Page 58 of Unmasking the Earl

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Despite the dramatic discovery of his sister and his horribly mixed feelings about her circumstances, Ned was still blindingly aware of the young woman sitting next to him, who had helped bring about this reunion. The woman he had just compromised in a wheat field. Despite her youth and lack of worldliness, she was currently a tower of strength. He had seized her hand, offered in comfort, as a drowning man clings to a rock or a spar. This was a journey into the unknown, and he was quite happy not to make it alone.

“I’ve loved Captain Wycherley since the very first, and he has loved me,” Georgiana said. “No, Ned, it is the very purest kind of love. You don’t need to worry about my honor.”

Her honor? He would be a fine one to question it, after what he’d just done with Cassie…

“We met secretly—”

“But why could you not have been open about it? Told me of your feelings?” he interrupted, half flummoxed, half hurt by that.

“You would not have approved.”

“How could you know that without asking?” he asked, even though he knew she was right. “Am I that intractable that you couldn’t hope to persuade me?”

Was he that intractable?

Maybe.

He could feel her keen gaze on him, even though her eyes were in shadow.

“You are so much older than I,” she said. “I have always been rather in awe of you.”

He ran a hand through his hair. Did he really frighten the very people he cared about? He’d only ever meant to protect them.

Just as he’d wanted to protect Cassie from a rake, his conscience prodded. And look how that had turned out.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “I wish you and Wycherley had just asked my permission. Tried to persuade me. If I’d given in, none of us would be where we are now.”

Georgiana bowed her head. “We are both very sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused. Especially Francis. He is racked with guilt over this.”

Ned stared at her in disbelief. He’d seen no evidence of anything resembling guilt during his time with that rogue. But he would not wound his sister by pointing it out.

“You still love him?” Ned asked instead. He couldn’t believe the answer would be yes.

“I do. And he loves me.”

At that, he let out a contemptuous snort. “I do not—”

Cassie gripped his hand in warning, but Georgiana cut him off, a smile in her voice. “You needn’t say it. I know all about Lady Lucy Dyer. And the others. Yes, he tells me everything.” Ned could swear she gave a sidelong glance at Cassie. “We have an understanding. I am his secret, and we both firmly intend it will remain that way.”

“You can forgive him his philandering?” Ned asked, stunned at his sister’s generosity.

She flushed. “He has needs. He wouldn’t be doing it if I would agree to marry him.”

Stunned turned to shocked. “Wycherley has asked you to marry him?” Ned demanded, incredulous. This new view of Wycherley as a lovelorn martyr was one he found difficult to swallow.

She nodded wistfully. “Regularly. Each time he visits. But I don’t want him leg-shackled to a monster who can’t go out in society.”

At that, there was a soft gasp from Cassie. “Why can’t you go out in society?” she asked, askance.

Georgiana just shook her head, her lips turning sadly downward.

“Well, that’s just nonsense,” Cassie said, straightening in her seat with authority. “Much can be done with cosmetics. And wigs. Moleskin can replace eyebrows, broad-brimmed hats can be worn at just the right angle. Veils can conceal—”

Ned pressed Cassie’s fingers. She was trying to help and he appreciated it, but he could see his sister was not persuaded.

“Dear Miss Blythe, you are quite right, of course,” Georgiana said. “But I don’t have the confidence. People will still know I look like a freak. If we marry, Wycherley will be pitied for his choice of wife. I wouldn’t want that for him.”