No Gentleman for Georgina Read Online Free PDF Page A

throat, uncomfortable with her rapt attention when he knew her feelings didn’t match his own. Without another word, he climbed down from the rig and around to her side where he took her hand and helped her from the high phaeton.
    He was about to release her hand, free himself from the heat and electricity that shot through him when he dared touch her, but she wouldn’t allow it. She grasped his hand with both hers and drew him closer.
    “I know I said it once, but I’ll say it again before we start. Thank you, Paul. Thank you so much.”
    He wanted to kiss her. A desperate, powerful desire that nearly overtook his reason as he stood staring down at her in the dark. He snatched his hand away and turned toward the door.
    “You’re welcome,” he muttered while he knocked.
    She said nothing as they waited for the servant, but the uncomfortable silence didn’t linger long. The door opened and a squat little man awaited them with a lantern in his hand.
    “You Abbot?” he asked, peering past Paul to Georgina.
    Paul nodded. “Indeed, I am. Are you Winston?”
    “Come in, come in. The treasures await you,” he said, his voice suddenly taking on a jolly, barker quality.
    Paul stepped aside and motioned for Georgina to go first. She kept her eyes averted from him as she did so. He could see his abruptness had hurt her feelings. But of course, had he followed through on his unforgivable desire to kiss her…well, she would have been more than just put out. She probably would have smacked him and run screaming into the dark to escape his unwanted advances.
    They followed Winston down a series of back hallways until he stopped at a tall door. He handed over the lantern to Paul with a smile.
    “Through here is the main foyer and where you will begin your tour,” he said. “I lit a few lamps here and there, but not many of them so we won’t attract interest from the street, you see. You’ll need to use the lantern to guide your way. Oh, but don’t lean it too close. Wouldn’t want to melt away some lord or lady’s face, would we?”
    He burst into a throaty, smoky laugh that brought smile to Georgina’s face.
    “No, that would be terrible,” she agreed, some of the humor back in her voice. “Will you be all right guiding yourself through the dark back here, Mr. Winston?”
    He chuckled again. “Me? I know these passages like the back of my hand, but thank you for your concern, miss. When you’re ready to leave, snuff out the candle by the main entrance. I can see that light from Madame’s office and I’ll know you’re ready to leave so I can guide you out through the maze. Enjoy yourselves.”
    He gave a tiny bow, clearly meant for her, and then scuttled away back into the dark, leaving Paul and Georgina alone. Paul smiled at her, hoping to reassure her after he’d hurt her feelings. “Are you ready?”
    Her grin was back, lighting up her already pretty face, but giving it more joy and animation. “I am so very, very ready!”
    He waited no more, but opened the secret side door into the foyer. He allowed her to enter first, holding the lantern high as she slipped past him, leaving a trail of soft, sweet scent in her wake. Paul drew a deep breath of it before he followed her in.
    She came to a stone stop, her hands clasped at her breast as she stared around the first room. There were only a few figures here, but Georgina stared at them with a focused attention and wonderment that Paul could not help but smile over. She was so utterly enchanted and enchanting.
    And in that moment, he had never been happier that he had broken out of the normal regime of his life and taken her here. Even if it was only a stolen moment in time, he would take it and savor it and live it over and over later.

    Georgina could scarcely breathe as she stepped up to yet another fine figure that Madame Tussaud had labored over. Paul stood behind her, holding up the lantern for her, just as he had been with all the figures in the foyer