Henry’s smile faded, replaced by a look of irritation. “Verity, you must be practical. Love is a luxury we cannot afford. Lord Aldford will provide you with security and stability. That is what matters.”
She lapsed into silence as a sense of hopelessness quieted her thoughts.
CHAPTER 4
Philip did not like this.
He did not like it one bit.
It was hard for him to see the house so lively. His home had become a hive of activity as Georgina’s coming out ball spanned out around him, which was truly difficult for him to endure. But he was doing so for his sister’s sake.
As he remained at the bottom of the staircase waiting for his sister to arrive, Philip allowed his eyes to wander around the room, to see the members of the ton that he had not for years. His hands twisted anxiously behind his back, but he maintained an air of confidence which he hoped would fool everyone.
Eventually, the music halted, and everyone’s eyes darted to the top of the stairs. Philip held his breath as he waited for the double doors to open and for his sister to appear.
This moment needed to go well, it absolutely had to be perfect. First impressions were vital when it came to the ton.
Thankfully, as the doors opened, and Georgina stepped through, she looked absolutely radiant. The violet gown she had chosen cascaded beautifully around her feet, and the curls in her hair fit the style of the gown perfectly. Although it was probably her smile that would be remembered the most. Pride surged through Philip as his sister descended the staircase. She looked like a woman who was born for this, like she knew exactly what she was doing.
As she reached the bottom, Philip took her hand a placed a kiss on her cheek. “You look beautiful, Georgina,” he said gently into her ear.
It was only then he felt her trembling.
“I must admit, I am rather nervous, Philip.”
“Well, you don’t look it,” he reassured her, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze. “This evening will undoubtably be a success.”
Philip walked Georgina around the room, but unsurprisingly it did not take long for her to be surrounded by a throng of admirers, each vying for her attention. Each asking for their name to be written on her dance card.
It was hard for Philip to take a step back, but he knew that he had to give these gentlemen a chance to make a favorable impression. Luckily, their mother seemed quite happy to make all the introductions which gave Philip a much needed moment of respite.
That was until the music began to play. That was the time that Adelaide had requested Philip and Georgina open up the dance floor. They had both endured many dance lessons through their childhood, so knew how to move across the dance floor with ease and grace, but that didn’t make him any more enthusiastic about dancing before all these gawking faces.
As the strains of the waltz filled the air, Philip led Georgina into the center of the dance floor, masking his discomfort with a practiced smile. The room fell silent, all eyes watching their every move.
He could feel the weight of the audience’s gaze, but he focused on Georgina, giving her an encouraging smile.
“You are doing wonderfully,” he whispered as they began to move in time with the music, pleased to find that she had stopped trembling and seemed to be blooming under all of the attention. “I am truly so very proud of you.”
Georgina smiled back, looking so much like the wild, saucy little sister he’d grown up with. “Thank you, Philip. I could not have done this without you.”
“No doubt,” he teased.
The dance seemed to fly by, a whirl of movement and music, and by the time it ended, Georgina’s cheeks were flushed with excitement rather than anxiety.
The room erupted into applause, and Philip could not help but feel a surge of pride.
His sister had handled her debut with grace and poise, and he knew she would make a favorable impression on the ton.
The night was off to a very good start…
***
Yet as the evening wore on, Philip’s good mood began to wane. It was hard for him to keep the false smile on his face in the constant stream of congratulations and well wishes on Georgina’s behalf. He much preferred a quiet evening alone where he did not have to wear a mask of false happiness at all times. A knot was developing in the muscles of his back, and he longed for a silence and peace of his study.
Georgina was still very much enjoying herself, at least. Philip could tell by the excitable shine in her eyes as she socialized. He was sure that it would not be long before she captured the attention of someone who she enjoyed as well. He realized that he’d been worrying for nothing, and she would soon be settled and safe in a home of her own.
“Ah, Philip, there you are.”
