Compromised for Christmas (The Jennings Family #1)

50. Georgiana

50

Georgiana

G eorgiana and Felicity meandered over to the drawing room that had been converted to a small library for the children of the Second Chance Foundling Home. They paused in the doorway, and Georgiana leaned against the door frame. Little boys with mops of disorderly hair were crammed onto settees and lying on their bellies on the floor, chins propped in hands, all giving her husband their full attention. Fitz sat in a well-worn leather armchair conversing with the boys, that lop-sided grin that never failed to make her knees weak spread over his face.

“Look at him,” Felicity mused. “Not even a hint of his nervousness or apprehension in sight. He’s always loved children. Both my brothers, really. I don’t think Fitzy ever really dared to hope he’d have a family one day. I know it’s something that deeply plagues Fifi.” She shot a glance at Georgiana, scanning her from head to toe. “Considering how I found you and Fitzy this morning, it seems he’ll have no problem securing that dream.”

A fit of giggles floated out to them.

“How do you say, ‘you smell like a toad’?” one boy asked.

“Smell like a toad?” another small voice said incredulously. “That’s a blasted stupid one. What does a toad even smell like? A better one would be bum sniffer.”

“Ya!” a chorus of voices said. “How do you say bum sniffer!”

“Or fart sniffer!” another voice chimed in.

Fitz glanced around at the gaggle of boys, his lips twitching. “I’m not sure I’m supposed to be teaching you how to say those things.” He leaned forward. “But if you promise not to tell.” He dropped his voice so Georgiana could no longer hear, and the boys broke out into cheers as her husband clearly just taught them how to say “fart sniffer” in Italian.

She shared a grin with Felicity, both women rolling their eyes. Boys .

Goodness, the pressure in her chest could barely be contained. It had to be detrimental to one’s health to have their heart thumping like a tot with a drum so often. But that was what her husband did to her. He made her utterly, incredibly, unequivocally happy. Somehow, through boundless blunders, they had found their way. And Georgiana didn’t have a single doubt that she and her husband, the lonely girl and the awkward boy, had found their happily ever after with each other.

“You will stay over New Year’s Eve?” Felicity interrupted Georgiana’s sickeningly sentimental thoughts. “I know your town house is a brief ride away. And obviously as newlyweds who have finally found their way”—she bounced her eyebrows—“I am sure you have other things on your mind. But it’s always so lovely having the whole family wake up together in the New Year.”

Georgiana reached out and squeezed Felicity’s hand. “We will be there. And we will stay over. After twenty years, I finally have a family. I’m not ringing in the new year without them.”

Felicity beamed at her. She gave Georgiana a squeeze in return. “I’m overjoyed for you and Fitzy, G. It appears your hopes and dreams did come true.”

They had. But her sister-in-law’s smile was a little too big, her eyes a little too flat, her grip on Georgiana’s hand a little too tight.

“You seem awfully sad, Fliss, for someone declaring such joy.”

Felicity swallowed and looked away, dropping Georgiana’s hand to fiddle with her skirts. She eventually met Georgiana’s gaze again, and when she spoke, her voice was strained. “I am nothing but happy for you two. I swear it. But I cannot stop the rush of sadness that follows in the wake of that joy. Because what you two have…” She gestured between Georgiana and where Fitz and the children were in the drawing room. “Hopes and dreams,” she finally managed to whisper.

Hopes and dreams her sister-in-law had, just like Georgiana. Hopes and dreams that were not to be for Felicity.

“Perhaps if you spoke to Lord Wessex? Or perhaps if you spoke to your mother? She must be able to sway Felix’s mind.”

“Perhaps,” Felicity murmured. But her words were as unconvincing as the dullness in her amber eyes. She shook her head, her eyes clearing, a wide grin back on her face. “All right. Let us corral these boys. It is time for a snowball fight!”