First Draft

London, 1863

Johannes realized he had been rude and held out his hand, and Henri bowed and shook it. "Your English is perfect, and you don't even have a French accent." He narrowed his eyes and stared at Henri Neufville longer than was proper.

Henri said, "No, I—" but the countess interrupted him.

"Oh, do pardon me, Henri." She cleared her throat. "Johannes, I have something from my cellar I want to show you." She winked and motioned for him to follow her.

"Now?" he asked, wondering what the sly woman was on about. And even though she smiled her signature cheeky grin, he felt a cool undertone about her.

"Yes, child, now or I wouldn't have brought it up. We shan't be but a moment, and I'm sure our guests will excuse us..." She cocked her head with raised brows, glancing around the room.

A round of 'of course, no problem, and yes, my lady,' resonated in the parlor, and Lady Margaret said, "Thank you. You are all so very accommodating."

Johannes cursed Lady Penelope under his breath for the additional guests now coming along on an outing he planned to be a private affair, and finding a bloody French duke staying under the same roof as Miss Wakefield further vexed him. Why Johannes allowed the ugly green monster to get under his skin, he couldn't say, but the thought of the man being so close to the alluring and beautiful Georgina irritated him. He had no right to act jealous and reminded himself that Miss Wakefield could never be his.

It was a sobering thought as he followed Lady Margaret and she entered her son Gerald's study. She closed the door, and he thought, Oh, this is not a good sign. In true Lady Margaret style, she made straight for the brandy.

"Care for a tipple, lad?" Margaret glanced over her shoulder, her saucy grin still present.

"Is this some special brandy from the cellar?" he asked with one brow raised to his hairline and tried not to laugh.

"You realized that line was a ruse, Johnny. An astute man about town would know when a lady wants a quiet word..."

Johannes's face split in a grin, even though he dreaded what that 'quiet word' entailed. "I assumed as much, my lady, and in that case, I'll take a brandy.."

"Good lad." She poured another drink and handed it to him. "What on God's green Earth possessed you to bring that... that harpy with you?"

"Tart..." Johannes supplied at the same time.

"Harpy, tart, light-skirt... I could go on and on, but I just need an answer. I've never liked the gel and I like most people, you know I do, child. I truly do. Unless they give me a reason not to. But your Lady Promiscuous Penelope..." She grimaced and took a sip of brandy like she was erasing a foul taste from her mouth. "Well, let's just say she's not an affable person and leave it at that."

The duke roared in laughter and Margaret asked, "Did I say something amusing, you barmy rogue? I'm being serious, Johnny! Please don't tell me your poor mother is that desperate for you to wed!"

"Not at all, Countess. I just got a chuckle out of you calling her promiscuous, because I associated her with a piranha to remember her name. Piranha Penelope, you see?" He laughed again.

Lady Margaret did not look amused. She placed a hand on her ample hip and frowned at him. "Pray, forgive me, my lady. You know she spends a lot of time with my sister, Sara." Johannes took a sip of brandy, cleared his throat, and continued by explaining why the promiscuous tart ended up accompanying him.

"Child! That is why I dislike her. She set out to connive you and now here we are. So what shall we do about it?"

"I guess we will all go on a carriage ride through the city and I'll ask Miss Wakefield in private from now on... I mean... that is... if I ask her again. I wouldn't want to give her the wrong impression, you understand." Johannes cleared his throat and felt his neck and ears burn. "Besides, you invited that French fellow, the duke, or whoever he is."

"Posh and fiddlesticks, lad! Give her the wrong impression, my arse! What impression would that be, huh? The one where you can't keep your eyes or hands off of her? Or that you have fallen in love with the chit and not informed yourself yet? That's why the French fellow vexes you so, because he is competition for Georgina's affection... some very handsome competition, I might add."

"With all due respect, Lady Margaret." Johannes wandered around the study to keep from making eye contact with the Cunning Countess. "You know well why I can't from an attachment to Miss Wakefield, regardless of my growing feelings for her."

"Aha! I knew it." She sided up to him, a gleam in her eyes. "Oh, Johnny, these things have a way of working themselves out, child. You'll see. Now let's get this show on the road and you follow my lead..." She tapped the side of her nose and gave him a wink.

"Countess!" he roared in his deep baritone voice. "What are you planning on doing?"

"We have kept my guests waiting long enough, lad. You just leave everything to Auntie Margaret."

Bloody brilliant, the Duke of Hayward thought with a heavy sigh and followed the meddlesome woman from the study, accepting his fate.

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As Georgina paced the parlor, she felt Lady Penelope Fanshaw's eyes following her. The coarse woman hadn't even tried being discreet while staring at her, and Georgina gave up trying to enjoy a cup of tea and instead, got up to wander around the room, and wondered when Lady Margaret and His Grace would return.

