Georgiana and Giovanni’s tempestuous romance during The Beast Curse.

1

His first evening in Calatini, Giovanni settled in the forward seat of the Varkhoran embassy’s finest carriage with his mottled-brown draklizard Striker on his right shoulder and his bronze-hilted saber on his left hip like always. Not letting himself touch his saber, he forced himself to remain relaxed and still while offering Ambassador and Mrs. Rossi both across from him the bland smile Father had taught him to use at court. He said in a light voice that revealed nothing of his request’s true importance, “After you introduce me to King Devon and Queen Kiera at tonight’s rout party, you should introduce me to all their councilors and their royal witch.”

He scrutinized the older Varkhoran couple, who’d lived in Calatini for over four decades, to determine if they’d heard gossip from contacts back home. But neither reacted to his mention of Calatini’s royal witch, so Father telling everyone about his daughter’s success here, which had so scandalized the Varkhoran court, had yet to reach the faraway Rossis. Fortunate. Giuliettanna, his much older sister who’d fled Varkhora twenty-one years ago and was now Calatini’s illustrious royal witch, was the sole person he was interested in meeting tonight, yet she’d no inkling of his arrival, and she might leave if she did given how she’d disappeared so completely.

Giovanni swallowed a sigh. He’d never have found Giuliettanna at all if not for the self-renewing continual kin spell he’d cast with Mother’s help nine years ago. To his and their parents’ joy, his kin spell had finally located Giuliettanna just after this Plantfete, so he’d decided to travel to Calatini to heal the divide unbalancing their family. But his kin spell had suddenly quit working last month despite multiple attempts to reactivate it. Had Giuliettanna noticed his spell and disappeared again? Or had something worse happened? He and his parents would be devastated if his sister had died.

His tone as servile as his wife’s overnice smile, Ambassador Rossi inclined his head and replied, “I’ll gladly introduce you to the councilors who attend tonight, Lord Sabine, although I’m afraid Lady Juliet shall be impossible. A month ago, she left with the Duke of Oakmoor, one of Calatini’s councilors, to help him handle a private royal matter.”

Giovanni nearly frowned. So his kin spell had failed right when his sister and the duke left on their royal quest. That, not her death, doubtless explained its failure. Thank the Goddess. Please let Giuliettanna remain unscathed while handling that private royal matter with the Duke of Oakmoor.

He tensed, making Striker shift on his shoulder. Yet why must his sister’s companion be the Duke of Oakmoor? From the scrying Mother had done of the Calatinian court after they’d finally located Giuliettanna, the Duke of Oakmoor was the greatest rakehell in Ormas. Not that the suave duke would ever manage to seduce Giuliettanna considering their well-known dislike which had lasted for over a decade. But still.

Giovanni exhaled. And due to his long-lost sister’s royal quest, he’d not get to meet her tonight. Then once she returned at last, she might disappear again if she heard her younger brother was around. He gritted another bland smile for Ambassador and Mrs. Rossi. “When introducing me, please don’t mention that my father is the Duke of Appenninos and my cousins are King Alessandro and Queen Aurora.” That should delay Giuliettanna from realizing he was her brother since the gossip would likely focus on him being Varkhoran rather than his name and powerful relations.

Ambassador Rossi scowled. “But since you’ve no courtesy title, the Calatinians shall assume you’re a mere baron, not one of the most prominent heirs in Varkhora.”

Giovanni shrugged and smoothed his beard. It might be pleasant to be considered an ordinary lord for once. “My visit to Calatini isn’t an official one, and I don’t wish to intimidate Calatinian court.”

His wife’s pursed lips revealing her echoing disapproval, Ambassador Rossi muttered, “As you wish, Lord Sabine.”

At the Duke and Duchess of Linwick’s rout party, Ambassador Rossi escorted Giovanni straight to King Devon and Queen Kiera after greeting the Linwicks. Mrs. Rossi didn’t join them because “proper” Varkhoran ladies left politics and business to their male relatives, remaining ever demure and subservient. Giovanni swallowed another sigh. So insipid. ‘Twas probably why he’d never found a lady he could desire marrying. Yet as Father’s heir, ’twas his duty to marry. Perhaps one day he’d meet a strong lady like Mother or Giuliettanna that he could love. Although he might be even older than Father had been when he’d finally met Mother. Not ideal.

His greeting with Calatini’s king and queen went well. King Devon and Queen Kiera were warm yet obviously curious about why a Varkhoran lord was visiting a kingdom where women were equals, a state of affairs that upset most Varkhorans. Ambassador Rossi, for instance, treated the queen with formal civility, but he addressed most of his comments to the king. Yet despite their curiosity, King Devon and Queen Kiera graciously accepted Giovanni’s evasions about his reasons for visiting, although no doubt royal agents would be investigating him shortly. Opportune that no one in Calatini knew his true purpose for visiting. And to ensure the king and queen didn’t suspect anything, he carefully didn’t mention their royal witch even though he burned to know more about his sister’s life from those closest to her.

After they’d left King Devon and Queen Kiera, Ambassador Rossi introduced him to the eleven councilors attending the rout party as well as the countess acting for the Duke of Oakmoor during his absence. The introductions to the lords proceeded smoothly, yet the introductions to the three ladies were awkward at best, particularly Lady Ducharme who was Calatini’s Minister of Defense. Since none of the ladies were royal, Ambassador Rossi didn’t bother to cloak his disapproval—he barely glanced at the influential ladies, and his voice was stiff and almost cold when he addressed them. A shame that Ambassador Rossi still couldn’t accept women as equals even though he’d lived in Calatini for decades. Giovanni concealed a frown. Surely their ambassador’s prejudice wasn’t helping relations between Varkhora and Calatini. When he returned home, he must speak with King Alessandro and Queen Aurora about replacing Ambassador Rossi. Although finding another ambassador who didn’t share Ambassador Rossi’s prejudice might be difficult.

The final councilor Ambassador Rossi introduced Giovanni to was the elderly Duke of Osbourne, who was accompanied by his striking youngest daughter. As Giovanni greeted the duke, his gaze kept drifting to Lady Georgiana Laurent. Around his age, Lady Georgiana was gorgeous with exquisite alabaster skin, lustrous near-black hair, and rich brown eyes. And although she wore a demure smile, her chin was firm, and her gaze direct. His heart quickened. A strong lady who shrewdly concealed it with feminine modesty. One who didn’t approve of him from how her eyes faintly narrowed as she scrutinized him. Why?

Once they’d finished exchanging greetings, Giovanni warmly smiled at Lady Georgiana. She was the perfect puzzle to occupy him until Giuliettanna returned. “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me later this evening, Lady Georgiana?”

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2

Her heart surging, Georgiana scrutinized the too handsome and too polite Lord Sabine from his mottled-brown draklizard on his right shoulder to his spartan evening clothes and bronze-hilted saber on his left hip. Varkhoran men, particularly lords, were known to despise strong ladies, especially those who outranked them. Ambassador Rossi could barely make himself to converse with the lady councilors or otherwise influential ladies like the Duchess of Childes, and when he did, he all but sneered at them. And court gossip said he’d outright refused to meet with the nightmara queen-heir Lady Moonbud when she’d been in Ormas to renew the Nightmara-Calatini Treaty last season because nightmara were matriarchal. Disgraceful.

