“Too bad. I would have enjoyed slicing him open.V John went to the gun cabinet and took out a leather gun case. “Who is acting as his second?V
“Lord Jersey; wouldn’t you know it?” Henry replied.
“That was predictable.v John opened the gun case, counted the lead balls, and handed the pair of dueling pistols to Holland. “They were cleaned before they were put away, but it’s some time since they were last used.”
Henry inspected them and put them back in the case. “We don’t have much time left.” He checked his watch. “Ready, gentlemen?” John’s companions did a credible job of hiding their apprehension. They were not the least worried about Bedford’s marksmanship, but they were uneasy that the duke’s target was a royal prince.
They arrived in Saint James’s Park with ten minutes to spare. All four men got out of the carriage and walked toward the pond. After twenty minutes had passed, John became impatient and began to pace. More than half an hour went by before they heard a vehicle approaching.
The Earl of Jersey got out of the carriage, and Lord Holland went to meet him. They spoke for a few minutes, and then Henry returned to John. “Jersey says that Prince Edward is so inebriated, he cannot even stand, let alone shoot.”
“Peste!’’ John swore. “The drunken sot is beneath contempt. Kindly inform Jersey that I will accept a written apology.” He watched Henry approach Jersey; then saw the earl return to the carriage. Finally, after a wait of ten minutes, Lord Jersey brought Lord Holland a piece of paper. Henry read it, nodded his acceptance, and brought the paper to John. It read: I apologize for defaming a certain lady’s name. The accusation was false. The words were legible and obviously written by Jersey, but the scrawled signature after the initials H.R.H. was authentic.
John’s companions returned him to Russell Square and drank a hearty toast to the victor before they departed. All in all it was the best possible outcome to an impossible situation.
An hour later, John lay sleepless in the dark. Could the accusation be true? He was well aware that Georgina loved to make wagers. Is it the title Duchess of Bedford she craves? If so she is about to achieve her goal.
Though he’d tried to suppress it, John vividly remembered their first encounter after his wife’s death. Whatever makes you think I’d be interested in a mere lord when I can attract a duke to offer me marriage? We both know the duke I have in mind.
He quit the bed and paced to the window. Is it possible that both Francis and I were duped?
Chapter 26
“This is the happiest day of my life!” Georgina stood before the mirror as her sisters fitted on her bridal veil. She looked radiant and her eyes were luminous. “Oh, Louisa, I remember you saying those exact words before your wedding.”
“And do you remember laughing at me?” Louisa asked.
“Yes, I do, and I apologize profusely. I hadn’t the faintest notion what love was.” Both Louisa and Charlotte knew her secret, that she had detested Francis Russell and had been attracted to his brother, John, from the beginning.
“I feel positively giddy. How on earth will I act with decorum on this very solemn occasion?v
“For your groom’s sake, I hope you can restrain yourself from saying or doing anything inappropriate,v Charlotte cautioned.
“I shall strive to behave during the ceremony, but I make no promises after that.v
“Ah, well, you’ll be a duchess by then, and impropriety is mandatory, if Mother is any example. And, of course, once the deed is done, John cannot back out of it.”
“Why would he want to back out of it? John is marrying me because he loves me!v
Louisa whooped with laughter. “Love has absolutely nothing to do with it. You’re a Gordon—rank is the only thing that counts.”
Georgina joined in her sister’s laughter. “What an insufferable little cockroach I was back then!”
“What makes you think you have changed?v Charlotte asked dryly.
The Duchess of Gordon swept into the bedchamber. “It’s after five, and the rector from Chenies hasn’t arrived. There’s no sign of Susan yet, either. It’s a good thing your father brought a good supply of whiskey to fortify the men while they wait.”
I’m ready to forgive Susan for what happened at Kimbolton, but forgetting is a little more difficult. “I’m sorry Madelina won’t be here. We haven’t seen her since Louisa’s wedding.”
“Madelina has no title. She is acutely aware that she cannot compete with the rest of you,v Jane explained.
