but not enough to avoid the man completely. She'd never know why her father agreed to wager at cards with the viscount. Finally, Aurelia answered, "Instead of worrying what might happen, I believe we should discuss the plans for your new home."

"I don't have a home. The viscount…" Georgiana trailed off as Aurelia's words sank in. "New home?"

Aurelia smiled. "The members of the duke's guard stationed here used to share quarters in one of the outbuildings. Up until Sean O'Malley married, the guards transferred to my brother-in-law's other properties every four months. His Grace decided to exclude the married members from the rotation. Once Sean and Mignonette married, Edward and I decided to have a cottage built for them on the estate. We planned to do the same for any other members of the guard if they married. After all, it would not be seemly for their wives to live in the guards' quarters, and nor would we expect them to. You will not be expected to after you marry Dermott, especially while Seamus is living there." She smiled. "My husband does enjoy planning ahead."

"I…er… Forgive me, I must admit that with all that has happened, I had not thought beyond marrying Dermott," Georgiana admitted.

"William and I wanted to build a cottage for Michael O'Malley when he married Harriet Mayfield," Calliope said, "but she and her son Bart did not want to leave their tenant farm where they had lived and worked the land for years before her husband passed away. They asked to stay. Of course, William agreed."

"Understandable," Georgiana murmured. "If my father had not gambled away everything…" She shook her head and lifted her chin. There was no point in belaboring something that could not be changed. It was better to look forward and embrace what could be, than to live in the past. Her future lay ahead…a future that included marrying the enigmatic Irishman who'd captivated her from the moment their eyes first met. "Thank you for the gracious offer, your ladyship, and please convey my thanks to his lordship. I am certain Dermott has already thanked you both."

"Now that we have settled that matter," Aurelia said, "I'd best find out how much longer we are expected to stay confined to the nursery."

Jenny was already moving toward the door when it opened. The earl's gaze unerringly met that of his wife's, and Georgiana could feel the strong pull between the couple. "I came to advise that the issue has been resolved. Is everyone all right?"

"We are all fine, but we have much to attend to before the vicar arrives," Aurelia replied. "You did send for him, did you not?"

"Of course, my darling. He's expected to arrive later this afternoon." He bowed over Aurelia's hand. "I am needed elsewhere."

Her mind awhirl with what lay ahead, Georgiana heard Aurelia and Calliope asking their maids to remain in the nursery. It struck her as peculiar that neither of their ladyships had engaged a nanny. She wanted to ask them why later, but did not feel comfortable doing so.

Soon she felt herself caught up in their ladyships' excitement and felt herself being swept along with their plans to pamper her before she married. Truth be told, left to her own devices, Georgiana was not certain she would have managed to do more than ring for tea to settle her nerves.

"Georgiana, hurry now," Lady Aurelia said. "The footmen should be arriving with hot water to fill the copper tub in your dressing room."

"I do not know how to begin thank you for everything you have done for me."

Georgiana's words were brushed aside as the countess and viscountess swept her along the hallway. As promised, the footmen were just finishing their task, while Mrs. Jones supervised.

"Now then," Aurelia announced, "hot bath first, then tea with some of Mrs. Wyatt's cream tarts to fortify us."

"Wait until you see the gown," Calliope told Georgiana. "Aurelia took in the seams and let down the hem so the gown would fit you perfectly."

Georgiana felt as if she were being swept along without anyone consulting her. "Gown?" She met Aurelia's steady gaze and asked, "When would you have had the time? Dermott only asked me to marry him today."

Aurelia slowly smiled. "I had a feeling he would ask. Always best to be prepared."

"A lovely shade of blue, with an overlay of lace," Mrs. Jones told her. "This way, Miss Eggerton."

Though Georgiana wanted to insist that she did not need a new gown, the truth was that her portmanteau had not been recovered. It was solely due to Aurelia's kindness that she had something to wear. The borrowed gowns had fit her surprisingly well and were the proper length. "I have only just realized something, and must plead the fact that I have not been thinking clearly since I was injured."

Aurelia and Calliope smiled, encouraging Georgiana to continue. "How is it that your gowns have been the proper length and fit? I am taller than you."

Calliope smiled. "My very good friend has a habit of having Madame Beaudoine leave extra material in all of her gowns to allow for adjustments—especially the length."

