“It’s a wonderful day,” Will greeted, his concerned gaze studying Georgiana’s aloof expression as he spoke.
“Indeed it is,” Theresa replied politely.
The stilted silence which settled over the meadow became uncomfortable and warned Will that he had interrupted something important–and grave. He tried to find something to say that would break the awful atmosphere.
“How are you today, Miss Georgiana? Are you well?” He asked when it became clear Georgiana wasn’t going to try to converse with him.
Something is wrong with her, he thought.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied but still refused to meet his gaze.
“And your parents; are they well?”
“Yes, thank you,” she said.
Will sighed. He opened his m
outh to speak but Georgiana suddenly picked her bonnet up and proceeded to put it on as she turned away.
Without looking at him, to Theresa she said, “We need to go.”
Theresa nodded but hesitated. They needed to wait for him to move on before they left. To prevent Georgiana’s escape, she linked an arm through her friend’s, forcing her to mind her manners and stand still. Together, they presented him with a united front.
“Please accept our sincere felicitations for your good news,” Theresa murmured politely hoping he would take the hint.
Will lifted his brows at her.
“Pardon?”
Theresa repeated herself. “For your engagement,” she added when Will merely stared blankly at her.
Will nodded. He barely heard her because he was too busy studying the unhappiness on Georgiana’s face. He wanted to ask her what troubled her but didn’t want to put her in the position of having to exchange confidences in front of her friend. Instead, when neither lady appeared inclined to converse with him any further, he bade them a good day and left the meadow.
As he rode away, he glanced back at Georgiana, who remained still and motionless right until the moment he turned out of sight.
“Now, what can be wrong there then?” he mused aloud.
He shook his head and hoped she wasn’t concocting trouble. In all the time he had known Georgiana, she had never been as cold and aloof with him as she had been just now. It made him wonder if he had done something to upset her.
“It can’t be anything I have done,” he murmured aloud. “She was fine with me the last time we met.”
Indeed, she had been teasing him mercilessly about his inability to dance at the Hayes’ ball the other week. They had parted on good terms, so what could have gone wrong since then?
Whatever it is, it will show itself in time. I won’t challenge her over her problems right now. I will wait until I see her in more private circumstances, he thought. Maybe I am over-reacting. She was polite, if not particularly happy. What could be wrong with that? She doesn’t have to be effervescent every time we meet.
Still, deep in his gut something warned him that she had a problem and he needed to find out what it was to be able to decide what to do to help her. He didn’t stop to question whether he could help her. He would, purely because if there was one thing he hated more than anything else it was being at odds with people, especially Georgiana.
Georgiana watched him go and wished she never had to see him again but then immediately regretted it. It hurt, but she forced herself to watch him ride away. It was like a symbolic closing of a door: a door to the past and shattered dreams. It hurt to turn away from him-them, but she drew upon every ounce of fortitude she possessed and did just that. Now, if only she was able to put him out of her mind just as easily she might survive the rest of her life without him.
“I hate him,” she whispered without any hint of fervour or malice.
“No, you don’t,” Theresa replied sadly.
“I do,” Georgiana declared defiantly. “I really do. He is stupid, and blind, and deserves Penelope Smedgrove. I hope I never have to see him again.”
“Oh, Georgiana,” Theresa cried.
“I mean it,” Georgiana snapped with an indignant sniff. She looked at her friend and, in that moment, made a decision. “I am not going home for a while. I need to walk over to Gilman.”