Page 80 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

“You were not caught?” Chisholm inquired with a bit of alarm.

“Not until she was seen walking away from the ship in Southampton,” Damian explained. “I caught her and before I could decide whether to send her back or call the constable…well, I couldn’t do either and I ended up marrying her.”

“Absolutely romantic,” Mrs. Chisholm responded.

He hadn’t lied. That is exactly how they met, he’d simply left out pertinent details, which was for the best.

“Why did you stow away instead of booking passage?” Chisholm asked.

“I lacked the funds,” she answered honestly.

“Why did you wish to come to England?” Mrs. Chisholm asked.

What did she say? If it was to track down her sister, they would realize that she hadn’t been in England long enough to have married Damian.

“She missed her sister,” Damian answered. “Grace had come to England as a companion and as it was unknown when she would return, Georgie decided to visit her.”

He had spoken the truth but as the urgency in her making the trip wasn’t explained, thank goodness, her stowing away likely sounded foolish to their hosts.

“Is this the sister you are searching for?” Chisholm asked.

“Yes,” Georgie answered. “She fell in love with a sailor and they ran away together, for reasons she did not explain to me, and that is why we are trying to find her before she leaves England for America.”

“I gather she is young?” Mrs. Chisholm asked.

“Yes, just eight-and-ten.”

Mrs. Chisholm shook her head. “So many foolish decisions made by those who are young and believe they are in love.”

She knew very well the foolish decisions made by youth.

Except, it was only the female who suffered from transgressions, never the man.

In fact, men had freedom to do what they pleased, when they pleased and with whom they pleased. Nobody batted an eyelash to a man accompanying a mistress about. Nobody shunned a man if he had lost his virginity before marriage and nobody thought it odd if a man were alone either on a street, in a shop, or even traveling because it was perfectly acceptable, whereas a woman was censured and scorned if she behaved in the same manner.

Georgie set her spoon aside, no longer hungry and only managed a bite or two of each course, and only because it was polite as she listened to Damian and Chisholm share tales of their youth. And while many of the antics they got up to were things she would never consider, it irritated her that if she had behaved in the same manner, doors would be closed to her all through Carrera and England alike.

It was all truly unfair and put her in a foul mood for what remained of the dinner, yet she maintained a pleasant façade, or so she hoped.

Chapter Thirty

His heart was in danger of being lost to Georgie, Damian admitted to himself.

If anyone would have told him that it was possible to fall in love in five days, he would have called them a fool.

Except, that perfect, solid shield that had once protected his heart and soul, that had only begun to crack within the last month, may now be completely shattered, and he wasn’t certain what to do about it.

He could act quickly and declare himself and marry Georgie when they reached Scotland, except he never acted on a whim.

Never!

He was thoughtful, cautious, and never made a rash decision. To marry a woman after such a short time would be the most reckless thing he could ever do, and one with lifelong consequences.

He glanced at Georgie, his heart warring with his reasonable, cautious and thoughtful mind.

Pretty, stubborn and she was also bothered.

Why?