Georgiana didn’t know how she would be able to cope being around her childhood friend and her guardian once they did marry. It would break her heart. If it wasn’t broken already. Even if it wasn’t, it was very pained right then.
Giving up on sleep by the time she heard the birds starting to wake up and twitter outside her bedroom window, Georgiana dressed and made her way into the gardens. Richmond had beautiful grounds and even a lake which was within view of her window. She loved the lake. There was a tree that was right by the water, its roots making a makeshift seat. It was perfect above the water and Georgiana could sit there and look out across the lake to the magnificent view on the other side.
It was her quiet place whenever she wanted to have time to get away. And Georgiana needed to get away from the thoughts that had been plaguing her all night.
But it was not to be. Georgiana found her usual seat and settled back but was unable to find her usual calm. Not when she kept thinking about Viola and Richmond conversing the night before.
Viola had a better chance than she did of getting the attention of the man she loved. Georgiana knew it. But it still hurt.
“Georgiana! Where are you?”
Georgiana jumped as the shout filled the stillness in the air. She groaned when she realized who it was. Couldn’t she get peace for a few minutes? She loved her friend, but Viola was too much at this time of the morning.
She pressed herself against the trunk, hoping Viola wouldn’t see her. But her friend knew her special place and appeared around the tree, grinning at Georgiana.
“Found you!”
Georgiana grimaced. She felt like she had taken a little too much drink.
“Not so loud, Viola, please.” She groaned, putting a hand to her head as she sat up.
“I thought I’d never find you.” Viola dropped onto another root, picking up a stray twig. “Then I remembered you like to come out here to think for some quiet time.”
It was meant to be quiet time. Not anymore. Georgiana grimaced.
“This was supposed to be a quiet place. Now you’re probably scared all the birds away with your own squawking.”
Viola raised her eyebrows.
“What’s got into you? Did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning?”
Georgiana scowled. She wasn’t in the mood for any decent conversation. Not when last night’s talk between them had left a sour taste in her mouth.
“What is it, Viola? I’ve got a headache.”
“Did you enjoy the party last night?”
She came all the way out there in the early morning to ask her that? Georgiana sighed and scratched some bark off a root.
“As well as can be expected.” She said vaguely.
Viola snorted.
“Come on, Georgiana, you were enjoying it. You love balls! The social butterfly in you goes mad over them.”
“I’m just good at making friends.”
“And making people smile.” Viola made a face. “You certainly know how to charm the duchess.”
Georgiana couldn’t help but smile. The dowager duchess had spent a lot of the evening close to Georgiana. It was as if she was aware something was wrong.
“The dowager duchess is certainly a lovely woman. Nothing wrong with her, in my opinion.”
“But she doesn’t seem to like me.” Viola whined. “I can’t understand why.”
“Maybe because you’re a little too energetic for her. She has just come out of her mourning period and you weren’t in mourning as long as she was.” Georgiana shrugged at Viola’s surprised expression. “You have an aura about you that makes you interesting to the younger generation, but the older folk get tired just by looking at you.”
Viola’s surprise turned to thoughtful.
“I never heard it put that way before.”
Georgiana shifted on her seat. The root seemed to be sharper than normal.
“Besides, how would you know if I was enjoying the party? You were too busy talking to Richmond.”
Viola rolled her eyes with a laugh. “I’m not completely singly focused on one thing or one person.”
That wasn’t exactly the expression Georgiana would have used, but it was close enough. Viola sighed and sat back, nearly wobbling into the water.
“Richmond’s so handsome. And kind. Very sweet. He smiled and was very sweet to me.”
“I noticed.” Georgiana grunted.
More than she wanted to.
“I felt a definite spark.” Viola was talking as if she hadn’t heard her. “It wasn’t much, but I felt it. There is something between us, Georgiana.”
“Good for you.” Georgiana murmured.
“I imagine I’ll be taking the title of duchess by the time Christmas comes around.”
That had Georgiana sitting up. She stared at her friend, her heart dropping to her stomach.
“You are really going to try to become his duchess?”
“Why not?”
Viola looked confused. Georgiana fumbled for her words. Viola couldn’t know that she was in love with Richmond as well; Viola would either laugh or turn it into a competition.
“It’s just…you’re his ward.”
That was close enough. Georgiana didn’t know much about guardians with their wards, but she was sure they didn’t marry each other when the ward was old enough.
Viola huffed.
“We went over this before. I’m a woman now and I know what I want. And I want Ralph Mortimer, Duke of Richmond.”
“And does he think the same way?” Georgiana quipped.
“A small part of him does, I’m sure. And I’m going to make certain that he knows it.” Viola sat forward. “I need your help here, though, Georgiana.”
Georgiana didn’t like the sound of this. Somehow, she knew that she was going to be pulled into Viola’s shenanigans and would have to suffer seeing Viola and Richmond fall in love. She swallowed.
“What do you want me to do?”
Chapter 4
Rudeness Overrules Friendship
S he wanted Georgiana to be a chaperone. While she courted Richmond. All the while suffering from a heart that would be breaking while witnessing this.
