Page 52 of The Mistletoe Dare

“I am looking forward to our ride out this afternoon. The weather looks set to hold fine. Cold but sunny.”

“Yes, umm… yes. It does. Me too,” Georgie managed, cursing herself for sounding like a nitwit. She looked up to see Evie watching them, her expression alight with mischief.

Georgie widened her eyes at her in a what are you smiling about expression.

Evie batted her lashes, trying to look innocent and failing. Georgie snorted.

“Pardon?” said the duke.

“Oh, nothing, just… nothing,” Georgie said as Evie choked on her chocolate.

“Evie,” Georgie said, her voice firm. “Would you care to accompany us this afternoon? Rochford has suggested we go for a ride together.

Evie dimpled, looking smug and pleased and as if butter wouldn’t melt. “Oh, Georgie, how lovely. I would be delighted to.”

They managed to get through the rest of breakfast without incident, at least, and Georgie watched in astonished awe as Rochford put away a vast plate of food in a remarkably short space of time. She supposed a man that size must need feeding a proportionate amount, but was still a little staggered. Jules just groaned and cursed him, demanding he take his sausages and bacon elsewhere. Rochford ignored him. Once he’d finished his coffee, he turned back to Georgie.

“I shall be waiting at one thirty. Does that suit you, ladies?” Rochford asked them.

“Perfect,” Evie said, nodding.

“Thank you, yes,” Georgie agreed.

Rochford nodded and got up, promising to see them later, his gaze lingering on Georgie for long enough to make her colour rise.

“Georgie!” Evie whispered across the table, but Georgie hushed her, aware Nic, Eliza, and Jules were still present.

“I think I shall have a lie down,” Jules said, massaging his temples. “If you don’t see me at dinner, don’t worry. I’ve probably died.”

“Right you are,” Eliza said, with all the cheerful unconcern of a sibling.

“Everybody is so cruel to me,” Jules grumbled and levered himself to his feet.

“I suppose no one has seen my brother?” Nic asked, grim-faced.

“Not since I woke, but he was in a worse state than me when I gave up. That was about five o’clock this morning, so he’s probably dead in a ditch. Devil’s got a stronger constitution than I have if he isn’t,” Jules added with a sigh, dragging himself out of the room.

“Sounds about right,” Nic muttered before kissing Eliza’s cheek. “I’d best go check on him.”

Evie frowned, her expression concerned as she watched Nic go.

“He’ll find him, don’t fret,” Eliza said kindly, noting Evie’s anxiety. “He’ll just be nursing a hangover no doubt.”

Evie nodded with relief and now the men had gone, both women turned their attention to Georgie.

“Well, then?” Eliza said, picking up her cup and saucer and coming to sit beside Georgie.

“Yes, spit it out,” Evie urged her, suddenly looking a lot more animated.

“What?” Georgie protested, though she knew very well what they were getting at.

“Oh, come on. Rochford! Is he courting you?” Evie demanded.

“No! Oh, no, nothing like that. No. Of course not.” Georgie flushed as both their eyebrows went up. “It’s just a drive. It’s not… it isn’t….” She subsided, too flustered to continue.

“He is!” Eliza squealed, clapping her hands together. “Oh, Georgie. Isn’t he terribly intimidating? He always seems so cross.”

“Y-Yes,” Georgie stammered. “And no. No, he’s not, but… oh, Lord. I don’t know what I’m doing. I think I ought not to go, only I can’t bear to hurt his feelings, and I do like him. Well, when I don’t hate him.”