“Your Grace?” came Jean’s hesitant voice from across the room.
“Jean!” Georgiana whirled around. “Good. You’re here. I need you.”
The maid blinked twice before nodding. She hastened forward with her eyes glued to her mistress. “What is it, Your Grace? What happened? How can I help you?”
“Pack a bag. Two bags, really. I’ll leave now.” It wasn’t a complete plan, but it had to sufficient for the moment. “Pack some things for a few days away—for both of us. I don’t care what you choose. Then have the carriage brought around.”
“I… But… Where are we going?”
Already headed toward the door, Georgiana paused. She hadn’t said where they were headed. Turning, she plastered on a tight smile. She pretended like she hadn’t been crying a moment ago and played like her heart wasn’t broken. “We’re going to visit my father, of course.”
The household was abuzz as she made her way through the halls and stepped outside. She had waved all the servants off, telling them she had to be on her way. One of the footmen, Thomas, had scrambled ahead to alert the stables.
Just as she reached the doors, out came her groom and horse. “Good afternoon. I brought you your horse, Your Grace. Did you wish for company?”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” she said with a forced laugh. “I can ride just fine on my own. Ready a carriage, would you? My maid will be following me shortly. Thank you for your assistance today.”
And then Georgiana was gone from the house.
She didn’t look back. She didn’t dare. Even after having had weeks to fall in love with the dark and brooding home––she had thought she might even love the dark and brooding man that came with it, which proved her heart couldn’t be trusted––she wished to never return again.
The thumping of her heart was louder than her horse’s hooves as they crossed through Mayfair to her father’s home.
It wasn’t ideal, Georgiana knew, to come back here after so recent an argument with her father. She tried to focus on the present instead of her pain. While he might not be happy to have her there, her room must have been left as it was. All she needed was a few days to gather her thoughts before she moved elsewhere.
Out of London, I think. I have enough pin money to get me nearly anywhere. Then I can do something. Anything. Perhaps I could even take Emma with me. We always talked about adventures. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one together?
Just because she was her husband’s property didn’t mean she couldn’t do as she liked. He hadn’t chased after her. Georgiana couldn’t forget that. He had not followed her, and that proved he didn’t care. That, and the letter.
She felt another tear roll down her cheek. Shaking her head, she wiped it away before anyone could see it.
It didn’t take long for her to make her way back to that familiar street. Her chest heaved as she gazed up at the house she had once called her home. Never before had she spent more than a minute out here like this. She didn’t like being on the outside, looking in.
She swallowed hard. Beneath her, her horse shifted, as he could feel her tension.
Finally, she exhaled. “All right. Fine. Let’s go in, shall we? It should be pleasant. Father won’t even notice I’m here. He never did. And he’ll have forgotten what I said to him the other night…”
Goodness me. That was just last night. How has so much happened since then?
But Georgiana shook her head to free herself from the doubts flooding through her. She sucked in another deep breath before dragging herself up to the front door.
It opened to reveal Rogers. The man offered a slight bow as a groom came from around the other side of the house.
“Welcome, Your Grace,” the old butler called. “Come in.”
She relaxed. Deciding not to question this blessing, she nodded and hastened inside. “I’m sorry to come without invitation, Rogers. It’s not too much of a bother, I hope?”
“Truthfully, I don’t know. But I haven’t received recent direction to turn away anyone at the door, and His Lordship has already had three visitors today. It is good to see you,” he added gently.
“Thank you. You, as well.” Georgiana looked around to find that everything appeared just as she had left it. Tidy and clean. “Three visitors, you say? How strange. Is Emma about?”
Rogers nodded, taking her cap. “Yes, she was exploring the garden, last I checked.”
“I shall see her, and then I will speak with my father. Hopefully, I will be permitted to stay for a few days,” she admitted. Then she glanced away when she caught the butler studying her. She hoped her eyes were not still red or puffy. “The garden, you say?”
Hurrying through the house, Georgiana greeted a few familiar faces before making her way to the back garden. They only had half an acre out here, but it still meant they could enjoy beautiful plants.
She had never thought much of them. The gardener had never been patient enough for her company and questions, though he tended the grounds very well. Since she didn’t have a knack for the plants and burned easily, her visits out here had always been short. She liked flowers, though, and the greenery.