Georgiana’s lips almost tightened. Yet from Lord Sabine’s behavior at the Linwicks’ rout party tonight, the younger Varkhoran was obviously much cleverer than Ambassador Rossi and realized that such chauvinism wouldn’t help him in Calatini. So he concealed it behind gracious talk, affable smiles, and feigned acceptance. All of which were enhanced by his boldly rugged looks that made Calatinian gentlemen appear dull. Close to her age, Lord Sabine possessed intense kahve-brown eyes, exotic olive skin, and inky black hair and a matching short beard covering his strong face. And from his fierce yet fluid movements, ’twas clear Lord Sabine was a marrow-deep warrior despite being a baron. Such a warrior, especially one from Varkhora, would definitely despise the gentler sex for possessing less physical prowess. All his warm politeness must be a lie. She’d not dance with a deceitful cad like that, even if he was the most handsome gentleman she’d ever met.

Lifting her chin ever so slightly, she sweetened her demure smile as she refused Lord Sabine’s invitation. “Dancing is better saved for balls or soirees, so I don’t intend to dance tonight.”

As Father eyed her askance because she loved dancing and rarely missed a chance to do so, Lord Sabine grinned at her and said, “How unfortunate for us gentlemen. We must settle for lesser partners since you refuse to dance.”

She stiffened. Was Lord Sabine mockingly implying that she was being overparticular? He couldn’t know that she was an accomplished dancer. Or was the Varkhoran attempting to flirt with her for some reason? Distasteful. She allowed her smile to turn saccharine. “‘Tis kind of you to say so when you’ve never seen me dance.”

Although Ambassador Rossi glowered at her pert retort, Lord Sabine simply laughed then replied, “No doubt you make as striking a figure when dancing as you do here.”

A blush heated her cheeks. Definitely flirting. Why? Her pertness had surely nettled Lord Sabine as much as it had Ambassador Rossi. Was Lord Sabine seeking an alliance with a wealthy and powerful Calatinian family to boost his status back home? A mere baron could be elevated by marrying a duke’s daughter, even a foreign and impudent one. She swept an elegant curtsy. “Again, you flatter me, my lord.”

Before she and Lord Sabine could exchange further sharp words, Father interjected, “Tell me, Lord Sabine, how long have you had your draklizard?” Then he kept their discussion to the Varkhoran court’s custom of gentlemen possessing draklizards and ladies faebirds. Not surprising Father had quelled her and Lord Sabine’s near bickering. As Calatini’s wily Minister of Intelligence who adored intrigue, Father much preferred discourse to altercations.

Once the two Varkhorans left, Father arched a brow at her and murmured, “Why so prickly with Lord Sabine?”

Georgiana pursed her lips, resisting the urge to toss her head. A defiant gesture like that might be noticed by court. “I don’t trust him. His apparent acceptance of ladies being equals can’t possibly be genuine. Varkhoran men are renowned for expecting women to be demure and subservient.”

Father hummed. “True, but I sense no deceit from Lord Sabine. Perhaps he’s visiting Calatini because he wants ladies to be his equals.”

She couldn’t help her soft snort. Doubtful, very doubtful. “Well, I’m sure your spies shall tell you Lord Sabine’s reasons for visiting soon enough.”

Not wanting to discuss Lord Sabine further, she told Father she was going to fetch some refreshments. Once armed with a flute of sparkling wine, she circulated alone about the drawing room. She bit back a sigh when a waltz began and the unmarried Count of Meade asked her to dance. Since she’d told Lord Sabine that she didn’t intend to dance tonight, she had to refuse other offers as well. If only she’d found a better excuse. She regretfully refused Lord Meade then continued circulating. But without the relief of dancing, the Linwicks’ rout party was dreadfully dull.

She was fetching another flute of sparkling wine when Lord Sabine drawled from behind her, “You appear bored, Lady Georgiana. Perhaps you’ve changed your mind about dancing tonight?”

Her pulse flaring, Georgiana turned to face Lord Sabine, who was now alone too, and her pulse quickened further at the warm smile glinting amid his beard. Goddess, he was handsome. Not that she was about to allow that to overpower her distrust. She sniffed. “Perhaps I might if a more impressive gentleman asked me.”

Lord Sabine chuckled, his smile not fading in the least. “Like whom?”

She glared at the smug Varkhoran lord. Somehow she must convince him of her indifference. Maybe mentioning her most prominent former suitor would work. She sipped her sparkling wine. “Like the Duke of Oakmoor.”

His smile fading at last, Lord Sabine narrowly eyed her. “And why would you desire the attention of the greatest rakehell in Ormas?”

She clenched her glass flute. Was Lord Sabine implying she was unchaste? How dare he? Her courtship with the Duke of Oakmoor had been entirely proper. Even if the rakehell duke trifled with innocents, which he didn’t, she never would have been idiotic enough to let him seduce her without marrying her first. She blurted, “Ladies always desire the attention of gentlemen they’re practically betrothed to.”

Lord Sabine scowled. “You’re almost betrothed to the Duke of Oakmoor?”

Georgiana shifted as a flush scorched her skin at her ridiculous pretense. All of court knew her and the duke’s courtship had ended months ago, although she had attempted to revive it before he’d left with Lady Juliet to handle a private royal matter. The duke was still the most prominent eligible gentleman in Calatini, and she was tired of being an unwed girl. They were expected to be sweet and coy, so she must continually conceal her strength to avoid intimidating potential husbands and their relations. And the Duke of Oakmoor had made his preference for strong ladies clear when ending their courtship.

She sipped some sparkling wine to hide her flush. “Is a duke wanting to wed a duke’s daughter so surprising?”

Lord Sabine grunted. “That depends on the duke and the duke’s daughter.” His mottled-brown draklizard shifting on his shoulder, he bent a brief bow. “Good evening, my lady.”

As Lord Sabine strode away, she exhaled. Please let him not quiz anyone about her supposed almost betrothal. Damn Lord Sabine for goading her into blurting that. He was dangerous to her wits. She’d better avoid the vexing foreigner while he was visiting Calatini.

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3

Giovanni gritted a bland smile while he strode away from the infuriating Lady Georgiana Laurent. How could she accept a beastly rakehell and blatantly scorn an honorable gentleman like himself? She’d seemed so strong and shrewd, but ’twas a mere mirage. He should avoid her while he awaited Giuliettanna’s return.

So on the days before Summerday, he scanned the Calatinian court events he attended for Lady Georgiana then stayed across the room from her. And with every conversation, he subtly probed about Giuliettanna while carefully remaining silent about his reasons for visiting Calatini. Yet he unearthed little about his sister. ‘Twas maddening to be so close but unable to make progress.

