That night Georgie tossed and turned but still got no answers. The following day she still had no answers but more questions were added to the list. For example, had Roxborough truly been too mired in work to join his family at dinner or had he simply been trying to avoid her?

The day after that, she still had no answers, but she did have a visitor. Mary Beaucraft’s presence typically served as a pleasant diversion for Georgie. When they were not bickering or feuding, they were gossiping. All of which was done with high spirits as only two ladies with similarly quick minds could manage.

But today, Mary was the only one with a smile on her lips and laughter in her voice as she sipped her tea. Not even her friend’s arrival could distract Georgie from that unsettled and uneasy state she’d fallen into after that kiss. She was starting to despise this state. It was too emotional and far too serious. If this kept up, she’d soon start reading gothic novels and swooning like a ninny.

After twenty minutes or so of one-sided gossip, Mary set her cup down with a loud clink. She fixed Georgie with an exasperated stare. “Are you really going to continue to stay silent on the matter…with me, of all people?”

Georgie blinked at her friend. What was she on about?

Mary sighed and her tone grew injured. “Everyone from the ball is talking about you two. Honestly, Georgie, how could you not tell me first? I thought we were dear friends.”

An anxious feeling had her sitting up straighter, tightening her grip on her cup as she tried not to assume the worst. Someone else had heard about Lord Malcolm’s intent. If Roxborough had learned of it—How, though? That was still in question. But if that stodgy old bore had learned of Lord Malcolm’s suggestion and assumed the worst, it stood to reason that others would leap to the same erroneous conclusions. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? She’d been so single-mindedly focused on that kiss, she’d nearly forgotten all about Lord Malcolm and the indecent proposal that had led to her fateful meeting with Roxborough in the first place.

“I know we’ve had our differences,” Mary continued. “But I never thought I’d have to hear about your latest romance from gossips at my mother’s—”

“What are they saying, Mary?”

Mary jumped slightly at her sharp tone. But then her eyes widened and she leaned forward slightly. “Do you mean to say you do not know the rumors?”

Oh drat. She hated to give Mary the satisfaction, but there was nothing for it. She shook her head.

Sure enough, Mary’s lips curved up in a smug smile. “How interesting.” The irritating young lady sipped her tea slowly, clearly reveling in her advantage. “And here I thought for sure you knew—”

“Mary.” Her voice held an edge and she narrowed her eyes at her friend in barely veiled threat. “What are they saying?”

Her heart was racing as she waited for her friend to tell her that the Cleveland name was once more being dragged through the mud. And this time it would be all her fault.

Mary shifted in her seat, preening at Georgie’s undivided attention. “You cannot be too surprised, after the way you two danced together and then—”

“Nothing happened.” The words burst out before she could stop them. But really, the fact that her best friend could believe the worst of her was just too much to bear. Yes, perhaps she ought to have told someone of Lord Malcolm’s indecent proposal, but keeping silent was not the same as—

“Of course not, dear.” Mary’s expression was filled with confusion as she sat there with her teacup hovering in front of her face. “No one would ever presume that His Grace would behave disgracefully.”

Georgie blinked at her friend as those words registered. Mary thought…Horror made her blood run cold, even as her cheeks heated as the implications struck her with brutal force. How did Mary know about that kiss? How did everyone know?

“Now you on the other hand,” Mary added slyly before taking a sip of her tea.

Georgie nearly missed her friend’s teasing jibe. The rush of blood in her ears made it difficult to hear. Someone must have seen them. That was the only possible scenario. But who? And how much had they seen? Clearly not the actual kiss or she would have heard about her ruination by now. She hadn’t seen anyone else in the hallway, though. She hadn’t heard anyone either, so who could—

“Why do you look so distressed, dear?” Mary asked, her smirk fading to a frown. “I must admit, this was not the reaction I’d expected to see today.”

“It’s not?” Georgie said, for lack of anything else to say. Her mind had taken a sort of holiday, it seemed. Too frazzled by this latest bit of news to be up for another round of sparring with Mary.