Georgiana didn’t know how she managed to get away from Viola before she burst into tears. Claiming that her headache was getting worse, she had managed to get away and hide away as she sobbed. Life wasn’t being kind to her right now. Georgiana had been in love with Richmond as long as she could remember and now that she was of age she was beginning to think she might even have a chance of being courted by the handsome, bookish man.
They knew each other, and they got along very well together. Georgiana could charm a whole room, but she was more than happy to sit in a library and read if that was what Richmond wanted. When she was a child and Richmond was becoming a man, they could do that all the time. The silence between them was comfortable and Georgiana would do anything to be in his company.
But not like this.
Deciding to slip back to the house and go to her room until she could compose herself, Georgiana made her way back. She hurried through the garden and onto the terrace. Slipping through the library windows would ensure that she cut off the part near the kitchen where the servants would see her and get up the stairs without anyone noticing.
Or so she thought.
“Where’s the fire?”
Georgiana stopped still, frozen in her tracks. Richmond was sitting by the empty fireplace, a book in his hands. His hair was tousled and his collar was undone as if he hadn’t been expecting anyone to burst into the room. He sat up when he saw Georgiana.
“Your Grace.” Georgiana stuttered. Then she remembered her manners and curtsied. “Forgive me, I did not mean to be so rude.”
Richmond laughed. Why did that deep laugh have to make her feel faint?
“Come on, Georgiana. It’s just us.” He closed his book and stood. “You don’t need to be so formal.”
“I am still your inferior.” Ge
orgiana responded, feeling her face getting warm.
“My house, my rules.” Richmond approached her, still smiling. “If it’s just us, you’re allowed to call me Richmond. I insist.”
How could she refuse an insistence like that? Georgiana nodded, feeling like her pulse was fluttering in her throat.
“Very well. Richmond.”
Did his eyes darkened when she did that? It was gone before Georgiana could see it properly. He frowned and reached for her, brushing a thumb across her still-damp cheek.
“You’ve been crying. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” Georgiana swiped at her face, brushing away the tears. “A gnat flew into my eye while I was in the garden. I just spent five minutes getting it out. They certainly make your eyes water.”
“I’m sure.” But Richmond was still frowning. “If you’re certain you’re not upset?”
“I’m perfectly well.” Georgiana took a step back, his closeness making her feel a little warmer. She put on the smile she normally put on when she was at parties and folded her hands in front of her. “How are you? It’s been a while, and I didn’t get a chance to talk to you last night.”
“I’m good.” Richmond’s smile was enough to send a tingle down her back. “Things have been very busy right now. Everyone seems to need my opinion on something.”
Georgiana could believe that. Shy and socially awkward as he was, Richmond was a sage and wise man.
“Well, you do give out good advice.”
“Although you would be surprised at how many people actually follow it.” Richmond chuckled.
They shared a smile. It was at times like this that Georgiana did feel close to her childhood friend. He was older, but he hadn’t seen her as a bother at all. If anything, he had accepted her without argument.
“I don’t think I would be surprised.” Georgiana said. “Most people nowadays are very thick-headed. They refuse to see what’s in front of them and what is the logical solution.”
“Sounds like you’ve encountered that type before.”
He had no idea. Georgiana bit back a smile as Viola’s image floated into her mind.
“More than once. Do you know how difficult it is to be sociable and not look like you have an opinion on anything important? I want to talk about more meaningful things when I’m talking to the noblemen as I know they don’t want to talk about fashion or the latest gossip. But the moment I do, they tell me I shouldn’t be worrying my pretty little head about it.” Georgiana made a face. “I hate it when they say that.”
Richmond raised his eyebrows.
“Do I do that with you?”
“No.” Georgiana let the smile out this time. “You’re probably the only one who doesn’t.”
“I’m glad I’ve got something right.” Richmond chuckled. He gave her a look that was akin to affection. “Well, next time you’re at a ball and I’m there, you’re more than welcome to talk politics. If you can handle my argument.”
Georgiana grinned. Any conversation with Richmond she would cherish.
“I grew up with three older brothers. I know how to handle an argument.”
They shared a secret smile between them and Georgiana was aware of the air seeming to crackle around them. It made her catch her breath. She swallowed and tried to think of something to say before it got awkward.
She never got the chance. Viola came swanning into the library, beaming when she saw Richmond.
“Richmond.”
Richmond jumped away from Georgiana, his face going red as if he had been caught doing something bad.
“Viola.” He coughed and tried again. “I didn’t know you were out there.”
“I was taking a walk in the garden.” Viola practically pushed in front of Georgiana, causing Georgiana to stumble back as Viola laid a hand on Richmond’s arm. “I love going for walks. Maybe we should do that sometime.”
“Maybe.” Richmond glanced at Georgiana over Viola’s shoulder. “I can take you and Georgiana out sometime.”
Georgiana felt a warm feeling in her belly. She liked the thought of spending time with Richmond even if it was with Viola taking charge of the conversation and monopolizing Richmond’s time. Viola didn’t even acknowledge Georgiana, still smiling up at Richmond.