On Summerday, he skipped his daily sword practice and left the Varkhoran embassy well before Ambassador and Mrs. Rossi usually emerged. They were even more hidebound than many at the Varkhoran court. Perhaps because they’d not been softened by Father’s and King Alessandro’s gradual efforts to balance Varkhoran society. Or perhaps they’d fossilized to defend themselves against the progressive Calatinian one. But either way, it made socializing with the Rossis tiresome.

He rode outside of Ormas for much of the day, eating luncheon at a country tavern. Around late afternoon, he returned to the Varkhoran embassy to change then headed to Jade Garden without bothering to find the Rossis. He’d heard that the sprawling city garden was where many from the Calatinian court celebrated Summerday festivities. No doubt their festivities would be more racy and lavish than those back in Varkhora.

And so it was. Excited chatter and laughter tinkled through the crowd during the sensual crowning of the Summer Lord and Lady, the three traditional pageants about the Sea God’s courtship of the Goddess, and the delectable honey feast. Then when dusk fell, the children and elders left as multiple Summerday bonfires were lit across the sprawling gardens while priests began marrying handfasted couples or handfasting new couples. The crowd became increasingly bawdy as couples began dancing sunwise around the bonfires before leaping through the flames to enhance their fertility.

Giovanni smiled and scratched Striker’s chest while he strode along the outskirts and studied the cavorting couples, half of whom wore court attire. Although the Summerday festivities back home consisted of the same essentials, Varkhorans were much more serious about it, particularly the fertility ritual. Probably because bearing children was the sole vocation for proper Varkhoran women. He sighed as he circled past the nearest bonfire.

Then he halted. Lady Georgiana Laurent was standing alone directly before him and observing the bonfire with a faint smile. Why was she attending such ribald festivities? She was an innocent young lady, and although almost betrothed, her future husband was still away handling that private royal matter.

Lady Georgiana’s head turned, and their gazes met, so he forced himself to join her with a bow. Although he’d been avoiding her, doing so now would be extremely rude. Once he straightened, he said, “Good evening, Lady Georgiana. I’m surprised to see you here. Alone too.”

Lady Georgiana nodded toward the couples dancing about the nearest Summerday bonfire. “I’m not alone. I’m attending with my sister Lady Aynsley and her husband. They’re dancing there.”

Giovanni leaned toward Lady Georgiana, his heart quickening. Although ’twas utterly improper, he blurted, “Perhaps we should join them.”

Her eyes widening, Lady Georgiana gaped at him. “Did you just ask me to dance about a Summerday bonfire? We’re not married or betrothed.”

He leaned closer and inhaled Georgiana’s heady scent. Somehow he’d not mind if they were married or betrothed. She was so refreshingly outspoken and striking. And her shrewd strength couldn’t be a mere mirage. Her preference for that beastly rakehell must be a callow mistake. He’d help her see that. He smiled into her eyes. “Dance with me, Georgiana.”

She swayed toward him. Then she gasped and jerked backward. “How dare you ask a practically betrothed lady to dance about a Summerday bonfire? You’re almost as bad as the Duke of Oakmoor.”

Fire flared beneath his skin, and he captured Georgiana’s wrist as she began to leave. He gritted, “And yet you’re willing to marry him.”

Georgiana tossed her head. “He’s a wealthy and influential duke who prefers strong ladies.”

His jaw tight, Giovanni yanked his blind lady against him. “Oakmoor isn’t the only such duke.” Although technically, he himself wasn’t a duke yet. Not that he was about to reveal his true rank with Georgiana in case she decided to marry him simply because he was a future duke with royal cousins.

Georgiana blinked at him, and her brow furrowed. “Don’t be obtuse. He’s the only unwed duke of marriageable age in Calatini.” She shoved Giovanni’s chest with her free hand. “Now, quit attempting to compromise me. Grace, Lord Aynsley, and others from court can see us, remember?”

Striker bristling on his shoulder, he scowled. He’d forgotten about everyone else when he’d yanked Georgiana against him. ‘Twas fortunate that he’d not kissed her. She’d be truly compromised and have to marry him. Although then she could no longer pretend to prefer Oakmoor. But stealing her right to choose her husband wouldn’t be fair. He made himself allow Georgiana to withdraw to a proper distance, although he didn’t release her wrist to prevent her from leaving. “My apologies. I wasn’t attempting to compromise you—I simply forgot we weren’t alone.”

Georgiana pursed her lips. Was she aware how tempting she was when she did that?

Hunger hot in his veins, Giovanni caressed Georgiana’s palm with his thumb. Goddess, if only they were alone. He’d kiss her too tempting lips until she purred. Inhaling to settle himself, he smiled at Georgiana. “Shall we demonstrate we’ve no ill will by dancing the opening waltz together at the Duchess of Wildewall’s ball tomorrow?”

Georgiana tugged on her captured hand, to no avail. She frowned at him. “That shan’t be necessary.”

He grinned and edged closer. “Perhaps not, but it shall be enjoyable.” And ‘twould silently warn off other gentlemen.

Outright glaring now, Georgiana jerked on her captured hand again. “I said no.”

Giovanni smoothed his beard and eyed his obstinate lady. How could he get her to agree? Provoking her pride obviously. He arched a brow. “Why? Too cowardly to dance with me?”

Glaring even fiercer, Georgiana stepped closer and poked his chest. “I’m not cowardly.”

His blood surging, he caressed her palm with his thumb once more. “Prove it by dancing with me tomorrow.”

Georgiana huffed then snapped, “Very well.”

He grinned and was about to reply when a soft feminine voice interjected, “Everything all right?”

He and Georgiana whirled to face her sister and Lord Aynsley, who were frowning at them. He swallowed a sigh and released Georgiana’s hand at last. Thankfully, he’d won her agreement about tomorrow before they’d been interrupted.

Georgiana smiled and swept toward Lady Aynsley. “Everything is fine, although I think I should return home before the evening gets even bawdier.”

Lady Aynsley inclined her head, then Georgiana and her family left without the two ladies glancing at him, although Lord Aynsley did nod farewell.

Giovanni left Jade Garden soon after too since courtship rituals without Georgiana were pointless. Not to mention observing the increasingly ardent dancing felt prurient.

He returned to the Varkhoran embassy and avoided the Rossis until he rode with them to the Duchess of Wildewall’s ball the following evening. Arriving just before the dancing began, he scanned the crowd for Georgiana as soon as they’d greeted the duchess. He stiffened when he spotted her flirting with a suave gentleman who appeared at least twice their age. He muttered to Ambassador Rossi, “Who is that with Lady Georgiana Laurent? I don’t believe I’ve met him.”

Ambassador Rossi glanced across the ballroom then hummed. “The Duke of Oakmoor. He must have finished handling that private royal matter.”

Giovanni nearly scowled. He should have guessed that the gentleman was Georgiana’s almost betrothed given how she was clinging to him. Not even Calatinian ladies were so bold in public with gentlemen unconnected to them. Yet despite her blatant flirting with Oakmoor, Giovanni still strode through the crowd toward Georgiana and her almost betrothed. After all, she’d promised him the first dance, not the duke.

Then he halted when Georgiana yanked Oakmoor onto the floor as the opening strains of the first waltz began. She’d just jilted him to dance with the duke. Only a betrothed lady would dare be that rude.

