Hopeless Heart

“Poker?” Mr Parker’s brows lifted.

Georgiana squinted at the sound of his choked voice but saw nothing but polite interest staring back at her.

“I have watched my brothers play for hours at home but they would never allow me to join them. They said it was too complicated for me, and that I was too young,” she sighed. “So now, as an adult, I should like to play a game of poker in a proper gaming house. I must discover for myself if I can play it, and understand how good I am.”

Mr Parker nodded and looked a little stymied for a moment or two.

“I should like to race a curricle,” Georgiana added.

“Drive a curricle,” Mr Parker corrected automatically but then paused when Georgiana shook her head.

“No. I should like to race one. It would be wonderful to race along at speed with the wind in my hair and just be free,” Georgiana mused with a dreamy expression on her face. “I should also like to ride bareback on a horse.”

“Good Lord,” Mr Parker murmured. He eyed her dress warily. “How do you intend to manage that in a dress?”

“Oh, I don’t intend to wear one,” Georgiana reported defiantly.

“What?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean that, although I should like to skinny dip again,” she replied with a nod.

Mr Parker made a few strange noises and lifted his brows at her. “Your brothers?”

Georgiana nodded. “They used to do it all the time.”

“But wouldn’t let you join in,” Mr Parker finished for her. He was starting to get the idea.

“I should like to scrump for apples. I have watched my brothers hike up trees on many occasions,” she continued.

“But they wouldn’t let you,” Mr Parker said knowingly but shook his head. “It is theft. Unless your aunt has an apple tree, you cannot climb anybody’s tree and help yourself to apples that don’t belong to you.”

“Oh, I am aware of that,” Georgiana replied with a frown. It was less exciting to scrump for apples from her aunt’s tree, though. Part of the thrill of scrumping came from the fact the tree, and apples, belonged to someone else, but she didn’t mention that to a clearly shocked Mr Parker. “I don’t intend to turn into a criminal.”

She squinted again when Mr Parker coughed and shifted in his seat. For a moment there she could have sworn he had muttered ‘thank Heaven’.

“Is that it?” Mr Parker asked. “Why, I don’t consider any of that is too risqué, especially if you are discreet about them. I am sure you can find a way of fulfilling your list of things to do without causing any offense to anyone. Of course, that is assuming your aunt is fully supportive of your plans. She will be your guardian while you are with her don’t forget, and you are likely to bring scandal upon her if you are caught doing any of this.”

Georgiana waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, my aunt is a little wayward herself. She has never conformed to the requirements set out by the family either. I am sure she will be fully supportive of my plans once I have explained them to her.”

“Good,” Mr Parker replied with a firm nod. “Well, it doesn’t sound too bad,” he mused thoughtfully only to jump when Georgiana began to shake her head.

“I haven’t finished yet,” Georgiana continued and squinted at him when Mr Parker appeared to groan.

“Skinny dipping,” he whispered with a shake of his head.

“I should like to get drunk,?

?? she announced with a grin. “I have had a little sip of the brandy in my father’s study but never truly been in my cups before. I should like to know what it feels like.”

“It makes you ill,” Mr Parker replied with relish. “Really, really, ill my dear. I shouldn’t recommend it unless you are used to drinking the stuff. Stick to Ratafia.”

“But you cannot get into your cups on that,” Georgiana replied.

“It won’t make you so poorly, though.”

Georgiana shrugged unconcernedly. “I should like to try it. Not that I have any yen for brandy, you understand? I should like to experience being drunk so that I understand why people drag themselves about so, and slur and dribble so much.”

Mr Parker started to laugh. “Your brothers,” he declared around his guffaws.