Free No Greater Love by Katherine Kingsley Page B

for a minute, and she couldn’t read his expression. “Very well,” he finally said. “I think we shall call the discussion a draw. A diplomatic coup, Georgia—honor remains intact on both sides. Very clever. I do believe I might well have taken on more than I anticipated.”
    “As I told you, I only wish to oblige you—when you’re being sensible. If Binkley wouldn’t mind harnessing the horses? I can drive myself, of course.”
    “You most certainly will not. Binkley will drive you.”
    “It seems a terrible waste of his time—”
    “Georgia!” Nicholas roared. “Are you going to argue me on every point?”
    Georgia, who had learned early in her previous marriage when it was unwise to push a matter, backed down. “Very well,” she said. “But you cannot expect Binkley to play coachman to me every time I need to run an errand. I can drive perfectly well. I often used to, you know.”
    Nicholas pushed out his chair and stood, leaning his fingertips on the table. “You will not drive, not while Binkley and I are here to drive you. The horses are new and headstrong and they need further schooling. Believe it or not, Georgia, there is reason rattling around somewhere inside this imbecilic head.”
    “I beg your pardon,” she said contritely. “I had not meant to challenge your reason.”
    “What a relief that is. I’ve been challenging my reason enough for both of us. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go and instruct Binkley.”
    He pushed out his chair and went through the door. But as he walked down the corridor, she heard him muttering to himself. “Bloody, blasted blockhead,” were the last words to float down the corridor.
    Georgia laughed and went to fetch her cloak, wondering what had gotten into Nicholas. Perhaps, like Baggie, he was chronically bad-tempered in the morning.
    “You, married, miss?” Lily, a pretty young girl with a heart of gold, stood in the doorway of her cottage, her mouth agape.
    “Indeed, Lily, and to Lord Raven’s nephew. It’s all a very long story, but the long and the short of it is that we are now installed in the Close, and in desperate need of help. I was hoping I could persuade you to come and work for us.”
    “The Close? But you can’t live there—it’s all broken-down, and not fit for people.”
    Georgia shrugged. “Exactly. And you needn’t live at the house if you don’t wish. But, oh, Lily, we’re going to make it beautiful again, all on our own, piece by piece and one day it will become the grand place that it once was. Will you help?”
    Lily’s eyes shone with pleasure. “You know I will, and be thankful for the work, miss. You was always good to me, and I haven’t forgotten for a minute, and I’d work for you anywhere, broken-down house or no, and no matter what people say. Lady Raven—she must have been fearful angry with you.”
    “I imagine, although I didn’t consult her on the matter.” Georgia grinned. “I just packed my case and walked out the door.”
    Lily covered her mouth with her hand, but her eyes danced with laughter. “Oh. Oh, my. No by-your-leave? The walls must still be shaking. And to run off with the black nephew? But how? You weren’t allowed to talk to a soul!”
    “Actually, Nicholas managed it for me. He climbed the outside wall to my room to propose.”
    “Oh…” Lily said with a great sigh. “Oh, I’ve never heard of anything so romantic! My heart fair bursts!”
    “Well … it wasn’t quite like that. But if you will come, I’d be so grateful. Maybe you could start tomorrow?”
    “Tomorrow? Yes, miss. You can count on me. Thank you very much, miss. My auntie has moved in to look after the little ones, so I won’t be needed. The money will come in handy, though. And, miss?”
    “Yes, Lily?”
    Lily hesitated her cheeks reddening. “Thank you for the money you sent before. I was touched. I don’t know how to write, so’s I couldn’t send a note, and I surely couldn’t come by to pay you a