by Fanny Finch
“Two wise things said in the span of five minutes,” Mrs. Weston quipped. “One would almost think that she had a head on her shoulders.”
“I shall write to him at once,” Georgiana said. “So that the letter might get to him before I do. I will never be able to tell him in person. I shall be too embarrassed. The last post of the day has not yet gone out, has it?”
“Not to my knowledge,” said Mrs. Weston.
“Excellent, I shall write to him at once.”
Georgiana hurried up to her room and pulled some papers out from the desk.
She kept it shorter than she might like, since time was of the essence. And she did not want to detail the entire mess with Captain Trentworth. She did not think that should factor into her decision-making with this.
In fact, Captain Trentworth should probably not figure into her thoughts at all.
Dear Edward,
I hope that you will not find a letter so shortly before my arrival alarming. My best wishes to you and to Maria. I look forward with breathless anticipation to seeing you both soon.
I am writing to inform you that I have been proposed to by a worthy gentleman by the name of Mr. Tomlinson. He is the third son of a gentleman but was brought up in the world by a large inheritance from his childless uncle.
He is a charming man possessed of a sociable nature and an amiable disposition. He would certainly provide me with stability and a lovely home. However, I am unsure as to whether or not I should accept his proposal.
I do not feel the passions for him that he seems to feel for me. It has been pointed out to me that this would be most unfair to him if I were to marry him, for people deserve to receive back the love that they give out.
However, it might also behoove me, as you know, to enter into a marriage. Especially with a gentleman of his standing in society and with his income. I do not wish to be a spinster, for all that you say I still have some time before I become one.
Your advice has always been sound, dear brother. There is nobody whom I trust more. What is your advice in this matter?
You need not write me back. I shall be with you in person shortly. But I hope that the day or two that you have before I arrive will help you to think the matter over satisfactorily.
I remain as ever,
Georgiana
She sent it off with the last post and hoped that her brother would have enough time to formulate a proper answer before she arrived.
Of course, he might want more information, some details. She could provide those for him. But that was the heart of the matter. Should she marry a man who loved her but whom she did not love in order to secure herself? Or should she say no and possibly spare them both misery? Misery that she was not even fully certain they would experience. But it was a possibility, nonetheless.
Edward was a sensible man. The only time that she had seen him be anything other than completely possessed was when he had fallen in love with Maria. He had then failed to realize it and had wondered why he was so protective of her, why he cared for her so much, why all other men knew to avoid courting her.
But in this, he must be sensible. This was not his own heart of which they spoke. It was hers. And he would want to be sensible and pragmatic as needs must so that his sister could have the best future possible.
Edward would help her to figure it out. He was her older brother and had always looked after her.
She had faith in him.
Chapter 22
Robert made sure to dress his best for his dinner with Lord Reginald and his fiancée.
Not that he generally tried to dress up too much for those who were of a slightly higher station than he was. First of all because he did not usually feel that they were worth it.
Second of all because if one dressed up too much for the higher classes, they could sense that one was trying to show off and imitate them. They tended to find it hilarious and not in a complimentary way. Like the sparrow trying on the peacock feathers in that fable. Aesop, Robert thought it was.
But no matter. The point was that he did not usually try to dress up for those who were a little higher up than he was. This was not just anyone, however. This was a person that he actually wanted to impress.
He wanted Lord Reginald to know that Robert had put time and care into his appearance and that this dinner meant something to Robert.
The duke might never know—Robert hoped he would never know—what Robert had said of him to his sister. But Robert still felt, nonetheless, that he ought to do what he could to make amends and showing the care that he put into his appearance for this dinner was one such way.
When he arrived at dinner, he was surprised to find that he was the only guest.
“We did not want to distract ourselves from our catching up by having too many other guests,” Lord Reginald explained. “I wanted to be sure to give you my full attention.”
He then leaned in and whispered, conspiratorially, “And I did not want to give Miss Worthing too much stress in organizing things last-minute.”
Robert was charmed in spite of himself by the duke’s consideration for his intended. Miss Worthing did seem to be in a state of nervousness.
“Not yet used to playing hostess?” he asked.
“I was in charge of running the household at my father’s plantation,” she explained as she led them into the dining room. “So I am used to planning simple menus and the running of the accounts and the day-to-day.
“But we never had any reason for guests. We were so out of the way. And fancy dinners were quite beyond our needs. So all of this is new to me in that respect!”