Mary pursed her lips as she studied her. “No. I rather expected you to be gloating over the fact that a duke intends to court you.”

She blinked slowly this time, certain that she was trapped in a dream. A confusing, emotional dream. “Pardon me?”

Her voice sounded breathless and she clutched her hands to her diaphragm. She’d never fainted before, but now might be the time to start. At the very least it would put an end to this nerve wracking and mysterious conversation. Not to mention the fact that it would give her a respite from the questions and doubts that had been plaguing her ever since that kiss.

That kiss which may have been witnessed. Oh Lord, did Rhys know? Er, Roxborough?

Drat, one kiss and she couldn’t remember that he was still a duke, and her host, and practically another brother. Wasn’t that what she’d told him?

Mary’s laugh surprised her. “Oh, I see now. You are teasing, are you not? Pretending that you were unaware of the duke’s romantic interest, you sly girl.” Mary gave her a shake of her head and a knowing look.

Too knowing since it was clear she knew far more than Georgie about what on earth was going on. Georgie took a sip of her own tea, stalling for time as she forced her brain into action. She needed more information, clearly, and Mary seemed to have it.

Of course she did. The incurable gossip made it her life’s mission to know everything about everyone. At this particular moment, perhaps she ought to be grateful. Setting her cup back down she feigned a calm she did not feel. “I’m merely surprised that you know,” she said with her sweetest, most innocent smile.

Mary hated that smile. Her own withered and died, replaced by an irritated frown.

Good. Needling her friend would be the safest way to gather information without revealing her own ignorance.

“Well, it isn’t exactly a secret, now is it?” Mary returned, her tone holding more than a hint of challenge.

Georgie’s knowing smile threatened to falter. What did that mean? Had she assumed wrong? Did everyone know that the duke had kissed her?

Mary let out an exasperated sigh that sounded remarkably like a horse’s snort. “The man outright said as much to Lord Malcolm, a man he hardly knows,” she said with a sniff. “It’s hardly a secret.”

Georgie had no idea what her face was doing now. She had a sneaking suspicion her smile had turned to a sneer as she tried to understand her friend. “He told Lord Malcolm?”

Mary’s eyes instantly lit with triumph that she once again had the upper hand in this conversation. Blast that Mary. “Didn’t you know? Why, Lord Malcolm told me straight away.” Her eyes filled with mirth. “The poor man was shocked, considering the way you’d brazenly flirted with him on the dance floor.”

“He said…he said…he what?” Georgie’s voice was a squeak. “I flirted with him?” The nerve of that man.

“That I saw with my own eyes,” Mary said.

Georgie narrowed her eyes. Oh you little…

She gave herself a shake. This was not the time to bicker with Mary. There were far more serious issues to contend with. Like what, exactly, had Roxborough said to Lord Malcolm…and why had he said it?

She found herself staring at Mary, unseeing and not speaking as she tried to make head from tail of this new conundrum. Either way she looked at it, it did not make sense.

Rather than distract her from the miserable, ceaseless questions that had been hounding her since the kiss, Mary’s words only added more fodder to the questions. Georgie hadn’t known it was possible to be any more confused than she’d already been. She couldn’t take it any longer.

She stood so quickly, Mary looked up at her with wide eyes. “Is everything all right?”

No. It most certainly was not. But Georgie had wasted enough time sitting and stewing and wondering what on earth was going on in the unfathomable mind of the great and surly Roxborough.

It came to an end now. Forcing a tight smile for Mary’s benefit, she made a hasty excuse. If you will excuse me…developed a headache… She wasn’t entirely certain herself what she had just said, but it seemed to do the trick.

Mary was leaving, albeit not without a handful of questioning looks and indignant huffs as she walked away from her unfinished tea and untouched scone.

The moment Georgie heard the door close behind her friend, she whirled about and headed down the hall to find Roxborough.

She still had a million questions. It was about time she got some answers.