Hopeless Heart

Once again, Mr Parker’s ears pricked up. He studied the young woman’s clothing a little more closely. There was only one William in the region of Cranbury whom everybody had heard about, mainly because he was the son of Lord Abrams. If it was the same person, he was curious to witness how this set of circumstances played themselves out, especially given that he had yet to hear of the son intending to marry anyone.

Georgiana mulled over what she had just said. If she was honest, Cranbury wasn’t home anymore. Even saying the word ‘Cranbury’ didn’t leave her with even a hint of homesickness she had expected.

“Cranbury hasn’t been my home for a long time now,” she murmured softly.

In fact, Cranbury stood as a haunting reminder of a childhood full of girlish dreams that would never be fulfilled. She was glad to be rid of it, but she didn’t say as much to Mr Parker. There are some things a woman needs to keep to herself.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“So, you are going to stay with your relation for a while so you

can decide where to go from there,” Mr Parker began - it wasn’t a question.

Georgiana nodded.

“Then that is what you shall do,” Mr Parker smiled. “I hope you get the answers you are looking for.”

“I need to find out who I am,” she sighed.

“Well, might I be of some use?”

Georgiana looked at him and laughed.

Mr Parker shrugged deprecatingly. “There is nothing else to do here. I am not going to break your confidences. What kind of things do you like to do with your time?”

“Well-” Skinny dipping immediately came to mind but she couldn’t tell him that. She considered what to tell him, but the more she tried to come up with something else, the more she contemplated skinny dipping. Her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.

“Be bold and daring,” he prompted. “Unless you push your boundaries, you will never discover what truly holds your interest.”

“I have recently tried skinny dipping,” she burst out, her cheeks now bright red.

Mr Parker looked shocked for a moment before he coughed and averted his gaze. “And?”

“It was cold, but something I would definitely try again,” she replied boldly.

“Is that all?” Mr Parker asked. “I wouldn’t recommend you do it often.”

“I know, the cold,” she replied.

“No, your reputation,” he corrected.

Georgiana was going to shake her head but then stopped. She hadn’t been caught skinny dipping, she had been seen kissing Will–it was different. Or was it? Either way she looked at it, she had been caught by one of the village’s worst gossips and her reputation now lay in tatters around her feet.

Mr Parker sensed there was something she wasn’t telling him but decided not to push. Instead, he tried a different method of getting information out of her.

“What else would you like to try?” He wondered just how daring she was and glanced around the empty carriage. “Do you like to travel?”

“No,” Georgiana replied. “It is hot, dusty, uncomfortable, and tiresome. I prefer to be at home.”

“Alright then.” Mr Parker turned his attention outside of the window while he thought about the type of activities a young woman Georgiana’s age would be interested in.

“What about dancing?”

Georgiana wrinkled her nose up. “I have two left feet,” she admitted ruefully. “Cecily has always said that she has been cursed with a clumsy child.”

Mr Parker frowned. He was starting to dislike this Cecily, and he hadn’t even met the woman.

“I do have a list,” Georgiana admitted. “Of things I should like to try.”