Page 79 of Winning Her Duke

Gia opened her mouth to ask if his sudden plan to send her away had anything to do with his wanting to have Lydia alone to himself but refrained.

However the situation came about didn’t matter as much as the fact she was given permission to be away from the Season for two weeks.

And would have Jeremy to herself as well. It seemed everyone had what they wanted.

*

“This is an absolute nightmare,” Julian complained as they trundled toward Tomison House in the early hours of dawn the next day.

With much to prepare, Hale hadn’t made it to visit yesterday, hoping Gia would be pleased with his plan to get out of town for a week or so.

Julian, however, was the only person Hale had made unhappy with his hasty strategy.

“A nightmare, I’ll remind you, I’ve agreed to compensate you for.”

Julian’s response was a displeased sound Scottish men were taught at birth. He’d tried to get Kit and Graham to join them as well, but in the end, only Julian was willing to give up sleep for Hale’s benefit.

“I don’t want your blasted coin, I want to be in my bed.”

“If you don’t want my coin, what is it you want?”

“I prefer to wait until I have you further over this barrel.”

Whatever it was, Hale would gladly pay his friend for doing him this favor.

“I don’t understand why I actually had to come along. You have no intentions of truly matching me to the lass.”

“The staff at Elmhurst will certainly speak of the visit. I couldn’t readily explain your absence without questions being asked.”

“Very well, but did we need to leave at such an ungodly hour?”

Hale couldn’t say that he wanted to be alone with Gia as soon as possible, so instead he muttered something about the transport of his prized racehorse which Julian didn’t have the knowledge to dispute.

As soon as they stopped in front of Tomison House, two footmen carried out a small trunk and Gia and her maid descended the steps.

“My, it seems someone is eager to be in our company,” Julian said with a brow lifted.

Rather than respond, Hale hopped down from the carriage and helped the ladies into the carriage. His hand lingered too long on Gia’s waist and she held his hand longer than was proper which caused Julian’s brow to raise a bit higher.

“I cannot wait to get out of this city and this bloody corset,” Gia said as she settled in the seat next to him. Her maid, Bess, taking the seat opposite her, next to Julian.

“Careful, you’ll make Julian blush,” Hale teased her for her language.

Gia winced and turned toward the other man who had shifted into an easy smile.

“My apologies, Lord Melville.”

“Not to worry. Your language is much deserved and quite accurate. Corsets are the devil’s work. Besides, my blushes are not so easily won.”

Gia’s maid cleared her throat, expressing her displeasure on the topic, but said nothing directly.

“And now I must warn you, Julian, that you may have just created a challenge for her.”

Gia smiled. “Unfortunately, my attempts to shock Lord Melville further will have to wait. I’m afraid I’m not up for such tasks thanks to Jeremy, for having us all up at this hour.”

The carriage had barely pulled away from the house before Bess had fallen asleep leaning against the side of the carriage. As they reached the city limits, Gia joined her, but he was delighted when she’d leaned against him.

He shifted and wrapped his arm around her in an effort to make her more comfortable.