“You look here, Mr. O’Mara.” Fig took a menacing step toward him, but Darcy stood his ground bravely. “I suppose you’re to blame for this. Georgie has had a sheltered upbringing. She is inexperienced in the ways of the world and certainly lacking in judgment to allow you into the house when she is all alone. I think you had better leave us before I say any more, although I fear the damage is already done. Prince Siegfried would certainly not want her now.”

For some reason I found this very funny. I sank onto the stair and started giggling uncontrollably.

“Don’t worry, I’m going,” Darcy said. “But I’d like to remind you that Georgie is over twenty-one and it’s up to her what she does.”

“Not in our house,” Fig said.

“It’s the home of the Rannochs, isn’t it? And she’s been a Rannoch a bally sight longer than you have.”

“But it now belongs to the current duke and that is my husband,” Fig said in her most frosty “I’m a duchess and you’re not” voice. “Georgiana is living here on our grace and favor.”

“With no heat and no servants. I don’t consider that much of a favor, Your Grace,” Darcy said. “Especially when your dear husband, the duke, might have been lying six feet under by now in the family plot, and your little son beside him, had it not been for Georgie. It seems to me you owe her more than a little thanks.”

“Well, of course we’re grateful for everything,” Binky said. “Most grateful.”

“Of course we are. It’s her morals we’re concerned about,” Fig added quickly, “and the reputation of Rannoch House. Strange men going in and out at all hours will be noticed in Belgrave Square.”

The choice of words made me start giggling again. Fig looked up the stairs and focused on me. I had just realized that my robe was not quite tied and I had nothing on underneath it. I tried to pull it around me to save what was left of my dignity.

“Georgiana, are you drunk?” Fig demanded.

“Just a little,” I confessed and clamped my lips together so that I didn’t giggle again.

“The champagne went to her head, I’m afraid,” Darcy said, “which is why I brought her home and I thought it wise to put her to bed in case she fell and hurt herself, since she has no maid to help her. So if you want to know the sordid details of what happened, I put her to bed, she promptly fell asleep and I was just leaving.”

“Oh,” Fig said, the wind taken out of her sails. “I wish I could believe you, Mr. O’Mara.”