“It’s not a competition,” Georgina declared.
“Yes it is, Georgy,v Charlotte contradicted, “and you won.”
“You are a dreadful tease, Charlotte, but nothing in the world can spoil my happiness tonight.”
The sound of a carriage caused Jane to peer through the window. “I believe the clergyman has arrived, and if I’m not mistaken the Manchesters’ coach is here too. I shall allow you fifteen more minutes; then you are to present yourselves in the grand salon.”
When the three sisters descended the stairs, the Duchess of Gordon awaited them. “The carriage ride brought on Susan’s nausea. She begs us to carry on without her. It will give her a chance to lie down and recuperate.”
The moment Georgina entered the salon, she had eyes only for John. Their glances met and held as she took her place beside him. Her heart sang with happiness and overflowed with joy. His dark, compelling looks were so irresistible, they took her breath away. You are the most attractive man I’ve ever met. I am the luckiest woman in the world to be loved by you.
“Dearly beloved . . . ”Georgina heard the first two words, and then she was lost in a reverie of sheer bliss. John’s tall, powerful presence at her side filled her with euphoric happiness.
“I will.”
She looked up at him and realized he had just pledged to love her and forsake all others forever. His dark head was bathed in candlelight, and the solemnity of his voice touched her deeply. Then she heard the rector ask if she would obey John, serve him, and love, honor, and keep him. She looked up into John’s eyes and without hesitation vowed, “I will.”
Alexander, Duke of Gordon stepped forward, and placed her hand in John’s, symbolically giving her to her husband. The gesture brought a flood of tenderness for a father she had always loved.
“I, John, take thee, Georgina, to my wedded wife.”
Those are the loveliest words you’ve ever said to me. She listened closely, then plighted her troth to John softly, sweetly, and meant the words with all her heart.
John slipped the wide gold band onto her finger. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.’’
The rector solemnly pronounced them man and wife.
It’s done . . . We’re married! She lifted her veil, and when John bent his head and brushed his lips against hers, it sent a delicious frisson along her spine.
The bride and groom were surrounded immediately. The men congratulated John, and Charlotte enfolded her young sister in her arms. “I wish you great happiness, Mrs. Russell.”
“Thank you. Georgina Russell is such a lovely name!v
Louisa hugged and kissed her, and then it was her mother’s turn. “I want you to know I could not be more proud that my daughter has just become the Duchess of Bedford.”
Georgina saw Charlotte roll her eyes, and the two sisters dissolved in laughter.
Across the room, the Duke of Gordon was conversing with his new son-in-law. When Georgina joined them, Alexander took his daughter into his arms and embraced her in a bear hug. He admonished the bridegroom, “Look after my little girl.”
Georgina and John smiled into each other’s eyes. He called me little girl the first time we met, and now uses it to tease me.
The nannies had been given strict instructions to keep the children occupied in their own wing, well away from the evening wedding. Georgina had promised Mary she would come upstairs to show off her wedding dress before the candlelit dinner
was served.
“You look beautiful, Georgy.” Mary stroked the silk taffeta. “Did you marry the old man so you could be Johnny’s mother?”
She was taken aback. “I suppose that was one of the reasons.”
“Will you still love me?” Mary asked anxiously.
Georgina picked her up and swung her around. “Darling, of course I’ll still love you. You will always hold a very special place in my heart.” She pulled a delicate white rose from her bridal bouquet and gave it to the child. “I’ll save you some wedding cake. Superstition says if you put it under your pillow and make a wish, it is sure to come true.”
“Do wishes really come true?”
“Yes, absolutely. I made a wish, and today mine came true.”
John held his bride’s chair when they all sat down to the wedding supper. He hadn’t slept the past two nights because of the vile accusations Prince Edward had made about Georgina. He had finally come to the conclusion that Edward was jealous. The young swine had dangled after Georgina since her coming-out ball, and John was almost certain that Edward had made a wager with Francis over which of them could seduce her. Obviously Francis had won, and the dissolute prince was infuriated.
