Loving Lady Georgianna (Spirited #2)

Chapter Six

[I'm] running out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes

Well, oh, I got stamina

And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb

But I, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, I need another love, be mine

Cause I, I, I got stamina

- The Greatest, Sia

*****

Thorne's words played in her ears. 

Hell, but it seems forever since I have seen you this happy.

Lips dry, Georgie ran her tongue over them, only for his gaze to zero in on the movement and his iris to turn from green to dark brown. She swallowed, feeling her throat move with the action.

And then his thumb swept under her lip and ghosted over the red pockmarks of her ruined skin. That was all it took to send her tumbling back to Earth. The moment was a will-o'-the-wisp, nothing more than a mere dandelion seed floating in the wind and dusting its poison through her garden of blooming tulips and daffodils.

Georgie jerked back, and Thorne's hand dropped.

"Everything okay, Mum?"

Georgie's eyes swept behind Thorne's shoulder where Clarissa stood, no doubt after hearing that racket. She met Thorne's gaze and nodded. It was best to get this conversation over with. "Yes, Clarissa. I'll be in shortly."

It was silent for a brief moment, and Georgie glanced over to her maid and nearly laughed. Clarissa was fisting her hand and connecting it with the palm of her other, reminding Georgie of Clarissa's offer to wallop the man if needed.

She smiled and shook her head in the negative. Clarissa gave Thorne's head one last glare before she disappeared inside, her heavy navy skirts rounding the corner.

"What was that?"

Georgie's brow lifted as she met Thorne's eyes. Faux innocence marked her tone. "I beg your pardon, but what was what?"

Thorne narrowed his eyes, casting one last glance over his shoulder, before he shrugged it off and turned back towards her. Before he could say a word, Georgie broke in.

"While I thank you for the entertaining entrance, I am sorry to say that you have wasted your time." Georgie's words were sharp and she found her fingers playing in the folds of her skirt as she lifted her chin. "There is to be no ridiculous wager. I am hardly a child that does not know her own mind."

"I don't question that, Georgianna, but -"

"Lady Georgianna, my lord, and I am already affianced. Why would I take you up on this silly childhood quibble you insist upon?"

Thorne looked pained for a moment, before his mask fell into place.The devil may-care-rogue. "It's your welfare we are speaking of Georgie."

"Enough to turn my future and livelihood into a wager?" Thorne opened his mouth, no doubt to soothe over her ruffled feathers, but she didn't give him that chance. "You already know my answer, Thorne. I made my choice weeks ago, and I won't rescind it."