Deceived by Bertrice Small Page A

looking up at him for a moment before the thick, dark lashes brushed her snowy white cheeks. Then she said, “I shall never be fearful of anything as long as you are with me.” She gazed up at him again, her hazel eyes limpid. “Would you like to see our garden?”
    George Spencer-Kimberly choked back a snicker even as Aurora rolled her eyes heavenward unbelievingly.
    â€œWhat a lovely idea!” Oralia pounced upon her daughter’s suggestion. “I will call Sally to bring you a hat and your mitts, my child.” She stood up. “Come, Aurora, George. Let us leave these young people alone.” Then she hurried from the drawing room, her son and stepdaughter following.
    â€œOh, la, sir! You have quite stolen my heart!” Aurora mocked her stepsister, fluttering her lashes at George.
    â€œQuite, Miss Kimberly! Quite so!” George responded, kissing Aurora’s hand with a loud smacking noise, and twirling her about.
    â€œStop it, the pair of you,” Oralia scolded.
    â€œBut Cally is being so silly,” Aurora said.
    â€œShe’s a young, inexperienced girl, and but following her heart. She is quite overwhelmed by the duke, and I think that he is taken by her, for which I thank the good Lord. Especially” —and here she lowered her voice—“especially considering what you two have done. I can only hope, Aurora, that you have no regrets now.”
    â€œNone, Mama” came the quick reply. “Cally is quite welcome to the duke. I find him arrogant and odious.”
    â€œHe is to be your host in England. You will have to be mannerly,” Oralia said, and then, “Oh! You cannot travel alone to England!”
    â€œMartha will be with me,” Aurora reminded her.
    â€œNo! No! It will not do, my child. Martha is a servant. No respectable young woman of good family travels alone but for a servant.”
    â€œI am just as happy to remain here, Mama,” Aurora told her. Oralia shook her head. “You must be married eventually, Aurora. Most of the planters’ sons are dissolute creatures involved with their slave women, and with St. Timothy you would not have a great deal of choice despite your dowry and income. The heirs are looking for heiresses, and must find them in England, or France, where their wicked practices are not known, and they appear respectable to a discerning parent. No. You must go to England to find a mate. There your little fortune will be acceptable to some baronet of good breeding.” She thought for a moment, and then she said, “George shall go with you! That is the solution to our problem. It is quite acceptable for you to travel under the protection of an elder brother. And perhaps George will find a nice young wife while he is in England. We must ask the duke if he knows which ship follows the Royal George, and then see that the passage is booked on it for you both.”
    â€œThe harvest will not quite be over if I leave so soon,” George protested. “And who the devil will oversee the planting, Mama? I cannot leave now. The duke has asked me to remain as his manager and overseer. I have responsibilities to him, and to my sister.”
    â€œYou have a greater responsibility to Aurora,” his mother responded meaningfully. “She must have her chance too!”
    â€œI do not have to follow on Cally’s heels to England, Mama,” Aurora said sensibly. “Let her and the duke settle into married life. George can finish the harvest and see to the new planting. Then in late autumn he and I can depart for England. It will be over a year before the new crop is ready to harvest, which will give him plenty of time to be a young gentleman of fashion, perhaps even a macaroni, in London. And I shall have a lovely visit with Cally before we have to return home to St. Timothy for the next harvest.” She smiled at her stepmother. “Isn’t that really a better plan, Mama? Let the