As John took his seat beside his wife, he was ashamed of a fleeting thought that had come to him last night: Perhaps it was Georgina who seduced Francis in order to become the Duchess of Bedford. Now, as he listened to her witty ripostes to her brother’s teasing, John realized that it didn’t matter. This was the woman he wanted in his life. If he had any chance of happiness, he would find it with this vivacious beauty who had stolen his heart. I just vowed to cherish her for the rest of my life, and I meant it.
John listened to Alex Gordon talk about Scotland. It was obvious he loved the country life and had little use for London society. Next, he observed Jane as she dominated the conversation with ribald stories of the Parisians, and wondered how two such opposites had become attracted. It was lust, pure and simple, John concluded. Flesh calling to flesh. Georgina’s enticing fragrance stole to him, and he became instantly aroused.
John glanced at Louisa and her husband, Cornwallis. She is the dominant partner in that relationship, yet they seem happy enough. His glance moved on to Susan, who had been unwell when she arrived. She had a petulant look of dissatisfaction on her face, and though she was carrying Manchester’s child, he seemed utterly indifferent to her. In most marriages, one loves more than the other. He glanced down at his new bride. In our marriage, I warrant that role will be mine, at least in the beginning. Someday, if I’m lucky, I’ll win her heart. John looked at Charlotte and Charles. Their union seemed completely comfortable and compatible, and yet he did not want that with Georgina. He wanted more, so much more.
“It’s only midnight, but I believe we have monopolized the newlyweds long enough,” Jane declared. “At Pall Mall we can carry on the celebration until dawn, though Susan looks ready to drop.”
Georgina suddenly felt guilty. Since the night she had fled from Kimbolton, she had harbored deep resentment against Susan. But tonight her heart overflowed with happiness, and she wanted to share her joy with her sister. I must tell Susan that I love her.
As the wedding guests made their way to the entrance hall, Georgina beckoned her sister into the sitting room.
“It was so sweet of you to come all this way when you’re not feeling well.” Georgy embraced her sister. “I’m so happy, Susan.”
“You have me to thank for your happiness. When you were forced to flee the country to escape scandal, I was absolutely livid. I drove straight to Woburn and confronted John Russell with his brother’s letter.”
“What letter?”
“The letter Francis wrote to William after your rendezvous at Kimbolton. Bedford told us that he had proposed marriage to you, and that he intended to make a formal call on Mother, then declare your engagement publicly. I made it plain to John Russell where his duty lay,” Susan declared.
“Duty?” Georgina whispered. The room suddenly felt cold.
“John Russell and his friends denied there was an engagement and subjected you to public humiliation. After I showed him irrefutable proof that Francis had asked you to become the Duchess of Bedford, Russell clearly saw it was his duty to restore your reputation and honor you with the title you had been promised.”
Manchester appeared at the sitting room door. “Where the devil are you, Susan? You’re not going to be sick again, surely?”
“I’m coming!” She lowered her voice. “Men are so bloody impatient.” Susan kissed her sister’s cheek. “Don’t feel guilty, Georgy. You deserve to be the Duchess of Bedford. Good night.”
Georgina’s knees felt so shaky, she sank down into a chair. John asked me to marry him because he loves me. Her luminous happiness shimmered all about her, and she clung to it desperately. Her mind flew back to that romantic night in Paris when he had proposed. I need a political hostess for Woburn. I can think of no other lady who would fit my needs so perfectly. You enjoy politics as much as I do.
My older sons don’t need a mother, but my youngest son does. The last thing I want is for you to be hurt by more gossip.
Georgina felt ice-cold fingers steal about her heart. She shivered. John made no declaration of love. He kissed me on the forehead. Her joy became ephemeral, like mist, and floated away from her. Her happiness shattered into a thousand shards.
“We’ve been looking for you.” Charlotte turned up the lamp. “What on earth are you doing sitting here in the dark?”