“That would be delightful.” Then she grabbed Richmond’s arm and started almost dragging him towards the door into the hall. “By the way, Richmond, I wanted to ask your advice about something…”
Georgiana watched them go, her heart sinking. This had been one of the few times that she and Richmond had spent together without anyone else and there had certainly been something in the air. And now Viola had turned up, it had gone.
Almost as if it had never existed.
***
Richmond wasn’t happy. He didn’t like how Viola had treated Georgiana as if she was a servant. That had been unusual in itself. Viola and Georgiana were close, best friends. To see Viola practically shun Georgiana was surprising.
And Richmond hadn’t liked it. Georgiana didn’t deserve that kind of treatment, no matter what sort of fight they had had.
They entered the front room, where the dowager duchess was sitting at her writing table, her head bent as she wrote one of her many letters. Richmond pulled his arm away from Viola’s and turned to her.
“Viola, did you have to do that?”
Viola stopped her constant talking and frowned at him.
“Do what?”
“Exclude Georgiana from our conversation and interrupt us. I was talking to her when you came swanning in.”
“Oh, she doesn’t mind. Georgian’s not going to be upset.”
“That’s not the impression I got.” Richmond had seen Georgiana’s hurt expression and that had made him feel awful. “It was quite rude to do that to her and to interrupt us like that. Could you refrain yourself from doing that in the future?”
Chapter 5
Close to Breaking
V iola blinked. She looked startled. Richmond had never told her off before. He was a man who wouldn’t have scolded anyone; he was too nice. Richmond wasn’t a confrontational person. Viola would have never thought he would scold her about anything.
“Forgive me, Your Grace.” Viola stuttered. “I…I didn’t mean to.”
Richmond didn’t like seeing anyone upset, and he was still fond of Viola. He softened a little but didn’t back down.
“I’m sure you didn’t. But you have to remember you’re not the only one in this house who needs my presence.” Glancing at the duchess, Richmond nodded towards the door. “Could you busy yourself until lunch, Viola? I’ve got to speak to Mother and then get on with some work. If I’m on track, I’ll take you and Georgiana out for a walk this afternoon.”
That had Viola brightening. She nodded eagerly and practically skipped out the room. The duchess raised an eyebrow as she sat back from her work.
“What was that all about? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you tell anyone off before, much less Viola.”
Richmond sighed. Now he felt bad even though Viola had been sated.
“I was talking to Georgiana in the library and Viola butted in.”
“Butted in?” His mother looked surprised. “Where did you pick up that word from?”
“An American friend in London.” Richmond went to the drinks cabinet. It was too early for drinks – they hadn’t even had breakfast yet – but he needed one. “He had a lot of colourful words, let me tell you.”
“I don’t think my ears could stand any of them.” The dowager duchess frowned. “Why would Viola be so rude? She’s loud at times but she’s never been as rude as that.”
“I don’t know. But something’s wrong.” Richmond sipped at his whisky, grimacing as it burned his throat. “Georgiana came into the library crying but she claimed a gnat got in her eye. And then Viola comes in and practically dismissed her best friend.”
“You think they had an argument or something?”
“It’s pos
sible. But I’ve never seen them raise their voices at each other, much less argue.” Richmond sighed. “But Georgiana won’t tell me, and she used to tell me everything.”
That was true enough. Georgiana could talk for England but she was widely knowledgeable. She was a fun conversationalist and Richmond could talk to her for hours when they were younger. Even at the age of sixteen, the last time she had seen him, she could hold his attention for hours on things she shouldn’t even know about.
Richmond missed those evenings.
The duchess picked up her pen again.
“Well, I heard you mentioning taking them for a walk after lunch. How about we all go and get some fresh air? I’ll manage Viola long enough for you to ask Georgiana.”
Richmond smiled. He could rely on his mother to help him when he needed it. Other mothers smothered their adult children. He knew many of his friends who would love to have their parents not to be involved in everything in their lives. But Richmond was actually grateful of his mother. She knew when to take a step back.
“Thank you, Mother. That would be much appreciated.”
“Anything for you, son.” The duchess made a face. “Viola may be getting on my nerves right now, but I will do what I can.”
Richmond chuckled.
“Don’t start getting soppy on me now, Mother.”
“Is that another word you learnt from your American friend?”
Richmond grinned and finished his drink.
***
Georgiana was grateful to escape early to go to bed. She wasn’t tired, but she was getting fed up with the company.
It was nothing to do with Richmond or his mother. Georgiana loved their company, and they made her feel welcome even when she spent so much time in their home. They never made her feel like she was overstayed. It was Viola. Georgiana felt sick watching her overdo it with Richmond, laughing too hard at things he said and talking inanely. Richmond seemed to be taking it in politely, but Georgiana couldn’t tell.
She had no idea how she was going to cope seeing her friend and the man she loved being so close while she stood on the sidelines, alone and forgotten.
Regency Romances for the Ages Page 123