![]() “Billie,” his mother said firmly, transferring her attention to what she clearly considered to be the weaker link, “let’s go.”īut Billie just shook her head. “All the more reason to hurry things up,” he murmured. He studied Billie’s lips with the hot gaze of a connoisseur. “Mother,” he said, never taking his eyes off his fiancée, “you might want to leave the room now.” “No,” he said softly, drawing her into his arms, “we’re a team.”īillie looked up at him with such love it nearly stole his breath. ![]() George looked at Billie, and when she smiled, it filled his soul. “Is this a competition?” Lady Manston asked in disbelief. “Do you think my mother will be surprised?” “Oh, that would be brilliant!” Billie exclaimed. “We could even leave today if that is your wish.” “I suppose we’re off to Kent, then,” his mother said. He was still holding Billie’s hand, so he brought it to his lips and kissed his vow to her skin. “No, I expect you ought not,” Lady Manston said, in just the right tone to make Billie blush ferociously. “Edward is going to have to resign himself to missing the wedding, because I’m not waiting for him to get home.” “I know.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You can say his name,” his mother said softly. You look happier than I have seen you in a very long time.” “And you,” Lady Manston said, looking at George with watery eyes, “my son. “Not for years and years,” Billie said warmly. “You will be an excellent countess, although not too soon, I hope.” “A future countess must behave with some propriety.” “Only if I’m out in the fields.” She looked over at Lady Manston. And it’s lovely to know that when I have to attend such functions that I can do it well and have a good time. ![]() He would like nothing more than to go home to Kent, but Billie deserved to revel in her success. She had been so apprehensive about making her London debut. It will be a triumph.”īillie reached over and squeezed George’s hand. “We can make the announcement at the Billington ball. “But you had such a wonderful time last night,” Lady Manston replied. “Can we just go home?” Billie interrupted. The Billingtons are hosting a ball next week and -” “Well,” Lady Manston declared with a beaming smile, “I can hardly wait to tell everyone. “Why was he here, anyway?” Lady Manston asked. Maybe the old man had more discretion than he’d thought. “He excused himself when the two of you started declaring your love,” his mother said. George suddenly straightened, glancing about the room. “You have asked her to marry you, I hope.” In my mind, at least.” She looked over at her son with a considerably more focused expression. Lady Manston shook her head with a smile. “But I always thought… you wanted Edward. “I have waited a long time to call you daughter,” Lady Manston said, tucking a lock of Billie’s hair behind her ear.īillie frowned, her head moving from side to side as she tried to puzzle it all out. “Sybilla? Really? When have I ever called you Sybilla?” “You planned this?” George asked in disbelief. “Do you know how hard I’ve been working toward this? My word, I thought I was going to have to beat you with a stick.” ![]() He didn’t know about Billie, but he’d quite forgotten they had an audience. ![]()
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