Miller, Raine - The Undoing of a Libertine (Siren Publishing Classic) (40 page)

Jeremy looked at his beautiful Gina and silently thanked the heavens once again that she was his to love.

“Yet another reason why you were meant for me. It was fated,” he told her, thinking back to that strange dream he’d had in hospital. Had his mother come to him a dream? A warm flush spread through him, and he felt something he’d never really known. Full. Filled up. Replete with good feelings and blessings—

“Ahem.” Sir Rodney cleared his throat, breaking through the poignancy. “Shall we go forth and greet our guests?”

“Yes, sir.” Jeremy came to attention and tucked Gina into his arm, feeling a bit possessive and definitely proud. “Lead us on, Grandfather. Lead us on.”

* * * *

“How’s my baby sister?” Tom wrapped his arms around Georgina in a loving embrace. “God, it’s good to see you.” He held her back and perused her from head to toe. “And looking so smashing. You are a diamond, my dear Georgie!”

“I’ve missed you, Tommy. We haven’t seen each other once since I’ve been in London,” Georgina scolded her brother.

“Sorry, Georgie. Had some unfinished business up in Haymarket, but that’s all done now.” Tom greeted Jeremy, who took his hand in a friendly shake. “You look good, too, my
brother
. You’ve hardly changed a bit despite the leg shackles,” Tom teased.

“Really, Tommy, you ought to consider matrimony for yoursel—” Georgina lost the rest of her words when she laid eyes on her handsome father stepping toward her. Dressed in his evening clothes, he seemed to stand a little taller, a resolve in his manner that boded a certain poise. He looked well, happy even.

“That’s what I keep telling your brother, my dear, to take a page out of his sister’s book,” he said softly, his hazel eyes a mirror of hers.

“Papa…you came.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this chance for all the world, my daughter.” Her father kissed her forehead. “To see you looking so beautiful and happy.” He touched her cheek. “So like your mother, Georgina. She loved you so much. Mamma wanted the world for you—for all your hopes and dreams to come true. I know she rejoices when she looks down on you from heaven, as I do in this earthly life.”

“Oh, Papa!” Georgina embraced him and relished his strong arms returning her clutch. “I’m so happy you are here.” She realized how truly she meant her words.

“As am I.” He smiled. “You look like a queen in that gown, my dear. With your mother’s pearls and those earrings, all you lack is a crown.” He bowed. “Walk with me, daughter?”

Georgina took her father’s offered arm and walked with him for a bit.

He looked wistful. “Do you remember the picnics we used to have by the old oak tree when you were a little girl?”

Her heart dropped. “I do remember them, Papa,” she whispered.

“Your mamma made you a circlet of wildflowers one time, and on that day we crowned you the Fairy Queen of Oakfield.”

She gasped. “You recall everything! I had no idea you still think of those times, Papa.” Georgina was stunned by his revelations.

“Of course I think about it. I never forget. Those were
the
best days in my whole life, with a loving wife and my children about me.” He paused and squeezed her arm. “I lost my path when your mother died, Georgina. I know I wasn’t the father I could have been. I wasn’t a comfort to you in your hour of need. I let you down, and I am so grievously sorry for my actions.”

He pulled them to a stop and looked at her. “You turned out magnificent in spite of my lacking attentions, and I love you very much and am so proud of you. I can now only hope you might forgive your old dad his foolish ways.”

Georgina felt the wall of fear that had haunted her crumble to dust. In the acknowledgement of his failings, Georgina knew blessed peace, finally. Papa did not blame her for what had happened to her. He loved her still.
He is proud of me.

Georgina fell into her father’s arms a second time. “I do forgive you. You have restored my heart in this declaration.” She kissed his cheek. “More than you can ever know. I am truly happy, Papa.”

“I am so relieved to hear it. I have worried, Georgina, over you.”

“Worry no more, Papa. I am blessed in my life and very content. Jeremy is the best of men and takes very good care of me. And thank you for this lovely gift of memories tonight. They are most precious to me.”

“As you are to me, my daughter. And if you are willing, I want to make more happy memories with you, and your good husband, and your children.”

Georgina blushed. “I would love that, very much, Papa.”

Jeremy appeared in their midst and stepped forward to greet his father-in-law. “Welcome, sir. Your presence is a comfort to Georgina. Thank you for coming tonight.”

“Thank
you
, son. I pledge it shall be only the first of many visits,” John Russell answered sincerely. “I was just inquiring to Georgina when you two might see fit to make me a grandpa.” He smirked at them both.

“Papa!” Georgina felt the flush spread to the roots of her hair, imagining she must be the color of a strawberry.

Even Jeremy looked a bit discomfited, but recovered quickly and managed a saucy, “I’m giving it my best effort, sir.”

In an attempt to steer the topic away from bedroom antics, Georgina touched her father’s cheek. “You’ve cut yourself. Does it hurt?”

“Not in the slightest. I don’t notice it a bit. Is it very ugly?” Her father shrugged.

“How did you do it, Papa?”

“Oh, we had a change of carriages—driver got sick—and we made a detour on our way here tonight. I’m afraid I misjudged the height of the roof. I ran right into the door pin and nicked myself right here.” John touched his cheekbone gingerly. “I probably should get ’round to see the optical while I’m in Town. It may be time for your old man to don some spectacles, my dear.”

