Hopeless Heart

“Gilman? But that’s miles away,” Theresa replied with a frown. “What do you want to go there for?”

“I need to buy a coaching ticket to Aunt Ruth’s,” Georgiana replied.

She had brought her pouch of coins with her and hoped she had enough to buy a ticket that would take her all the way to her aunt’s without stopping. If not, she would have to dip in to her secret stash of funds and buy an additional ticket if needed.

“But surely your Papa should do that?” Theresa gasped as she followed her out of the meadow.

Georgiana looked at her. “It is purchasing a coaching ticket, Theresa. Even I am perfectly capable of doing that by myself. I am not completely helpless.” Her voice was considerably sharper than she intended but she made no apology for it.

“Why does everyone treat me as though I am incapable of doing even the simplest things?” Georgiana snapped as she clambered over the gate and dropped onto the lane beyond.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Theresa gushed. “I am sorry, Georgiana.”

Aware that she had been unnecessarily harsh, Georgiana offered her a half-hearted smile which didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to be so churlish. I am just at odds today,” she sighed.

“You have every right to be,” Theresa murmured soothingly, completely understanding her friend’s emotional state. “You are a little upset today that is all. Once the news has settled in a little, it won’t be so bad. You’ll see. This is all a storm in a teacup.”

Georgiana looked at her friend but didn’t reply. This ‘upset’ was considerably more than a storm in a teacup–it was huge hurricane that had blown everything into a million tiny pieces and she couldn’t pick them back up again.

CHAPTER FOUR

Later that day, with a coaching ticket to Mecklemerry, her Aunt Ruth’s village, clutched in her hand, Georgiana walked back to Cranbury. With each step she took she grew increasingly reluctant to go back at all, even for a few hours’ sleep.

As she walked she contemplated just how much screeching her mother would do about the length of time she had been gone. It was horrible to admit even to herself that unlike most people, she wasn’t planning what to do once she reached the safe confines of her bed chamber. No, she was contemplating just how long she would have to endure her mother making pointed references to her wayward and selfish daughter. Even taking a little time today for herself had made her life more unbearable and staying in Cranbury virtually impossible.

Determined not to worry about the place she lived until she reached it, Georgiana turned her thoughts to the list of adventures she wanted to try. She did indeed want to experience everything, and more besides. Although her friend considered it a pipe-dream, Georgiana had no doubt it was considerably more than that. Her need to spread her wings a little had nothing to do with her broken heart. It was a very real and very personal cry for freedom and something that if denied would cause her even more heartbreak.

“I am going to live with my aunt and I don’t care if anybody likes it or not,” she declared defiantly as she sauntered slowly down the lane.

Of course, there was one person she hadn’t considered in all of this–her aunt. She had no idea if Ruth was even at home right now and wasn’t able to find out until she got there. Her plans would all go horribly wrong if she travelled all that way only to find Ruth had gone away somewhere, and was not expected back for several weeks.

Now that the day had warmed up, and Georgiana had spent the better part of the afternoon walking, she was hot, sweaty and tired.

“Tilpit lake,” she whispered aloud as she studied the long line of trees in the distance.

The mental image of the pristine waters of the small lake she often visited when she wanted time alone suddenly swam to the forefront of her mind. The villagers rarely ventured near the lake or woods because of its haunted reputation. The lake itself was surrounded by a tangle of weeds, and was extremely difficult to get even in the height of summer, but was the perfect place for her to rest and gather her thoughts before she faced going home.

Without giving it a moment’s thought, she went in search of the path that would take her where she needed to go. All the while, she contemplated how early she would need to leave the house in the morning to reach the coaching office in time to catch her coach. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the solitary rider behind her.

Will recognised Georgiana even from a distance. He immediately grew annoyed that her friend didn’t seem to be with her.

“Damned fool female,” he grumbled as he

studied her retreating back.

He nudged his horse after her, and decided to try to find out what troubled her right there and then.

It helps that you don’t want to go home, and are happy to find a diversion that delays it, a small voice warned him, but he ignored it, mainly because it was the truth.

The huge manor house he had just taken over from his father was the last place he wanted to be right now, not least because every time he stepped through the door his mother appeared and began to bleat on about marriage.

Eager to forget all about it, he focused his attention on his quarry, and urged his horse to walk faster when Georgiana disappeared into the trees.

Georgiana’s stomach flipped nervously as she contemplated what she intended to do. She had been to this lake on many occasions in the past but had never once even considered skinny dipping in it. Now, it was something she was going to try while the opportunity was there.

“I must be mad,” she muttered under her breath. In spite of her words she lifted her skirts and stepped over the debris littering the forest floor until she reached the small lake nestled deep within the foliage.