She indicated where Robert should sit, and allowed her fiancé to pull out her chair for her before sitting.
“You are doing a marvelous job,” Robert assured her.
Miss Worthing beamed at him. “I only hope that I will do so marvelous a job at the wedding dinner.”
“Have you received an invitation?” the duke asked. “I confess that I left the making up of the guest list to my sister.”
“She has been a most marvelous help,” Miss Worthing said. “Helping me with everything. I was at such a loss. I never could have done any of it without her.”
“She did not invite me, but she told me so when we met in Bath,” Robert said. “And she apologized profusely. She explained that she thought I was still going to be overseas and she had no idea how to reach me to send an invitation.
“I agreed with her and told her that it would have been nearly impossible for her to reach me. I am still in the dark as to how Miss Weston, whom I’m sure you will recall, managed to get a letter to me.”
“Since it is Miss Weston, I am not surprised that she managed it,” Lord Reginald replied. “She is the sort of determined girl who always manages to get what she needs.”
“Quite so. In any case, your sister apologized and I told her there was no need for such things.”
“Perhaps we could squeeze in an extra guest?” Lord Reginald looked over at Miss Worthing. “We would have to consult with my sister, I should think. As she is the one who knows all of the place settings and such.”
“I could manage,” Miss Worthing said staunchly before Robert could begin to panic properly. “It is only one person. And I believe you did tell me to have an extra place in case your sister was in need of a partner?”
“Yes, it is always easier to take away a spot than to add one,” the duke acknowledged.
“I shall go over it all tonight after dinner,” Miss Worthing said with a determined note in her voice. “It will all work out and Miss Reginald need not trouble herself about it. She has gone to enough trouble already, goodness knows.”
“Are you certain that you wish for me to attend?” Robert asked.
What he really wanted to ask was if they were certain that Miss Reginald would want him to attend the wedding. Especially if he was to be placed near her during the ceremony and at dinner.
He did not wish to cause her any more pain than
he already had. He had undoubtedly burned every bridge that he had with her.
“Of course we wish for you to attend,” Lord Reginald said. He sounded astounded that Robert would even ask the question. “I know that you may consider yourself to be more a companion to my sister than to me.
“But if you will recall, we attended some marvelous hunts together. And you were a breath of fresh air at some otherwise dreadful balls. I may not have supported you as I ought to have in certain… endeavors of yours. But I always considered you to be a friend.”
“Tell me, was he as cranky and sour at balls then as he is today?” Miss Worthing asked. “I much prefer them now that I can converse without causing a scandal, but I have always loved to dance. My lord here, however, much prefers to stay in.”
“She says that,” the duke said with a teasing smile, “but she enjoys a quiet night with a book as much as anyone.”
Robert could not help the tightness in his chest. It was so easy to see that they were in love with one another. The tender looks with which they regarded one another.
The gentle teasing. The blushes and smiles. The easy atmosphere they had around one another. As though they had already been married for some time.
Robert wanted that. He wanted it so badly. And he had not ever felt that way with anyone except for Miss Reginald.
But soon, soon he would be able to ask Lord Reginald about an apology and he would be able to make amends and possibly…
Possibly…
Dinner was entertaining and the conversation lively. Miss Worthing did have a touch of wild in her but she played the part of the hostess well. She was educated and well-read, and Robert could easily see her becoming popular in her role in society.
“You have found quite the lady there,” he dared to tell the duke when dinner was finished.
Miss Worthing bid them both goodnight, and Robert politely turned away as the duke pressed a soft kiss to her cheek before she went upstairs.
“I shall fix it all up in the plans before I go to sleep, so that you will be able to attend,” she told Robert. “I am very glad to have met you, sir. I am certain that we shall be good friends. My lord has good taste in the people he chooses to keep company with.”
“She is the greatest lady in all the world, if you ask me,” Lord Reginald said as they watched her go up the stairs to her room. “But then, I am biased.”
“I would not be so inclined to agree on the greatest in all the world part. But then, I am also biased.”
Lord Reginald turned to him, a question in his eyes. “You still care for her then? Truly?”
Robert looked away. “I do not know if I can have her.”
“She has always been yours, Captain. You need not fear that.”
A servant entered, some letters on a silver tray. “Your mail for the day, my lord. As you requested.”
“Ah, of course. Thank you.” Lord Reginald took the letters from the tray and the servant exited.
“These are mostly business,” he said apologetically. “I prefer to read them before bed. Then I can dwell on them and wake up refreshed and with a plan in mind.