"That would make sense, of course, considering that after one marries, one may be expecting," Georgiana agreed. "But why the length, too?"

Calliope hugged Aurelia and said, "She saw to it that I had new gowns to wear until after I wed William."

Aurelia waved a hand in the air, indicating the topic was closed. "We have a wedding to get ready for."

Georgiana glanced at the lovely confection hanging in the wardrobe and could not help but stare. "Oh, it is lovely. Are you certain you do not mind my borrowing your dress?"

Aurelia laughed. "After the hours I have labored over altering it to fit you, the dress is yours, and the others you have been wearing are my gift to you."

Georgiana blinked back tears. "I cannot imagine why you would labor over seams and such yourself, your ladyship. The gown is exquisite. I could not possibly accept such a generous gift."

"My grandmother was a seamstress who taught my mother, who in turn taught me. Had Uncle Coddington not immediately come to fetch me after my parents were in that fatal accident, I had thought to someday be able to offer my skill as a seamstress." Aurelia smiled. "Then I met and married my darling earl. A moment in time—and a waltz—that changed the course of my life."

"Before my mum passed," Georgiana said, "she taught me how to sew a straight seam, though mending is the extent of my abilities. Not such fine needlework as your ladyship has done. Thank you for your generosity."

"You are quite welcome," Lady Aurelia said. "Besides, I could not possibly fit into it now that I altered it. I'm shorter and not nearly as slender as you. Do you know I am quite envious of your wand-slim figure? After taking in the seams, there is no way I could possibly squeeze into it."

Calliope chose that moment to interrupt. "We can discuss your gown, and whether you would like Jenny to do your hair for you, while you soak in that tub. I do hope you do not mind heather," she said with a smile. "A certain Irishman mentioned you had a preference for it. Lady Aurelia always has an abundance of it on hand." Calliope and Aurelia shared a glance before the viscountess continued, "It reminds her of her grandparents."

"Er…no. That sounds lovely. Thank you. Thank you both!" Georgiana followed Mrs. Jones into the dressing room and the waiting tub.

An hour later,the tension between her shoulder blades and at the base of her neck simply melted away after her soaking in the hot, scented water. Their ladyships continued to fawn over her while they sipped tea and nibbled on currant cake and cream tarts. Georgiana felt replete, and was beginning to believe it was as simple as she had been told. She would have nothing to fear from the viscount after today. She would be married to Dermott O'Malley. Her formidable protector…the duke's mercenary.

Dressed in a gown more beautiful than she had ever owned, Georgiana sat before the looking glass while Lady Aurelia's maid pinned her hair into an elegant upswept coiffure. Turning this way and that, she could not believe how polished she looked. Hand to her throat, she stared at her reflection. "Thank you for pinning my hair, Jenny. I normally prefer the no-fuss topknot, but invariably strands escape until I am constantly brushing them out of my eyes or tucking them behind my ears."

"You look lovely," Jenny told her.

"Beautiful," Aurelia and Calliope agreed.

Georgiana felt the edge of unease sliding its way into her belly again. She could not stop the fear that Dermott deserved to marry someone without a tattered family reputation. They had yet to discuss expectations and how their marriage and future would unfold. Pinpricks of fear had her feeling flushed…hot. She said a quick prayer that she would not begin to perspire and ruin the lovely gown.

Reason returned, and with it the notion that of course they had not discussed children or which side of the bed he slept on, let alone whether he would set aside time in his busy day to remember that he had a wife!

Even with what the cook had told her, and Lady Aurelia and Lady Calliope's assurances, thoughts of marriage and the marriage bed were not a comfort and had tinges of uncertainty skittering up her spine again. Would he be sleeping elsewhere once they sealed their vows? How could he if they were being gifted a cottage? There would not be enough room for separate beds, would there? Did she dare ask if the handsome, broad-shouldered, heavily muscled man planned to share a bed with her for more than tonight?

Her mind whirled with questions only her husband-to-be could answer. She wondered where he was and what he was doing. Was he being swept along as he dressed for their wedding? Did he have anything to wear but the unrelieved black she had seen him and the other members of the duke's guard wearing?

Georgiana would not have long to wait to find out. Digging deep for the fortitude to hide her fears, she smiled and rose from the chair to thank everyone for their kindness.

A knock on the door had her breath catching in her throat when a footman arrived with the news: the vicar had arrived!