‘What do you have to lose, Georgie?’ Jeffrey cajoled.
Nothing. She had absolutely nothing left to lose when it came to loving Zachary.
‘Good evening, Hinds.’ Georgianna handed her bonnet and cloak to the surprised butler as she stepped past him into the cavernous hallway of Hawksmere House. ‘Is his Grace at home?’
The butler looked more than a little flustered by having her arrive at his employer’s home at eleven o’clock in the evening. ‘He returned some minutes ago and has retired to his study.’
‘Which is where?’ She gazed pointedly at the half dozen doors leading off the entrance hall.
‘The second door on the right. But...’
‘Thank you.’ Georgianna gave the butler a brightly dismissive smile, determined to go through with her decision to speak with Zachary again. ‘Perhaps you might bring through a decanter of brandy?’ Bravado had brought her thus far—she did not intend to let it desert her now.
‘His Grace has just this minute instructed I do so, my lady.’ Hind’s brows were still raised in astonishment at her commanding behaviour.
Understandably so, when she considered the butler was fully aware that she had once been held here as Hawksmere’s prisoner.
Although she did feel slightly heartened by the fact that Zachary had obviously felt in need of a restorative brandy—or two—upon his return home. ‘I will not delay you from your duties any longer then, Hinds.’
‘What on earth is going on, Hinds?’ Hawksmere came to an abrupt halt in the now-open doorway of his study, his expression one of stunned disbelief as he gazed across at her.
‘Georgianna?’
‘Hawksmere.’ She managed to greet him with the same brightness as she had addressed the butler seconds ago, determined not to lose her nerve now that she found herself face to face with Zachary.
As Jeffrey had gently chided earlier, the situation between herself and Zachary had come to a breaking point, with no going back, only forward. Wherever that might take her. Consequently, Georgianna had nothing left to lose now but her pride. And where Zachary was concerned, she found that she now had none. How could she have, when she knew he had cast aside his own pride earlier this evening, by offering to get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness.
‘The brandy, Hinds, if you please?’ she reminded, sending Hinds scurrying down the hallway.
Zachary was dressed far less formally than he had been earlier this evening, having removed his jacket and cravat, leaving him dressed only in his waistcoat over the snowy white shirt open at the throat and black pantaloons, which clearly showed the lean perfection of his muscled legs and thighs.
He looked delicious, Georgianna decided, good enough to eat, in fact. The heated colour warmed her cheeks as she recalled that she had already tasted and devoured Zachary, when the two of them made love together yesterday afternoon.
She held Zachary’s wary gaze unwaveringly as she softly crossed the hallway to join him. ‘May I come in?’ she beseeched huskily, her heart beating erratically in her chest as he made no effort to stand aside and allow her entry into his study.
Zachary’s hand tightened on the doorframe, where he had reached out to steady himself in his complete surprise at seeing Georgianna standing in the entrance hall of his London home. ‘Is Jeffrey with you?’
‘Jeffrey knows that I am here, because he put me into our carriage himself. Otherwise, I am quite alone,’ she dismissed huskily.
A scowl darkened Zachary’s brow. ‘That was most improper of you.’
She gazed up at him quizzically. ‘As you stated earlier, we are well past that point.’
Maybe so, but Zachary’s concern was on Georgianna’s behalf, rather than his own. His own reputation was such that her visiting him alone would only add to his reputation as being something of a rake, whereas Georgianna’s still bore a question mark, as far as society was concerned.
‘Why are you here, Georgianna?’ he prompted warily.
‘You would rather I had not come?’
He would far rather Georgianna stayed and never left. Ever again. But, as their earlier conversation had seemed to confirm that was not even a possibility, he could not help but question as to the reason why Georgianna had left the Countess of Evesham’s ball only minutes after he had done so himself. With the intent, it seemed, of following him here. With her brother’s full consent and co-operation, by the sound of it.
His mouth tightened disapprovingly. ‘Jeffrey should have known better than to allow it.’
‘Jeffrey overheard part of our own conversation on the terrace earlier.’
‘I can see I shall have to have words with that young man regarding his habit of eavesdropping on private conversations.’ Zachary scowled.
Georgianna shook her head. ‘He is far more mature and sensible than either of us have given him credit for,’ she assured drily. ‘But would you rather I left again, Zachary?’ She looked up at him searchingly.
He drew a deep breath into his starved lungs as he realised he had forgotten to breathe. He allowed himself to indulge his senses where Georgianna was concerned, gazing upon her obvious beauty and the dewy perfection of her skin, that begged to be touched and tasted, and now breathing in her unique perfume— something floral as well as the unique and feminine warmth that was all Georgianna.
‘I would rather you had not come here at all,’ he maintained harshly, still making no effort to step aside and allow her entry to his study. It was his last bastion of defence, a place where he did not have any visible memories of being with Georgianna. Unlike his bedchamber upstairs. And the bedchamber adjoining that one. And the blue salon.
Her chin rose determinedly. ‘I wished to continue our earlier conversation.’
His jaw tightened. ‘And I believe we said then all that needs be said to each other.’
Georgianna looked up at Zachary searchingly, as she easily noted his unkempt appearance. His hair was tousled, as if he had run his agitated fingers through it several times since returning home. The lines beside his eyes and mouth seemed deeper, his mouth set in a thin and uncompromising line, and there was a dark shadow upon his jaw, where he was obviously in need of a second shave of the day.
Altogether, he looked nothing like the suave and sophisticated gentleman who had arrived at the Countess of Evesham’s ball earlier this evening.
Because of the unsatisfactory outcome earlier of that conversation with her?
That was what Georgianna was here to find out. And, having made that decision, she had no intentions of leaving here tonight until she had done so.
‘You know, Zachary, we both have scars that are visible to the eye if one cares to look for them.’ Her gaze softened as she reached up to gently
