“Oh?” Mr Parker felt that age-old sinking sensation deep within and braced himself. “That is a mischievous glint in your eye, Miss Bentley.”
Mr Parker watched the silent play of emotions flicker across her rather striking features, and suspected that the man she had left behind had just lost someone who would have made life interesting, and intensely rewarding. While he wouldn’t condone what she was doing in fleeing her home, he had to applaud her strength. She was an extremely bright, lively, and intelligent young woman.
“You are plotting something,” he prompted when she didn’t answer.
Georgiana shrugged but still didn’t confide in him.
“There is only you and me here.”
“I am not sure,” she replied. “It isn’t something you would approve of.”
“Oh?” He was starting to worry now and wondered if he was right in not issuing many cautionary words. “I am a man of the world. I am sure you cannot tell me anything I have not seen or heard before.”
Georgiana smiled but still didn’t confide in him.
“I might be able to offer you advice, or point you in the right direction,” he prompted hopefully.
“I have a list of things I wish to do in the foreseeable future that is all. Given that I am to be living at my Aunt Ruth’s house, I shall endeavour to do them at the earliest opportunity. I don’t care what anybody says,” Georgiana declared with a defiant glint in her eye.
“Ah,” Mr Parker replied.
“Ah?” she repeated.
“Most people draw up a list of things they wish to do before they die,” he replied carefully.
“But I am not about to die,” Georgiana replied. “I just wish to do them before I begin my new life.”
“Oh? Where is that?”
“I don’t know yet,” Georgiana whispered.
“I take it that your family are likely to send this Will person after you just as soon as they find out where you are?” It sounded like an extremely unusual relationship her family had with Will if he was the son of the Earl.
“If they find out where I am before Will gets married then he will come to see me, I don’t doubt,” she replied with a grimace.
“Then don’t tell them until you have finished trying the things on your list,” Mr Parker replied flatly. There was a hint of steel in his gaze that made her study him more closely.
“Are you telling me to try it all?” she asked cautiously. “But you have no idea what they are!”
“Surprise me,” he said and sat back against the seat to wait.
Georgiana studied him for a moment. He already knew she had left home in a hurry, without her parent’s permission. After the journey ended, she wasn’t likely to see him again. What was there to lose? With a sigh, she began to tick off the list of things she wanted to experience with her fingers.
“I wish to wear a brilliant crimson dress and eat grapes,” she replied with a grin. Her grin widened when Mr Parker didn’t express any outrage or dismay but merely chuckled.
“Brilliant red?” he chortled.
“Yes. I have always been made to wear insipid pale colours, but with my hair I always look like a ghost.”
Mr Parker snorted but didn’t tell her that she was too beautiful to be like any spiritual creature. His expression remained bland while nodded politely.
“That’s all?” There wasn’t anything too outlandish there, but when a random idea dawned on him. He did a double-take and studied her closely. “At home, I hope?”
“Oh, of course,” Georgiana whispered, scandalised at the prospect of parading around outside for the world to witness her dressed like a wanton whore.
Mr Parker nodded and mentally heaved a sigh of relief. His lips twitched. He struggled to force his face into a dead-pan expression, and waited patiently.
“I should like to play a game of poker in a proper gaming house,” she replied.