Georgina could not answer because of the lump in her throat. She saw the anxious look on John’s face as he stood at the door.
Charlotte took her hands and pulled her from the chair. “They’ve all gone . . . finally! Let me take you upstairs, Georgy.” As they passed John, Charlotte murmured, “Bridal nerves . . . I’ll take care of her.”
The two sisters ascended the stairs, then turned into the guest wing where the bridal chamber had been prepared. Georgina could feel her legs trembling, and sat down on the bed.”
“Is something wrong, darling? Charlotte asked with concern.
Georgina shook her head.
A Lennox maid came in to help the young bride prepare for bed, but Charlotte dismissed her with a kind word of thanks. When they were alone, she busied herself making sure there were fresh towels and other toiletries; then she pulled the heavy drapes closed across the tall windows. She picked up the delicately embroidered nightdress from the pillow and set it down beside Georgina. “Let me help you out of your wedding gown,” she said gently.
As if she were in a daze, Georgina allowed her sister to remove her dress and her undergarments and slip the white nightdress over her head. Charlotte led her to the dressing table, gently pushed her down so that she was sitting before the mirror, then began to brush her hair. “Are you afraid, Georgy?”
Their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. “You needn’t be afraid. John loves you very much.”
Georgina’s eyes flooded with tears, and Charlotte hurried across the bedchamber to a table that held decanters. She passed over the wine and picked up the brandy. She poured a liberal amount into a glass and brought it to her sister. “Drink up. It will banish your nuptial jitters.”
Georgina took the glass and held it. She looked like she was in shock, or some sort of a trance, and Charlotte concluded she was lost in her thoughts. She remembered the night Georgy had caught her performing an intimate act on Charles, so she knew her young sister wasn’t completely ignorant about sex. “Darling, you are worrying over nothing. Just drink your brandy, and John will take care of everything else. All right?”
Georgina nodded, but Charlotte could see she was still immersed in her own deep thoughts. She couldn’t think of anything else to do, so she withdrew and quietly closed the bedchamber door.
At the top of the stairs, Charlotte encountered John. “I’m afraid her happy, vivacious mood has changed completely. It’s just a case of nerves. I assured her there
was nothing to worry about. Good night, John.”
Georgina stared down into the glass of brandy. She set it untasted onto a bedside table and sat down on the bed. She felt numb, stunned like a bird flown into a stone wall. My husband doesn’t love me! She wanted to laugh, but knew she was closer to sobbing. I swore I would never marry without love. How foolish I must seem to everyone. It feels like a nightmare, except it’s real—I’m not asleep.
Georgina jumped as she heard the door open. When she saw that it was John, dismay overwhelmed her. Surely there was no greater humiliation on earth than having to show gratitude to someone who felt obligated to do his duty.
John smiled at his beautiful bride when he saw her sitting on the bed in her nightgown. He removed his coat, his waistcoat, unfastened his neckcloth and removed it too, before he moved across the room toward her. As he got closer, he saw the unhappy look on her face that was close to panic. He had sensed something was wrong when he and Charlotte had found Georgina sitting in the dark. John knew the last person she had spoken with was Susan, and he suspected it was something her sister had said that had changed her happy mood.
His bride looked so impossibly young, it gave him a feeling of disquiet. He realized he must seem very old to her at this moment. “Georgy, you’re not afraid, are you?”
Her eyes went wide. Her throat was so tight, she could not answer. Instead she shook her head uncertainly.
“Perhaps afraid is the wrong word, but you are feeling a little apprehensive.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Georgy, it’s only natural. I imagine every bride feels this way on her wedding night.” He reached out to ruffle her dark curls and tried not to feel rebuffed when she drew back from his hand. She looks so forlorn and vulnerable, it breaks my heart.
“Do you want to talk about it, sweetheart?” he asked kindly.
She shook her head vigorously.
He noticed the untouched brandy on the bedside table. Though he knew she would benefit from the “tiger frightener,” perhaps it was too strong for her. “Would you like some wine, Georgy?”