His teeth grinding together, he forced himself to pivot and stride to the wall so that he could scan the crowd once more. But for his sister this time. Since Oakmoor had returned, Giuliettanna was doubtless here too. He quickly found a Varkhoran lady who resembled Mother—Giuliettanna surely—talking with the Orandian ambassador and the ambassador’s husband. Yet he didn’t join them because he couldn’t reunite with his long-lost sister in front of others.

Instead, he watched Oakmoor join Giuliettanna and the Orandians immediately following the first waltz then sweep Giuliettanna onto the floor. Giovanni’s jaw tightened even further. Oakmoor should keep to the lady he was practically betrothed to and not pester his sister. He clenched his saber when Oakmoor almost kissed Giuliettanna near the end of their waltz. That beastly rakehell!

As Giuliettanna hastened out to the garden once she left the duke, Giovanni hurried after her. A garden away from the eyes of Calatini’s court would be the ideal place to reunite with his sister and heal the divide unbalancing their family.

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4

When Lord Sabine followed Lady Juliet into the garden, Georgiana stiffened and gripped her flute of sparkling wine. Why was he following the royal witch? He couldn’t possibly want to marry her since Lady Juliet must be almost twenty years their senior. And although Lady Juliet was skilled at creating spells, a Varkhoran man would never ask a woman to create a special spell for him, except perhaps a love spell or other spellwork they deemed female magic.

Georgiana’s mouth tightened. Someone must separate Lord Sabine and Lady Juliet, and since the Duke of Oakmoor was the Minister of Foreign Relations, he was the most appropriate someone. So even though their waltz—which she’d forced because she’d been desperate to evade Lord Sabine—had ended in cold silence, she swept over to her former suitor. She touched his arm to gain his attention then murmured, “Excuse me, your grace, but the Varkhoran lord just followed Lady Juliet into the garden.”

The Duke of Oakmoor stiffened then turned and hurried out to the garden without a word.

She gaped after him. The suave duke was never so abrupt—or silent. He was obviously worried about Lord Sabine approaching Lady Juliet too. Not good. She’d better follow to learn precisely what Lord Sabine was up to.

When Georgiana joined them in the garden, she gasped at the Duke of Oakmoor protectively holding Lady Juliet while he and Lord Sabine glared at one another with Lord Sabine clenching his saber, obviously about to attack the duke. She exclaimed, “Your grace, what are you doing?” She glared at Lord Sabine. “‘Tis your fault, I’m sure.”

As the duke and the royal witch began softly conferring, Lord Sabine bristled and glowered at Georgiana. He snapped, “I’m not the one who interrupted a private conversation.”

She glowered back, her chest twisting. Such intimacy between Lord Sabine and Lady Juliet wasn’t proper at all. “You’re the one who almost drew his saber on a duke who far outranks you.”

Lord Sabine glared, his mottled-brown draklizard bristling on his shoulder like he himself had earlier. “Oakmoor doesn’t far outrank me.”

Georgiana huffed. So delusional. Lord Sabine was a mere baron, not a duke who was also a royal councilor. “You should study your rank hierarchy again.”

An unexpected smirk flickered across Lord Sabine’s face. “Perhaps you should study Varkhoran titles more.”

She blinked at Lord Sabine. What did that cryptic gibe mean? Surely barons didn’t outrank dukes in Varkhora.

She was about to ask when Lord Sabine scowled at the Duke of Oakmoor and growled, “What are you doing to my sister, Oakmoor?”

Eyeing Lord Sabine and Lady Juliet, Georgiana gasped like earlier. They were brother and sister? But that meant Lady Juliet was Varkhoran. Although the two did resemble each other. No doubt finding Lady Juliet was the reason Lord Sabine was visiting Calatini.

Yet Lord Sabine and Lady Juliet being siblings wasn’t the only shocking discovery Georgiana made in Wildewall House’s garden. She also learned the Duke of Oakmoor was a secret witch when he healed Lady Juliet’s wounded hand with magic. Not that his solicitude toward Lady Juliet was surprising. The rakehell duke had always treated the royal witch differently than other ladies. That, and the hungry way the Duke of Oakmoor watched Lady Juliet when he thought no one could see, had made her frightfully jealous during their former courtship.

Unsettled and still eyeing Lord Sabine with Lady Juliet, she remained silent as the Duke of Oakmoor escorted her back to Father before leaving, and she didn’t tell Father what she’d discovered either. Father would quiz her about why she was unsettled, and she’d rather forget that she had been.

Over the following week, Georgiana threw herself into pursuing the Duke of Oakmoor. He didn’t unsettle her or endanger her wits. She attempted to avoid Lord Sabine as much as possible, but she kept encountering him because the Duke of Oakmoor was often near Lady Juliet. Every time she encountered the vexing Varkhoran, her treacherous heart would quicken, but she concealed it behind sharp words with him and flirting with the duke. Although their encounters did make her realize that Lord Sabine’s acceptance of ladies being equals was indeed genuine. He treated his illustrious and strong older sister with too much loving respect for it not to be. Yet that didn’t soften her behavior toward him because she’d no desire to be his means of forging an alliance with her wealthy and powerful family to elevate his status back in Varkhora. So despite their many encounters, she managed to avoid ever dancing with Lord Sabine… until the Campbells’ ball.

When she and Lord Sabine started bickering like usual, the Duke of Oakmoor arched his brows at her as the first waltz began and smoothly said, “I believe you owe Lord Sabine a first dance for the one you missed at the Duchess of Wildewall’s ball.”

Her heart surging, Georgiana stared at the duke. She couldn’t risk dancing with Lord Sabine—’twas why she’d jilted him last week. Doubtless the duke had only suggested she go dance to stop her persistent flirting that openly irritated him.

Smiling, the Duke of Oakmoor shooed them toward the gathering dancers. “Go on then.”

Lord Sabine narrowly eyed the duke but extended his hand toward her.

She swallowed. She couldn’t refuse Lord Sabine’s silent invitation without being unspeakably rude. So she pursed her lips to disguise their trembling as she laid her hand in his and let him escort her onto the floor. Oh, Goddess.

Her entire body tingled when Lord Sabine drew her into his arms and she placed her hand just below his right shoulder where his draklizard calmly watched her. She inhaled a ragged breath as they began fluidly twirling about the ballroom. She’d never enjoyed such a vigorous and agile partner. What would it be like to do more than dance with Lord Sabine? She shivered. Why was she suffering such wanton thoughts? She never had with other gentlemen, including the rakehell Duke of Oakmoor.

His dark eyes even darker than normal, Lord Sabine smiled and drew her a shade closer. “I knew you were an excellent dancer.”

Georgiana swallowed again, her gaze falling to Lord Sabine’s mouth. Would his beard scratch or tickle if he kissed her? She mumbled, “You’re an excellent dancer too.”

Lord Sabine pulled her close enough that her blue arachne silk ballgown brushed his legs. “If you don’t quit looking at my mouth like that, Georgiana, I’m going to kiss you in the middle of the ballroom.”

