Page 18 of The Best Marquess

“Right you are.”

The warmth of the carriage thanks to the residual heat of the bricks on the floor was most welcome, and as the vehicle moved along the street, Finn set down his caramels and marzipan and leaned back against the leather squabs. He and Pippa were meeting to discuss their plan for the soiree; a most necessary precaution when doing battle with the dowager. Lady Kingsford was ruthless at the best of times, but would take no prisoners in the matter of marriage.

He could only hope he and Pippa would emerge unscathed.

“Oh, I meant to say. A book arrived for you yesterday.”

Pippa froze at Georgiana’s offhand words as they waited in the entrance hall for the town carriage to be brought around. “What? Why didn’t you tell me!”

Her sister raised an eyebrow as she pulled on her leather gloves. “That is an awfully loud squawk for a book about chemistry.”

“Modern Principles of Chemistry?”

“Something like that. I accidentally unwrapped it because I thought my gentleman had sent me a necklace from the jewelers. The parcel would be a similar size, you see.”

Pippa took a deep, calming breath. Even with the cunning disguise, A Wicked Comte could be unmasked at any moment and then she would be in terrible trouble. “I’ve been waiting for it. There is…experimentation inside that I am quite desperate to read. Where is the book now?”

“I put it back over there this morning,” said Georgiana, pointing to the silver tray on the entrance hall side table. Usually, the post or messages waited there until Grandmother approved their distribution. Unless, of course, Pippa, Georgiana, or Xavier timed an oh-so-casual visit to the hall at just the right moment to discreetly flick through the pile and snatch up anything they didn’t want her to see.

She practically flew toward the table, praying it was still there. All it would take was one curious maid looking beyond the cover and they would be away tattling to the dowager, for Grandmother encouraged such behavior when it came to breaches of her strict rules. There was no point complaining to Father; he preferred others to make the decisions and was head of the household in name only.

It was still there. Thank God.

Pippa scooped up the book and shoved it into her reticule. One disaster temporarily averted, although another potential one loomed with Finn and the announcement at the upcoming soiree. The family had been joyful about Amanda’s birth, especially Father who had tearfully proclaimed her the sweetest baby in England. Well, everyone except Grandmother, who had shaken her head at the ‘failure’ then instructed Lilian to get with child again as soon as possible so she could dutifully provide the expected son and heir. After that she’d spoken of nothing but Pippa’s impending courtship with Devonshire. The only damned thing on the woman’s mind, it seemed.

At last, the carriage pulled up. It would first drop Georgiana at a friend’s house for a musicale; then Pippa would carry on to Berkeley Square to meet Finn at Gunter’s.

When they were both settled on opposite leather squabs, Pippa peered closer at her sister’s ruby-red velvet gown, nearly hidden by her ankle-length cloak but not quite. “That is a daring color for a musicale.”

Georgiana’s cheeks went pink. “Oh pooh. All colors are daring when you have a bosom like mine. I swear I could wear a burlap sack and it would still be considered indecent.”

“Please. You’re meeting him, aren’t you?”

Pink turned to scarlet. “I’m attending a perfectly respectable gathering at a perfectly respectable residence. But I do not decide the guest list, if he happens to be there on the same day at the same time, what can I do?”

Pippa scowled. “This gentleman isn’t taking advantage, is he?”

Her sister glanced out the carriage window. “He’s not doing anything I don’t permit.”

“Gigi.”

Georgiana looked back, frowning darkly. “Oh, don’t Gigi me. Lilian could have anticipated her vows but chose not to. If you decide the same that is your prerogative, but I am a modern young woman who is carving out her own path. Sexual relations might not feel good just yet, but it will get better. I just have to learn and improve and agree to do more. And if you tattle that I’m no longer a virgin, I will never speak to you again.”

Reeling at the information, Pippa could only stare, aghast. Each prior hint about the so-called gentleman had made her uneasy, but knowing this information made her outright loathe him. Not only had this scoundrel taken liberties with Georgiana and risked her reputation, perhaps even pregnancy, he wasn’t even bothering to make it pleasurable for her? She had to learn and improve and agree to do more? What about him, obviously the experienced party? ARGH. Not a romance novel hero by any measure. “I would never tell Grandmother. I love you and want you to be happy.”

“If that is true, then hurry up and marry Devonshire so I don’t have to keep attending hell-spawned musicales. My gentleman wants to wed me, he’s told me that several times. I’m tired of waiting, and he’s tired of pretending to bed other women so no one suspects us. We are in love and want to be together. In public as man and wife, not in the shadows as secret lovers who steal moments alone.”

Pippa swallowed a howl of rage. This man had an unyielding hold over her sister, but how much longer before the affair came to light? Secrets like this were always discovered eventually and the scandal would be horrendous; in no small measure because Lady Kingsford was the grand purveyor of ladylike propriety and lashed all and sundry for missteps. But also, that Georgiana expected her older sister to wed a duke she didn’t love just so she could be with this wretch, clawed every last nerve.

“I love you and want you to be happy,” Pippa said again, “but not at my own expense. I’m no marital martyr. Why must I be consigned to a miserable existence so you get your wish?”

Georgiana bit her lip, tears welling in her startling emerald-green eyes. “I just want to be free from Grandmother. Papa could tell her to be silent or leave at any point, yet he won’t. I know he is still so sad over Mother and my heart aches for the loss, but…Kingsford House is killing my soul. I don’t want to be a pretty bird in a cage, I want to feel safe, like Lilian does with Gabriel. If I was twenty-one, I could run away with my own money, but I’m nineteen. Marriage is my only ticket to a wonderful new life, and Papa will only give permission once you are wed.”

Guilt slashed at Pippa, and once again she inwardly cursed her father for putting her in this position instead of just saying not him, Gigi. If you found someone worthy, I would give my blessing. Her sister deserved so much better than a selfish arse; if she ever met this gentleman, he would be given the full villain treatment. Shoved from a castle turret onto spikes. Trampled by a herd of enraged bulls. Dipped in honey and staked to an anthill.

“You don’t have to worry,” she said abruptly. “There will be a betrothal announcement at the soiree.”

Georgiana shrieked. “There will? Oh, Pip! Devonshire will be a good husband. He is so wealthy and will probably be generous with your allowance. Even better, he has all his own teeth, doesn’t creak like an ancient staircase when he walks, and has enough consequence to hold his own against Grandmother. That last point is especially important. He must be a dragon slayer. I know you don’t love him now, but Lilian didn’t love Gabriel when they wed, and look how splendidly that turned out.”