Read Forever and a Day for Free Online

We’ll commence there and hope for the best.” He inclined his head and strode out of the office.
Georgia swiveled toward the Brit, who quietly observed her with marked curiosity. His gaze drifted down the full length of her and paused on her boots, which peered out from beneath her ankle-high skirts.
“The leather on your boots is almost white,” he commented. “You should buy yourself a new pair.”
He was like a child. “How very observant. If only I could afford a new pair.” Stepping toward him, Georgia grabbed up his gloved hand and pressed his satchel into it. “This is yours, Brit. It has all of your money in it, so I suggest you keep it safe ’til we get across town.”
He hesitated, shifting the satchel in his hand before slipping it into the inner pocket of his gray coat. “Why do you keep calling me Brit?”
“Because that’s what you are. A Brit.”
“I would rather you call me Robinson. I don’t like the way you say Brit.”
“Not to disappoint you, Brit, but I usually call people whatever I want. ’Tis my born right as a United States citizen. I may not be able to vote, but no man is goin’ to tell me I can’t use my tongue.” Georgia paused and pointed to his sleeved coat, noting that the band was missing from his arm. “You had a mournin’ band. Did you lose it? Or did you strip it?”
He glanced down at his arm. “I was wearing a…mourning band?”
“That you were. Right there on your arm.”
He glanced up, searching her face, his features taut and panicked. “Who died?”
Georgia’s stomach dropped all the way down to her toes as she met his gaze. There was an aching vulnerability lingering within those handsome gray eyes that seemed to depend on her for everything. It made her want to give the man everything.
She softened her tone. “I don’t know who died. All I know is that you were wearin’ one when I last saw you.”
He dug his gloved fingertips into the biceps of his right arm and winced. “Why can I not remember?”
“Try not to worry. Rememberin’ is overrated, anyway. Trust me. I wish there was a way I could forget half my life.” She drifted closer, sighed and leaned toward him to get a better look at what needed to be stripped before they crossed into the other side of town. She fingered the sturdy material on the seam of his morning coat. The fine fabric had to be worth ten dollars without the stitching. “Heavens, you’re a walkin’ merchant cart waitin’ to be robbed. We’ll have to alter your appearance ’til we’re able to get rid of these clothes.”
He stiffened, lowering his gaze to her probing fingers. “And what is wrong with my appearance or my clothes?”
“Everythin’.” She sniffed, the heat of his muscled body wafting the subtle fragrance of tonic and penny shaving cream. “I hate to say it, but you even smell wrong.”
He blinked rapidly. “Are you suggesting that I bathe? Because I just did. Fifteen minutes ago.”
“Nah, I’m suggestin’ quite the opposite. I only bathe and scrub once every two days and even that’s considered a bit much in the eyes of where I live. But then again, I’m a woman and you’re not. In my ward, if a man starts playin’ with too much soap and tonic, he’s likely to get a reputation for wearin’ pink garters.”
“I don’t wear pink garters.”
“I didn’t say you did. But that won’t keep the boys from sayin’ it. And you sure as hell don’t want a byname with the word pink in it. Now let’s get rid of some of these fineries, shall we?” She tapped at his cravat. “Off with it.”
He paused, his gaze trailing down to her lips. “Does this mean there is no further need for a hotel?”
Georgia nervously smoothed her hands against the sides of her calico skirts, sensing he was still confused as to who she was. Wetting her lips, she chose her words carefully, hoping not to send him into a panic. “I can only apologize for Dr. Carter. He means well, but it isn’t right makin’ you think