More tingling suffusing her, she gasped and yanked her gaze upward to meet Lord Sabine’s eyes, which were near black now. Clearly he was suffering from the same fierce hunger she was. She wetted her parched lips. “You can’t. Kissing me here would cause a scandal.”

Lord Sabine shuddered and shut his eyes. “Goddess, don’t lick your lips either. ‘Tis even more tempting.”

Heat flaring in her veins at his hoarse tone, she almost shivered again. Lord Sabine was no tame Calatinian gentleman, so he’d likely fulfill his sensual threat. But they mustn’t—’twould have dire repercussions. She gripped his arm. “If you kiss me in the middle of the ballroom, we’d be forced to marry.”

Opening his eyes, Lord Sabine warmly smiled down at her. “So?”

Georgiana blinked. Unbelievable. “So? So?” She leaned toward the obtuse gentleman. “So I don’t wish to marry you.” Much too dangerous.

Lord Sabine’s smile twisted into a frown. “Yes, your excessive flirting with Oakmoor makes that apparent.” He spun her, using it to pull her against him. “But you do desire me.”

Breathless with her heart pounding, she stared up at Lord Sabine. And he called her tempting. That hard body of his was irresistible. She inhaled and forced herself to shift back to the proper distance then drawled his earlier response, “So?”

His jaw clenching, Lord Sabine flung her in a complicated twirl that most ladies couldn’t manage, but she performed with nary a stumble. When she was back in his arms, he leaned toward her with narrowed eyes. “Perhaps you should listen to what your body and heart tell you, and not just your head.”

Georgiana sniffed. Except only her head was sensible. Yet to avoid debating that obvious truth, she turned her gaze to Lord Sabine’s draklizard still perched on his shoulder and said, “I’m amazed your draklizard has remained motionless during our entire waltz.”

Lord Sabine shrugged. “We Varkhorans train them from their hatching to do so.”

She asked about that, so she and Lord Sabine kept discussing that as they twirled. They survived the last half of their first waltz together without any further dangerous talk.

When their waltz ended, Lord Sabine propelled them over to the Duke of Oakmoor and Lady Juliet, who were sitting near the refreshments table, most unusual for them. Then Lord Sabine scolded the duke for tiring his sister, which irritated Lady Juliet into commanding Lord Sabine to dance with Georgiana again before sweeping over to the Orandians. When the duke echoed Lady Juliet’s command for them to dance, Georgiana reluctantly agreed. But not because she truly wanted another dance with Lord Sabine. If they danced together now, they couldn’t dance together for the rest of the ball, and this waltz was half over. Besides, ‘twouldn’t be wise to anger Calatini’s royal witch, and she had commanded them to dance.

During the week and a half following the Campbells’ ball, Georgiana encountered Lord Sabine at every court event she attended, and they talked at most of them, although she managed to avoid dancing with Lord Sabine again by provoking quarrels with him and continuing her fake pursuit of the Duke of Oakmoor.

Yet such stringent avoidance was draining, so she was relieved when she could skip the evening’s court event, Lady Ducharme’s ocean feast, with little comment. Since she suffered a violent reaction when eating seafood, no one from court would expect her to attend. A quiet evening at home resting and not encountering Lord Sabine was exactly what she needed.

So when the butler interrupted her solitary dinner to announce Lord Sabine, she leapt upright with a strangled gasp, her napkin dropping to the floor. Private visits between gentlemen and ladies weren’t the least proper. She’d be ruined and have to marry Lord Sabine if court learned of his visit. Fortunately, they wouldn’t because Father only employed incredibly discreet servants thanks to his sensitive royal duties. Not that Lord Sabine likely realized that. She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you doing here?”

His draklizard eyeing the food but remaining still on his shoulder like always, Lord Sabine smiled as he settled in the chair beside hers. “Keeping you company. Remaining alone at home must be dull, especially since you know the rest of court is enjoying a delicious feast without you.”

Georgiana glowered at the maid setting a place before Lord Sabine. She’d not requested that, but Father’s servants were accustomed to performing their duties unbidden regardless of whatever intrigue Father was handling. And doubtless the servants assumed she’d invited Lord Sabine and would be unable to hide their smirks if she ordered him removed as soon as he arrived. She turned her glower onto Lord Sabine as she sank back into her chair. “A quiet evening at home is restful on occasion.”

Lord Sabine grinned at her while setting his draklizard in the next chair. “But much more enjoyable when ’tis shared.”

Her heart fluttering, she sniffed then plucked her napkin from the floor and smoothed it into her lap as Lord Sabine gave his draklizard a heaped plate of roast beefsteak. She’d tell him to leave after they ate. Keeping her gaze on her bowl, she swallowed a spoonful of her chicken chowder. “Only if you’re sharing it with the right person.”

Lord Sabine chuckled. “Exactly.”

Slashing him a disdainful glance, Georgiana gripped her spoon. Vexing man. “I never said you were the right person.”

Grinning harder, Lord Sabine ate some chicken chowder. “I am though. Who else would give up a delicious ocean feast without regret to enjoy a quiet evening together instead?”

She inhaled, tingling filling her chest. Then she stiffened. A mere baron determined to elevate his status by marrying a wealthy duke’s daughter would do that. She set down her spoon to avoid throwing it at Lord Sabine. “You are not the right person for me. I’m going to marry the Duke of Oakmoor.”

Lord Sabine’s spoon clattered on the table. “Why isn’t he here then?” Fierce hands grasped her shoulders and turned her toward him. “I’m tired of you forever hurling Oakmoor at me. He’s not right for you—I am.” As her pulse flared, he yanked her against him. “And I’m going to prove it.”

Georgiana whimpered when Lord Sabine’s—Giovanni’s—mouth captured hers in their first ravenous kiss. Dear Goddess, so good. And his beard didn’t scratch or tickle as he kissed her; it caressed. Fiery hunger throbbing through her, she fisted her hands in his evening coat and kissed Giovanni back with wild passion that matched his.

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5

As Georgiana fiercely returned his kiss, Giovanni yanked her fully into his lap. Goddess, she tasted delectable—fiery yet still sweet. He rumbled and kissed Georgiana deeper. He’d always known their kisses would be full of fiery passion. But his obstinate lady had been determined to deny the passionate love between them. He deepened their kiss even further and caressed her over her gown. Not that she could now.

When Georgiana began to wrench at his evening coat, he forced himself to wrest their mouths apart despite how hard and aching his body was for her. Making love should wait until they were married, or betrothed at least. He rubbed her red and swollen lips with his thumb. “You see, we’re right for each other. So right.”

Her brown eyes dazed, Georgiana blinked at him. Then her face tightened, and she shoved at his chest. “No, no, ’tis madness. Dangerous madness.”

Tenderness softened his chest at his love’s obvious panic. To soothe her, he smiled into her eyes and tucked loose hair behind her ear. “‘Tis neither mad nor dangerous, simply fiercely passionate. It shall make our life together interesting.”

Georgiana stilled in his lap. “Our life together?“

Giovanni almost laughed. How shaken Georgiana sounded. “Of course our life together. I’m not some rakehell like Oakmoor who kisses any lady like that.”

