Romantic Tales of My Lords and Ladies

To Slay a Dragon (Ch4)

Lady Trent was the first to recover.

'Georgiana Henrietta Trent! What do you think you are doing?'

Georgiana inhaled slowly. It was time to slay another dragon.

Her mother had begun to swell like a bullfrog already. 'You are coming with me this instant! And you!' she whirled on Tom, who had been quiet all this time. 'Get your filthy hands off my daughter.'

'No!' Georgiana cried out, shielding Tom with her body. 'I love him, Mama! I want to marry him!'

There were gasps of surprise and anger.

'Lady Georgiana! You forget your station! How can you associate with a nobody like him? Who are you, sirrah?' Lady Burbridge jabbed a thick finger at Tom.

Georgiana felt him draw in a sharp breath at the accusation. She herself was too furious to utter a word.

'I need to inform our hostess,' said Lady Burbridge, too eager to share this juicy bit of gossip with her cronies. Lady Trent visibly blanched.

'No you won't!' hissed Georgiana. She would make sure the mean old biddy did not soil Tom's name in society, or her name was not Georgiana Henrietta Trent. 'I know why you are eager to go. You only want to discuss this bit of news among your friends. Well, over my dead body!'

Lady Burbridge 's face flushed a deep scarlet.

'You are in no position to dictate, girl,' she sneered coldly. 'As far as I am concerned, you are ruined in the eyes of society. If I were you, I would do as your mother says. Now if you will excuse me...'

Georgiana's mother laughed nervously. 'I don't think there's any need to worry Lady Siddons with all this. I'm sure it was all an accident.' She trailed into silence, realising her excuse sounded extremely lame.

'Accident?' the other lady scoffed. 'Look at her, my dear. Her lips are swollen, her dress is creased and crumpled and her hair is in disarray! Do you still believe this can be an accident?' she sniffed. 'No, Julietta. Your daughter is ruined. Ah, poor dear,' she placed a hand on her ample bosom. 'To have a nobody for a son-in-law! Such a scandal!'

'Please!' begged Lady Trent, close to tears.

Lady Burbridge paid no heed. She started to go.

'I wouldn't be so hasty if I were you, madam.'

There was an ominous pause. All heads turned to Thomas, who had suddenly drawn himself to his full six feet height and towered over the three ladies.

'What?' Lady Burbridge's snapped, as her brows disappeared into her hairline.

'I said I wouldn't take such a hasty decision if I were you.'

Lady Burbridge turned purple in the face.

'You dare to threaten me? Who are you to speak to me like that, sirrah?! ' she sputtered in outrage.

'Someone who has the authority to,' he replied calmly.

His quiet words held a silent threat that was not missed by the rest of them. Georgiana frowned. What was he talking about? Lady Trent was anxiously watching the exchange too.

'I don't know what you mean!'

Thomas took a small step towards her. It had the intended effect. The lady shrank back visibly.

'What I mean is,' he used his lowest, coldest voice, 'I would think twice before hastening to smear the reputation of a duke's fiancée.'

There were three loud gasps. Georgiana's head was reeling from the shock. Had she heard it right?