“I had not thought to tell the servant not to bring them because of you coming to dinner. I apologize.”
“It is no matter.”
Lord Reginald was just idly shuffling through the letters and about to put them in his pocket when he paused. “There is one from my sister.”
“Is there?”
Robert had little doubt that it did not concern him. But his heart beat faster nonetheless. Was this about to detail all the awful things that he had said to Miss Reginald? Was he about to be kicked out of the house?
The duke opened the letter and read it out loud.
“Dear Edward.” The duke smiled. “You know how she is not one for flowery language.”
He continued to read, interrupting once or twice to provide his own commentary.
“I hope that you will not find a letter so shortly before my arrival alarming… she is to arrive here either tomorrow morning or the day after to help with the final preparations… My best wishes to you and to Maria. That is Miss Worthing. I look forward with breathless anticipation to seeing you both soon.”
The duke was obviously cheered by the letter. But Robert dreaded what might be read next.
“I am writing to inform you that I…” Suddenly, Lord Reginald’s face fell. It registered shock, and perhaps, a bit of disappointment.
“Perhaps I ought to bid you goodnight and allow you to read the rest in solitude,” Robert suggested. After all, he would rather show himself out of the house than be kicked out.
“No, stay, you must… you must hear this.” The duke sounded shocked. He cleared his throat and read,
“I am writing to inform you that I have been proposed to by a worthy gentleman by the name of Mr. Tomlinson.”
Robert’s heart plummeted.
So he was too late.
“I know the man,” he said. “He is a gentleman.”
“Yes,” the duke said, still silently reading. “It says here that he is the third son but was brought up in the world by a large inheritance from his uncle.”
“That is quite right. He has quite the income now.” Robert was finding it difficult to talk. He wanted to find some dark corner to hide in so that he might sink into his pain and guilt for a while before facing the world again.
He had brought this on himself, of course.
Miss Reginald had given him her heart. She had laid it all out for him. And he had rejected it. It was his own fault that he had lost her.
Of course she would go to the charming Mr. Tomlinson. Why would she not? He was offering her a home and security. He was charming and complimented her. He was doing everything that Robert had been too foolish and angry to do.
“It says that he is a charming man,” the duke continued on, sounding rather dubious, “possessed of a sociable nature and an amiable disposition. ‘He would certainly provide me with stability and a lovely home’…”
Robert cleared his throat. “If you will excuse me, I must retire for the evening.”
The duke looked up. “No, stay, it is not fair that you would have to endure this trial alone.”
“I fear I am not one fit for company, all of a sudden.”
The duke looked genuinely upset. “Captain, you must not give up hope. This is most unexpected. She has written to me and not once has she even mentioned this man before.”
“It is my own fault,” Robert admitted. “I drove her off with some unjust and unkind things that I said. I am not surprised that another man saw his chance with her and took it.”
“I said some rather unjust and unkind things myself,” the duke replied. “To Miss Worthing. The argument that we had—” The duke sighed, chuckling a little as he shook his head. “I thought that she would never forgive me. I did not think that I deserved to be forgiven.
“And yet she not only forgave me—she apologized. She thought that she was the one who had been in the wrong! And while I am inclined to believe that you were the one who was in the wrong, that is because we are talking about my sister and I am far too inclined to think that she is beyond reproach.”
The duke smiled at the memory, his gaze far away. “I think that you might be surprised if you would apologize to her, what might happen.”
“But she has already been proposed to by another man,” Robert pointed out. “I cannot compel her to break that engagement off.
“Once before I tried to compel her to go against a promise that was made. I asked her to abandon her duty as a daughter to her father. I asked her to possibly ruin herself, to turn away from all that she had known.
“I cannot possibly ask her to open herself up to ridicule a second time. That would be unfair of me. You know how grave it is for a woman to break off an engagement. There must be extreme circumstances.”
The duke shook his head. “Let me finish reading the letter—”
“I will see myself ou
t.” Robert bowed. “I have made a mistake, and this is the consequence of it. I must accept that.
“I wish you all the best, my lord, and I look forward to seeing you and your bride on your wedding day. I am grateful and pleased that you would wish to invite me. Thank you for your hospitality this evening.”
The duke gave a small sigh, then bowed as well. “Have a good evening, Captain.”
Robert left with the duke reading the rest of the letter. As he allowed a servant to see him out, he thought he heard the duke call for him again, but he must have misheard.