Scowling, Georgiana shoved at his chest once more. “No, just the ones you’re attempting to compromise into marriage.”

He stiffened, his heart twisting. Georgiana believed him so dishonorable? He leaned toward her. “I wasn’t attempting to compromise you.”

Georgiana huffed. “Why else would you visit me alone?” She poked his chest. “If Father didn’t have incredibly discreet servants thanks to his duties as the Minister of Intelligence, I’d be ruined and have to marry you.”

Giovanni winced and removed his arms from about Georgiana. When he’d heard she was missing tonight’s feast, his only thought had been how lonely she must be. He swallowed. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot about the scandal of us being alone together.”

Georgiana glowered at him as she leapt from his lap. “How could you possibly forget that? Such behavior is probably even less acceptable in Varkhora where women are expected to always be demure and subservient with no will of their own.”

He winced again. True, but he loved and needed Georgiana so much that he forgot everything else. Exactly like Father always had with Mother. Despite not sharing Father’s fierce drive like Juliet—what Giuliettanna genuinely went by now—he was still their father’s son. Sighing, he rubbed his beard. “I forgot because I love you.” When Georgiana froze and gaped at him, he rose and began striding toward her. “As much as you love me.”

Just before he reached her, Georgiana burst into flight like a startled firebird and darted to the other side of the table. “I don’t love you.”

He smiled as he followed Georgiana around the table. His blind love. “Why else would you kiss me with such fiery passion?”

Still retreating, Georgiana frantically shook her head. “I don’t love you. I don’t. Marrying you isn’t at all the life I planned. You’re a mere baron, and women have no power in Varkhora. I need to marry someone like the Duke of Oakmoor.”

Fire flared in Giovanni’s veins. Must Georgiana keep hurling that beastly rakehell at him? “Except Oakmoor shall never marry you.”

Georgiana froze and glared with her set chin raised. “Yes, he shall.” When Giovanni snorted at that, she snapped, “The duke wouldn’t have asked me to act as his hostess at his soiree tomorrow otherwise.”

The fire coursing through Giovanni erupted like an Orandian volcano before the Fire King had harnessed their power. How dare Oakmoor ask Georgiana to act as his hostess? Giovanni halted directly before Georgiana and gritted, “All of court shall assume you’re his latest lover since he’s not announced a betrothal between you.”

Georgiana jerked a shrug. “So?”

He growled and barely resisted the urge to yank Georgiana into his arms and make love to her on her father’s dining room floor. Then she could no longer hurl Oakmoor at him. He inhaled a bracing breath. But seducing her like that wouldn’t be fair or right. Even if Georgiana was being blindly obstinate. He made himself stride back around the table to collect Striker. “I’d best go before you goad me into doing something we both regret. Good evening, Lady Georgiana.”

Unable to truly unwind that night, he headed to Oakmoor House straight after breakfast to confront Oakmoor about Georgiana. Even if she chose another, he still had to ensure she was happy with the gentleman she’d chosen. He was stunned when Oakmoor revealed that he’d never asked Georgiana to act as his hostess then offered to help them settle matters. But his chest lightening, he gratefully accepted.

Yet his happiness was shattered when he and Juliet burst into Oakmoor’s family dining room and found Georgiana and Oakmoor kissing. His blood a river of hellfire, he snarled at Oakmoor, “I should have realized something like this was behind your kind offer to settle matters with Georgiana early at your soiree, you beastly rakehell.”

Obviously embarrassed to be caught kissing, Georgiana whimpered then bolted through the doorway past Juliet, and Giovanni raced after her. She wasn’t escaping him so easily. He caught Georgiana near the front entrance and propelled her into the closest anteroom, firmly shutting the door behind them.

His burning anger making Striker stiffen on his shoulder, he narrowed his eyes at Georgiana. “I thought gentlemen and ladies being alone together was scandalous.”

A blush darkening her cheeks, Georgiana swallowed then lifted her chin. “It is, but the Duke of Oakmoor’s servants are even more discreet than Father’s, so I knew ’twas safe to visit.”

His jaw clenched. Georgiana knowing that about Oakmoor’s servants indicated a great deal of intimacy. Further proof that she actually meant to marry the rakehell duke despite the passionate love between them. He strode toward her. “Made many such visits to your almost betrothed’s townhouse, have you?”

Georgiana stiffened and glared at him. “Of course not! Tonight was my first visit to Oakmoor House alone.”

Giovanni leaned toward Georgiana, hunger and fury blazing in his veins. If she’d not visited alone before, that meant her relationship with Oakmoor had changed. She and the duke must be fully betrothed now. Unable to bear offering his congratulations, he simply snarled, “I’m surprised to hear tonight is your first visit given Oakmoor’s rakehell ways.”

Stiffening further, Georgiana poked his chest. “I’d never be idiotic enough to let any gentleman seduce me without marrying me first.”

He arched a sardonic brow at Georgiana’s blind delusion. “Are you certain of that?” He caressed her lips. “I could have easily seduced you last night.”

Georgiana shivered and jerked backward. “Not hardly.”

The fire in his blood sparking, Giovanni gripped Georgiana’s shoulders and yanked her against him, causing Striker to squawk and take flight. “Allow me to demonstrate.”

Then he seized her mouth in a furious, devouring kiss. She struggled against him for half a heartbeat before moaning and fiercely returning his kiss like yesterday. Triumph and desire flaring, he tumbled her to the floor and kissed her until neither of them could breathe. Georgiana was his. His. He was going to make love to her over and over so she could never again deny that and no other gentleman would ever take her, not even a rakehell like Oakmoor.

He began wrenching up Georgiana’s ballgown, but her skirt tangled with his saber, and he froze. Dear Goddess, what was he doing? He was about to forcibly make love to a betrothed lady on an anteroom floor of her betrothed’s townhouse. ‘Twas wrong and dishonorable and unfair when she’d chosen another. Perhaps Georgiana was right that their love was mad and dangerous.

So although his too hard body throbbed in time with his pounding heart, Giovanni surged upright then hauled Georgiana to her feet before releasing her as if burnt by a fire witch’s mirror.

Her skin flushed, lips swollen, and eyes dazed, Georgiana blinked at him and swayed ever so slightly.

Aching to wrap Georgiana in his arms, he shut his eyes and gulped a shuddering breath. Somehow he must end this before he succumbed to temptation and made love to her. And he must prevent them from being near each other again since he couldn’t trust himself around her. Maybe angering Georgiana enough that she stormed off would work. He rasped, “See, I told you I could have easily seduced you. Aren’t you fortunate that I’m not a rakehell like your betrothed?”

Georgiana gasped and, from her skirt’s flurried rustling, began fleeing toward the door.

His chest aching, he opened his eyes to watch the love he could never have leave him. After a now pale Georgiana flung open the door, he called after her, “I hope you don’t regret choosing to visit Oakmoor alone tonight when you could have married a gentleman who loved you instead.”

Paling even more, Georgiana bolted from the anteroom.