Any form of excitement she had for this outing had died the moment Grimes announced the loathsome woman's name, and embarrassment colored her neck and face. Georgina couldn't wait to give the duke a piece of her mind, but first, she reprimanded herself for accepting the rake's invitation. She knew better! There was no future with the bloody, insufferable man, and she realized and understood why. He was a duke, and she was an orphaned servant fresh out of the workhouse. Insipid, foolish girl! Georgina told herself and resolved to never find herself in this type of situation. After today, she would stay far away from the duke and never allow him to make a fool of her again.

"Ah, my lovelies, we are back. I hope you entertained yourselves while we were away," Lady Margaret announced as she flounced into the room on the arm of Johannes. "Shall we depart for a lovely ride through London? It was so good of you, Johannes, to bring Lady Penelope along." She turned a charming smile on the woman and patted his arm. "'Tis much more civilized to have an even pair, do you not think? I say, two ladies in a carriage with one duke..." She tsked and shook her head. "Well, the tongues would wag, they would. I can just hear the gossip. Yet now, it will appear as proper. Two couples with me as a chaperone make a perfect solution, and Henri and Georgina have much in common. I just know they shall become fast friends."

Georgina did her best not to groan aloud and felt the stares in her direction. As she glanced around the room, there were three sets of eyes focused on her: Johannes, Henri, and the caddy Lady Penelope. She gave her best fake smile and said, "Yes, it sounds lovely, my lady."

Once seated in the carriage, it was all she could do not to giggle. Lady Margaret had something up her sleeve, and if the seating arrangements were any sign, it would leave Lady Penelope vexed when this little adventure was over. Georgina had found herself seated beside Henry Neufville, while across was Lady Margaret—pleased as punch—between the duke and Lady Penelope, who couldn't seem to control her facial expression, showing pure outrage.

Regardless of its disastrous beginning, Georgina was enjoying the drive through the city, and to her immense delight, also Mr. Henri Neufville. He was not only handsome, but funny, kind, and a gentleman. Instead of moping over the duke and his spiteful companion, she had paid them no heed. And everything was fabulous, even the weather was mild for the season until it wasn't.

"There's a boutique I'm dying to check out a few shops down from Gunter's," Lady Margaret said. "What say we have tea at Gunter's and I'll have a peek inside the new shop..."

"Oh, how I adore an ice from Gunters when it's warm outside," Lady Penelope said with a faraway, dreamy look.

Everyone agreed, and Georgina went along with them. Yet she'd never had the pleasure of ice from Gunter's. Oh, she was sure her mother had, and the thought put a damper on her mood, but she shook it off, determined to enjoy herself. "I must admit..." Henri whispered near her ear, "I've never had the pleasure of an ice from Gunter's, myself."

Her face lit up in a smile and she whispered back, "Neither have I, so you are not alone, Mr. Neufville, and your secret is safe with me."

"Touché, Miss Wakefield." He winked at Georgina, causing her to blush and like him all the more.

While the group enjoyed hot tea and sponge cake, Lady Margaret ventured to a new boutique close by, telling everyone to enjoy their tea and she would meet us back in the carriage. Once we all had our fill, we filed back into the conveyance and the driver trotted us toward Shepherd Market, parking in front of a small boutique. Soon after, Lady Margaret strode out empty-handed and opened the door, thrusting her tall, unsteady wig inside. "Lady Penelope," she said in a breathy tone and placed her hand over her chest. "You must come inside and offer your expert eye. I've always envied your exquisite style, lass."

With a pointed grin and a small nod of her blonde curls, Lady Penelope placed her hand over her heart and replied, "Countess, I would be delighted!" She allowed the driver to hand her down, leaving Georgina in the carriage with the men. It was a long silent five minutes, the air thick with tension before Lady Margaret was back at the carriage door, this time out of breath. "Henri, my dear, come," she commanded. "I need your help to pick out something for your uncle." She stood back, waiting as Mr. Henri Neufville jumped to do her bidding.

Georgina sighed, shaking her head. The last thing she wanted was to be left alone with Johannes Lymington. Especially today, when she was ready to unleash her sharp tongue on him. However, she vowed to remain silent. If he speaks to me, I shall be polite, but I will not release my fury on him because to do so would...

The driver took off in a lurch, cutting her musings short and leaving her shocked. "Why is he leaving?" she asked, forgetting her vow of silence.

Johannes used his cane and tapped on the roof to gain the driver's attention. "I'm sure I don't know, Miss Wakefield." When the carriage sped up, he knocked with more force, but it went ignored as the driver carried on. "What in the blue blazes?"

"This is Lady Margaret's doing," Georgina said, covering her mouth with widened eyes.

Johannes slapped his forehead. "Lady Margaret, indeed," he agreed.

♥♥♥

Well, readers, it looks like Lady M is up to her old tricks and I love it. I hope you do, too. If so give a quick like and comment if you like. TGIF,

Lady Lisa