Georgiana’s voice was so soft that he nearly stumbled on his way. Grasping the railing, Owen tried to shut off her voice in his mind. He wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t. Off he hurried to his bedchamber to collapse in his bed.
He stared up at the canopy curtains in the darkness, feeling the exhaustion from his journey seeping into his limbs. Georgiana’s face flashed before his eyes. Thinking of her helped him relax, even though questions flooded his mind.
Yes, he had come back. Later than he expected, and yet he was there all the same.
Was Georgiana glad of that? It hardly seemed likely, though the way Mrs. Helen mentioned their redecorating work made it sound as though his wife wanted him to come home sooner. He could have done so, and yet he had been hoping for peace.
But what Owen felt now was not peace. The only problem was he didn’t know exactly whatthiswas. There was a pounding in his heart, and his stomach seemed a little unsettled. There was a warmth in his head, and he still saw Georgiana when he closed his eyes.
I’ve returned because of my wife, and yet I haven’t a clue what to do with her. What sort of madness have I fallen into?
CHAPTER15
Ignoring Jean’s pout, Georgiana promised not to be long before she made her way out of her bedchamber and down the hall. It was a beautiful day, and no one could stop her now.
She hummed on her way to the side of the house, where she found the door to the courtyard. Already she’d sorted through a few broken frames and endured a few awkward visitors that morning. After tea, she’d wandered the house in the hopes of stumbling across her husband. But he was nowhere to be found, and the greenhouse was locked.
If I cannot amuse myself with him, then I must amuse myself alone.
This was something she could do very well. Even though she’d had plenty of days on her own, Georgiana found she needed some space to reconsider what had happened last night.
Owen had complimented her. It was almost like he didn’t wish for her to hear the generous words, which bothered her. And he’d been rather ruffled upon her arrival. Had her costume been that garish? She hoped not, since everyone at the masquerade ball had said they loved it.
And I needed that. Since I was refused entry to my family home twice without seeing my sister, I needed something to lift my spirits.
The memory that she had so quickly tucked away came back, making her sniffle. She hastily wiped her face as she sat on her horse.
“Your Grace?”
Thomas, the youngest of the footmen, would be accompanying her today into town, since their groom was busy and he was the only other servant who could ride. She looked over to see him producing a handkerchief.
A dry laugh escaped her before she shook her head. “Thank you, but save that for a pretty miss. I have one myself.”
“Is there…” He hesitated. “Is something wrong?”
“There seems to always be something wrong,” she muttered before clearing her throat and answering him properly. “No, Thomas, all is well. Thank you. Are you ready?”
He nodded eagerly. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Wonderful. We might be gone for a few hours shopping. If there is time afterward, I’d like to stretch my legs in Hyde Park,” she informed him. “You don’t have any responsibilities for the afternoon, do you?”
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, “No, I can stay as long as you like.”
While she would prefer to ride alone all day, Georgiana suppressed the urge to admit that. She nodded instead before steering them toward the street and away from the house.
Never had she been apart from her sister for so long. She thought of Emma daily. There had been one note from her so far, and nothing more. It bothered Georgiana. She just wanted to make sure that her sister was safe.
Father wouldn’t be cruel. Not on purpose, at least. I cannot believe that. And yet I cannot see why he would keep me from my own childhood house. From my family.
While Rogers had apologetically told her at the front door, forcing her to stand on the front step like a guest, that her family was not at home, she didn’t believe that one whit. Her father might not be home. But where would her sister be? Someone had to be with Emma. But who?
Sniffing, Georgiana pushed the questions away because she knew there were no answers. At least no answers that anyone would share with her.
The shopping today was meant to lighten her spirits and allow her to exercise. Georgiana needed the chance to get out of the house and reconsider everything.
She tilted her head back to soak in the sunlight. The warmth seeped into her skin, and she sighed, wishing for a moment that she could forget all her worries and pain.
It was impossible to tell what her husband thought of her. And it was impossible to tell what her father was doing to Emma. After building a life where she could still manage so much, Georgiana found her control slipping. This scared her more than she wished to admit.