He whistled for Striker then followed Georgiana out as soon as his draklizard alighted on his shoulder. He stiffened at the pair of older ladies in the entrance hall gaping at him and the open front door, likely where Georgiana had fled given their darting gazes. And they’d obviously overheard his last retort to her, so gossip about Georgiana and Oakmoor’s betrothal would be the talk of Oakmoor’s soiree. Unable to stomach that, Giovanni hurried from Oakmoor House even though Juliet was still there, although he left the carriage behind for her to take later.

After a restless night, he visited Juliet late the next morning like usual. His sister appeared tired and strained again as they ate the light Varkhoran breakfast she’d conjured. She always worked too hard. Despite his misery over Georgiana, he smiled when Juliet said she wanted to return home. To calm his fretting sister, he placed a mirror call to their parents to tell them that happy news, and they were as thrilled as he was.

Yet he sobered once more after he left the palace so Juliet could attend to her royal duties. Not wanting to talk to anyone, he spent the afternoon galloping outside of Ormas with Striker, although that didn’t improve his mood. However, he still joined Juliet for dinner then escorted her to the Islayes’ ball even though Georgiana would surely be there.

As soon as they arrived at Islaye House, his friends Arthur and Alex—more properly known as the Count of Morwynne and Lord Alexander Greysnowe—drew him away to discuss Lady Ducharme’s fencing salon the following morning. Giovanni forced himself to smile so his friends didn’t suspect how miserable he was about Georgiana.

But he stiffened when Georgiana joined them moments later with a soft smile and said, “Good evening, Lord Sabine. Could we talk privately for a moment?”

His heart fluttering and aching at the same time, Giovanni made himself turn away from Georgiana. He couldn’t risk being near her. Not while she was betrothed to another. Even though Arthur and Alex gaped at his rudeness, he gritted, “No,” then strode away and began glancing about the ballroom for Juliet.

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6

When Giovanni hurried away, Georgiana gave his friends Lord Morwynne and Lord Alexander Greysnowe an embarrassed smile then swiftly retreated to the wall by the garden. She should have known that Giovanni would still be too furious to talk with her. She exhaled a heavy sigh. Goddess, she’d been such a blind fool to reject him and pursue a duke she never truly wanted. All because she’d been too terrified by the depth of her love for Giovanni and the prospect of moving to the patriarchal Varkhora to listen to what her body and heart were telling her. Her lips twisted. And she was so obstinate that she’d had to lose Giovanni to be able to let herself see how much she needed and loved him. Forcing herself to kiss the Duke of Oakmoor and feeling nothing more than distaste had helped too. Giovanni’s kisses inspired the opposite, and she forgot everything but him when they kissed.

She sighed again as she let her gaze follow Giovanni striding through the crowded ballroom. Then she winced when he halted before Lady Juliet and the Duke of Oakmoor. From Giovanni’s scowl and his hand clenching his saber, he was almost as furious with the duke as he was with her. The hungry way the duke kept watching his sister probably didn’t help either.

Georgiana straightened as her brother-in-law Lord Aynsley joined her for the first waltz as she’d arranged with Grace earlier. Surely Giovanni would soon calm enough to agree to talk with her. Then she’d confess all her love and beg him to marry her. Thankfully, Father and the Duke of Oakmoor were helping arrange her and Giovanni’s marriage too, and they were both especially skilled at intrigue, so between the three of them, she’d be happily betrothed to Giovanni before the betrothal ball Father was hosting for them in just over two weeks.

Yet Giovanni didn’t calm. She attempted to talk with him at every court event they attended, but he kept rebuffing her. The Duke of Oakmoor attempted to talk with Giovanni too with as little success—until the Greysnowes’ ball. But that private talk between Giovanni and the duke out in the garden erupted into a brawl that she and Lady Juliet barely managed to defuse.

After Giovanni and his sister left, Georgiana apologized to the Duke of Oakmoor for involving him in her scandalous mess. Then they arranged to rouse Giovanni’s protective jealousy at the royal summer masquerade in three days so he’d follow them into the palace gardens and the duke could cast a spell to trap her and Giovanni together until they settled matters.

When purchasing accessories for her new masquerade costume that the duke insisted she needed for their plan, she visited Healer Althea and purchased strong-magic contraceptive charms for herself and Giovanni. If talking with Giovanni didn’t succeed, kissing and seduction might, and she’d prefer not to fall pregnant until after they reached Varkhora. A Calatinian bride would be scandalous enough at the hidebound Varkhoran court. If she was already pregnant, the Varkhoran court would guess that they’d anticipated their vows and be even more scandalized.

The evening of the royal summer masquerade, Georgiana glided into the palace’s teeming ballroom not long before the first waltz in a lustrous naiad costume of arachne silk. She suppressed her grimace when the Duke of Oakmoor immediately joined her and flirted before they danced slightly too close at the heart of the ballroom. Please let all that be enough to goad Giovanni into following them into the palace gardens.

After their waltz, the duke ushered her outside and to a circular rose garden with high and thick trellises surrounding it.

Not interested in talking with the duke, she was silently settling on the stone bench to await her beloved when Giovanni, so irresistibly masculine in his ebony dragon costume, burst into the rose garden. Her and the duke’s plan had succeeded! Her heart racing, she leapt upright again.

The Duke of Oakmoor grinned at Giovanni. “Good evening, Lord Sabine. ‘Tis about time you arrived.” The duke extracted his charm from his pocket and waved toward her. “And about time you and Lady Georgiana settled matters. Her betrothal ball is next week.”

While the duke mutter a brief incantation, Giovanni surged toward the duke, clenching his saber and his draklizard growling.

Still grinning, the duke continued, “And my trap spell shall ensure you and Lady Georgiana remain here until you do. It shall fade at dawn.” He nodded at her. “Good luck.” Then the duke turned and hurried from the rose garden.

Georgiana gulped a steadying breath as Giovanni turned his scowl on her. Please let him listen tonight.

Giovanni growled, “What in the Goddess’s name is going on, Georgiana?”

She swallowed then lifted her chin, holding Giovanni’s gaze. Only the sincere truth would convince him. And she had to convince him. “The duke and I colluded tonight to ensure you’d follow me so that I could explain.” She inhaled again and began toward Giovanni. “First, I was never betrothed—or even almost betrothed—to the Duke of Oakmoor. But the intense, sudden attraction between me and you terrified me, especially since you come from a kingdom known to despise strong ladies, so I blurted that ridiculous lie. And once I had, my pride and fear wouldn’t let me reveal the truth or my true feelings.”

As she halted a handbreadth away, Giovanni narrowed his eyes at her and crossed his arms over his chest. “And what exactly are your true feelings?”

Her heart spasming, Georgiana sighed without lowering her gaze. “You already know. You told me after our first kiss.” She cupped Giovanni’s face, tingling surging through her at his beard caressing her palms. “I love you. I was simply too terrified and obstinate and blind to admit it until I lost you by embroiling myself in a scandalous mess with another. I’m sorry.”

Giovanni exhaled and slid his arms about her. “I’m sorry too for pushing for more than you were ready for and terrifying you into your desperate lies. And for almost seducing you on Oakmoor’s floor then helping create that scandalous mess with my bitter words.”

