A Scandalous Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World by Jo Beverley Page A
Authors: Jo Beverley
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to dinner.”
Rising hastily she curtsied to her mother. “What? Why?”
Lady Hernescroft was a tall, gaunt woman with steel gray hair. Sometimes people said that Georgia resembled her mother in youth, which was positively alarming.
Thin lips grew thinner. “Because your father requests it.”
Orders,
Georgia interpreted, but she resisted. “You know I don’t intend to mix with society until my mourning year is over, Mother.”
“Then you shouldn’t have attended the race. Having done so, you must correct the damage by presenting a more decorous picture at dinner.”
“No one noticed,” Georgia protested.
“Of course they did. And those who didn’t have heard of it. In breeches! What were you thinking, girl? You will do as requested.”
“I don’t think it wise—”
“You question your father’s judgment?”
Georgia instinctively said, “No!” That would be like questioning the word of God. But then she asked again, “Why? My attending dinner won’t change anyone’s mind.”
Her mother still glared, but then, amazingly, her direct gaze shifted. Something was afoot. “It has to do with the race.”
“My being there wasn’t so—”
“Not your behavior, Georgia. The victor.”
“Cartagena?”
“Lord Dracy! Despite the loss, your father took a fancy to him and has invited him to dine. You shall attend to his comfort.”
“He needs a cushion for his chair, or a footstool for a gouty toe?”
“Don’t be pert. Lord Dracy was in the navy until his cousin died in January. He’s taken up his responsibilities but is sadly ill prepared for the highest circles. You shall ease his way over dinner.”
Georgia bit back another pert comment, this time about choice of fork.
“Why me? Millicent will be there.” Pranks’s wife enjoyed fussing over guests and would resent Georgia supplanting her.
“Millicent will not be there. You know how sensitive she is when carrying. Your antics have sent her to her bed.”
“Then I’m sorry for it, Mother, but surely…”
“There’s another reason Millicent has absented herself. Lord Dracy was unfortunately scarred in battle. One side of his face is distorted in a way that must distress a sensitive lady.”
“Whereas I’m tough as boiled leather?”
“
You
are not carrying a child.”
Georgia told herself that wasn’t a deliberate thrust. “I think it would be shameful to turn pale at the sight of a man blemished in defense of us all, even if I were with child.”
“Do not criticize your sister-in-law because you are made of coarser stuff.”
“Coarser? To seek to be kind to a hero?”
Georgia saw her mother make a big effort. Her lips even turned up at the corners. “You do have a good heart, daughter.”
What on earth was going on?
“What exactly am I asked to do?” Georgia asked.
“Stay by Dracy’s side and converse with him no matter how tongue-tied he is. Ease his way, advise him.…”
“On what?”
“Anything that arises.”
A lewd vision popped into Georgia’s mind and she had to struggle to keep a straight face. If only Dickon were with her. He’d laugh too.
“Have you other questions?” her mother demanded.
Only,
why
? Was this political? Her parents were constantly involved in political chess, especially now, with the king at odds with his ministry, and cabals scheming in every corner of St. James.
“Mother, what’s truly behind this?”
“You are unpleasantly willful, Georgia,” her mother said, but almost wearily. “If you will have an explanation, Hernescroft regrets the loss of Fancy Free. He hopes to negotiate an exchange of prizes. Some kindness to Lord Dracy might smooth the way.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Georgia considered the situation. She wanted to keep to her seclusion for the full year. Once she made a resolve, she liked
Rising hastily she curtsied to her mother. “What? Why?”
Lady Hernescroft was a tall, gaunt woman with steel gray hair. Sometimes people said that Georgia resembled her mother in youth, which was positively alarming.
Thin lips grew thinner. “Because your father requests it.”
Orders,
Georgia interpreted, but she resisted. “You know I don’t intend to mix with society until my mourning year is over, Mother.”
“Then you shouldn’t have attended the race. Having done so, you must correct the damage by presenting a more decorous picture at dinner.”
“No one noticed,” Georgia protested.
“Of course they did. And those who didn’t have heard of it. In breeches! What were you thinking, girl? You will do as requested.”
“I don’t think it wise—”
“You question your father’s judgment?”
Georgia instinctively said, “No!” That would be like questioning the word of God. But then she asked again, “Why? My attending dinner won’t change anyone’s mind.”
Her mother still glared, but then, amazingly, her direct gaze shifted. Something was afoot. “It has to do with the race.”
“My being there wasn’t so—”
“Not your behavior, Georgia. The victor.”
“Cartagena?”
“Lord Dracy! Despite the loss, your father took a fancy to him and has invited him to dine. You shall attend to his comfort.”
“He needs a cushion for his chair, or a footstool for a gouty toe?”
“Don’t be pert. Lord Dracy was in the navy until his cousin died in January. He’s taken up his responsibilities but is sadly ill prepared for the highest circles. You shall ease his way over dinner.”
Georgia bit back another pert comment, this time about choice of fork.
“Why me? Millicent will be there.” Pranks’s wife enjoyed fussing over guests and would resent Georgia supplanting her.
“Millicent will not be there. You know how sensitive she is when carrying. Your antics have sent her to her bed.”
“Then I’m sorry for it, Mother, but surely…”
“There’s another reason Millicent has absented herself. Lord Dracy was unfortunately scarred in battle. One side of his face is distorted in a way that must distress a sensitive lady.”
“Whereas I’m tough as boiled leather?”
“
You
are not carrying a child.”
Georgia told herself that wasn’t a deliberate thrust. “I think it would be shameful to turn pale at the sight of a man blemished in defense of us all, even if I were with child.”
“Do not criticize your sister-in-law because you are made of coarser stuff.”
“Coarser? To seek to be kind to a hero?”
Georgia saw her mother make a big effort. Her lips even turned up at the corners. “You do have a good heart, daughter.”
What on earth was going on?
“What exactly am I asked to do?” Georgia asked.
“Stay by Dracy’s side and converse with him no matter how tongue-tied he is. Ease his way, advise him.…”
“On what?”
“Anything that arises.”
A lewd vision popped into Georgia’s mind and she had to struggle to keep a straight face. If only Dickon were with her. He’d laugh too.
“Have you other questions?” her mother demanded.
Only,
why
? Was this political? Her parents were constantly involved in political chess, especially now, with the king at odds with his ministry, and cabals scheming in every corner of St. James.
“Mother, what’s truly behind this?”
“You are unpleasantly willful, Georgia,” her mother said, but almost wearily. “If you will have an explanation, Hernescroft regrets the loss of Fancy Free. He hopes to negotiate an exchange of prizes. Some kindness to Lord Dracy might smooth the way.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Georgia considered the situation. She wanted to keep to her seclusion for the full year. Once she made a resolve, she liked
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