Jeremy spoke up. “Did your situation with your driver resolve itself? I hope you didn’t find trouble on your way here tonight.”

“Oh, just a trifling bit. An inconsequential nuisance, really. Everything worked out in the end and
all persons
got to where they needed to go.” Her father smiled cheerfully at Jeremy. Jeremy raised an eyebrow and returned the gesture.

Georgina was so glad for the gift of this night. To have Jeremy and her family all together and to see them enjoying one another’s company just filled her heart full to bursting.

* * * *

“Lord and Lady Rothvale, my wife, Georgina.” Jeremy provided the introductions gracefully and turned to her. “Lord and Lady Rothvale come to Kilve in the summers, Gina. Their place, Marlings, borders Hallborough at our south end.”

“Delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Greymont, and please accept our heartfelt congratulations upon your marriage,” Lord Rothvale greeted kindly.

“Thank you, my lord, my lady,” Georgina returned. “I look forward to having summer neighbors. My husband has had nothing but lovely things to say about your family.”

“Thank you. Speaking of family, would it interest you to find that I knew your mother, Mrs. Greymont? Anne Wellesley?” Lord Rothvale winked.

“Yes, it would, my lord.” Georgina was intrigued.

“Our mothers were best of friends, and thus your mamma and I enjoyed countless hours together. Childhood playmates we were, in our halcyon days of youth.”

“What a small world it is, Lord Rothvale.”

“True, my dear. You look very much like your mother from what I remember of her. She was tough as nails, Miss Anne Wellesley. I had a beast of an older brother, Jasper, who set out mischief at every turn, and she always bested him. Used to amaze me how she could entangle Jasper in his own devilment.”

“I’d love to hear more about my mother from you, Lord Rothvale. You and Lady Rothvale must come to see us at Hallborough when you are at Kilve.”

“We will look forward to that, and I’ll dig through my drawings. I imagine I have a sketch or two of Anne that I did when we were children. I’ll bring them along to give to you.”

“Oh, thank you, my lord. I would be so grateful for such a gift and would love to introduce you to my father. He is here tonight, and I know he would find your childhood memories of my mother most endearing.”

“It would be my great pleasure, Mrs. Greymont. I should tell you though, I am not here tonight without ulterior motive.” He winked again. “I want to talk to your husband about running for a seat in the House of Commons.”

“Parliament, my lord?”

“Well, yes of course. Time to put that university education and his talents to good use.”

“What do you consider my husband’s talents, my lord?” Georgina gave Lord Rothvale a wink of her own.

“He’s an upstanding land owner, a successful businessman, and now that he’s gone and married such a delightful wife, a settled, family man. Just the good sort of useful person we need in Parliament.” Lord Rothvale grinned at Jeremy and then back to Georgina. “What do you say to my idea of your husband becoming the next MP for West Somerset?”

“I think it is an outstanding idea, Lord Rothvale. I can think of no one better suited than my husband.” Georgina beamed at Jeremy.

“What do you say, Greymont? Do your part for God and country and all that? England needs men like you.” Lord Rothvale’s green eyes twinkled.

“I’ll think about it, my lord,” Jeremy told him, his eyes wide with disbelief at what the man had just proposed.

Georgina squeezed Jeremy’s hand and looked on him with pride before reluctantly turning to greet the next guest.

“Dr. Cameron! Thank you for coming tonight.” Georgina held out her hand.

“Ah, the pleasure is mine, Mrs. Greymont.” He kissed her hand gallantly. “It is always well met to mix patient visits with festive punch. You looking glowing with good health, I am happy to observe.” Dr. Cameron winked at her before turning to Jeremy. “And you, sir, clean up quite smart. You’ve got some color back, and your strength. It’s a well thing, too. You’ll need it when you’re fighting for the rights of good Englishmen in Parliament.” Jeremy took the outstretched hand of his friend.

“Ah. You heard that did you?”

“I did. And, Greymont, I think you should do it.”

“Well, I told Lord Rothvale I’d think on it. We’ll see.” Georgina noticed that Dr. Cameron no longer seemed to be listening to Jeremy. The doctor’s attention was diverted elsewhere. Jeremy glanced to look. It was easy to see what captivated the good doctor, too. Dr. Cameron was studying the recently widowed, and very lovely, Mrs. Golding, who had accompanied her aunt, Lady Lampson, to the party tonight. Jeremy nudged the doctor to get his attention. “Shall I have Georgina introduce you to Mrs. Golding?”

“No,” Dr. Cameron said sharply. “There is no need. Mrs. Golding and I are already acquainted.”

“Ah. Well, have a good time then,” Jeremy teased his friend, who ignored him completely.

Jeremy arched a brow at her, and they shared a giggle, hoping to learn more about this acquaintance of Dr. Cameron and the mysterious Mrs. Golding in the course of the evening.

* * * *

Jeremy and Georgina found themselves staying close by each other’s side during the party, chatting with old friends and making new acquaintances. They were together for the entertainment and the singing of carols, and when the more raucous parlor games began, but never had even a second for little more than a word or two.

It was during a game of similes that Jeremy pulled Georgina into the servants’ stairwell for a private moment.

“Finally,” he whispered, pressing her back against the wall as his lips descended.

Jeremy kissed her wickedly slow, plundering her open mouth with his hot, seeking tongue. He met her hips with his in a slow thrust, and she felt the familiar ridge of an erection push into her.