She licked her lips to tempt Giovanni into kissing her again. “I didn’t mind the seduction until you stopped.”

His eyes blackening and body hardening, Giovanni shuddered but didn’t lower his head. “I thought you’d never be idiotic enough to let any gentleman seduce you without marrying you first.”

Georgiana threaded her arms about Giovanni’s neck, her pulse quickening. “You’re not just any gentleman; you’re the one I love.” She grinned up at him. “Besides, knowing you, you’ll feel so guilty about seducing an innocent that you’ll marry me straightaway.”

Giovanni groaned a laugh. “Devious. Yet I still love you.” He kissed her at last, making her purr. He murmured against her lips, “Or perhaps I love you because you’re devious.” He kissed her again. “And strong.” Another kiss. “And outspoken.” Kiss. “And delectable.”

Before Giovanni could torment her with another brief kiss, she nipped his lip and rasped, “Enough talking. Make love to me instead.”

Grinning, Giovanni tumbled them to ground, and she giggled as his draklizard squawked and took flight. The poor fellow would need to become accustomed to his stable perch regularly disappearing. Then her giggles faded when Giovanni devoured her mouth once more.

After a timeless moment, Giovanni wrested their mouth apart. “Just so you know, I shan’t feel the least guilty about seducing you. But I’ll marry you straightaway anyway.”

Georgiana yanked Giovanni closer, and they wrenched off each other’s costumes and came together in a storm of fiery passion. Afterward they cuddled together before making love with slow sweetness then drifting into slumber in each other’s arms.

When they woke with the dawn, they kissed for several heartbeats, but Giovanni withdrew before they went further. He said, “We should leave before someone stumbles across us. Oakmoor’s trap spell should be gone now.” His brow furrowing, he twisted some of her hair about his finger. “But before we leave, I have something to confess—a truth my pride and fear wouldn’t let me reveal.”

Her chest stilled at her beloved’s obvious nerves. Doubtless Giovanni was about to confess precisely why he wanted to boost his status back in Varkhora. Not that whatever it was mattered. To soothe him, she smiled into his eyes and laid her hand over his heart. “Whatever truth you have to reveal shan’t change my love for you.”

Giovanni laid his free hand over hers. “Right.” He exhaled then blurted, “I’m not actually a baron. We don’t use courtesy titles back home. I’m the heir to the Duke of Appenninos, the most prominent duke in Varkhora. And I’m cousin to both King Alessandro and Queen Aurora.”

Georgiana blinked at Giovanni. Well, that explained his cryptic gibe in Wildewall House’s garden about studying Varkhoran titles. And he’d no need to marry a wealthy duke’s daughter to elevate his status. The opposite of what she’d assumed.

Giovanni swiftly continued, “At first, I concealed my true rank so Juliet wouldn’t realize who I was and disappear before we could reunite. She ran away from home twenty-one years ago and never contacted us again, you see. Plus, ’twas pleasant to be considered an ordinary lord for once and not forever fawned over.” He swallowed. “Then later, after I loved you, I was too proud and afraid to tell you who I was in case you decided to marry me for any reason less than love.”

Her lips twitched. How alike she and Giovanni were sometimes. She grinned at him. “I fought your courtship for the same reasons. I assumed you were pursuing a wealthy duke’s daughter to elevate your status, and I wanted you to love me instead, although I refused to admit that to myself.” She suddenly giggled. “No wonder me hurling the Duke of Oakmoor at you never intimidated you like ’twas supposed to.”

His mouth wry, Giovanni shrugged. “Yes.” He squeezed her hand on his chest. “You’re not upset I didn’t tell you who I truly was sooner?”

Georgiana teasingly smirked at Giovanni. “Why would I be? I’ve always wanted to marry a prominent duke.” Sobering, she cupped Giovanni’s bearded face with her free hand and gave him a tender smile. “Seriously though, I can understand why you didn’t tell me before—I’d have done the same. And you did tell me now without being forced to, so I’m not the least upset.”

Then she brushed a kiss against his lips, which quickly turned heated.

Eventually, Giovanni wrested their mouths apart. He hoarsely said, “We really should leave now. Us being discovered here would be a scandal. And we don’t need more of that.”

She sighed but nodded, and they swiftly donned their costumes without the accessories. She stilled when she touched the unused contraceptive charm in her pocket then muttered a curse.

As his draklizard settled on his shoulder, Giovanni arched his brows. “What is it?”

Georgiana grimaced. No sense crying for split unicorn water. “I forgot to give you the strong-magic contraceptive charm I bought you. At least I wore mine. I don’t want to fall pregnant until after we reach Varkhora.”

Chuckling, Giovanni wrapped an arm about her. “You bought us contraceptive charms? And realized that I’d need a strong-magic one? Shrewd.”

She teasingly poked Giovanni’s chest. “You are brother to the most illustrious witch in Calatini who is an acknowledged Rhiannon descendant.” She blinked when his face darkened. “You’re a witch too, aren’t you?”

Giovanni sighed. “I am, although I don’t love magic like Juliet does.”

She laid her hand over Giovanni’s heart to comfort him. “Then why are you frowning?”

Sighing again, Giovanni rubbed his beard. “Because Juliet is pregnant. She had to use sex magic to save Oakmoor from a cruel curse cast by a Rhiannon-descendant black witch and conceived his child when doing so. Not that he knows that.”

Georgiana gaped at Giovanni. What? The Duke of Oakmoor’s curse must have been why Lady Juliet and the duke had disappeared from court.

Giovanni grimaced. “Juliet claims she loves Oakmoor and doesn’t regret conceiving his child even though he doesn’t return her love and she must leave Calatini before her pregnancy shows.”

Georgiana worried her lip. An even more scandalous mess than hers had been. But not one without hope. She shook her head and patted Giovanni’s chest. “Actually, I think you and Lady Juliet are mistaken about the Duke of Oakmoor. I’m certain he does love her. He’s always treated her differently than other ladies and hungrily watches her when he thinks no one can see. We must help them find happiness together.”

Giovanni sighed yet slowly nodded. “Yes, but how?”

She hummed. The duke seemed to be denying his love like she had, so perhaps… “Does the duke know your sister intends to leave Calatini?” When Giovanni shook his head, she continued, “Then you should tell him. Losing Juliet should force him to see that he loves her. Like losing you did for me.” She winked at Giovanni. “And if it doesn’t, you can cast a trap spell to confine them together until they settle matters.”

Giovanni chuckled, his lips quirking. “I doubt any trap spell of mine could hold my sister. She’s too skilled at breaking spells. So let’s hope your first solution succeeds.”

Georgiana patted Giovanni’s chest again. “It shall. Now, let’s visit your sister then the duke to help them find happiness together. After that, we must discuss arrangements with Father, including our betrothal ball, swift marriage, and leaving for Varkhora.”

Giovanni pressed a tender kiss against her palm. “I love you, my managing future wife.”

Warmth and light suffusing her, she caressed Giovanni’s bearded jaw. “And I love you, my understanding future husband.”

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