Hopeless Heart

Will cursed and lurched toward her before she crashed to the floor.

“I am alright,” Georgiana mumbled, more confused by his proximity than the alcohol.

The scent of him reminded her faintly of honey and something else. Whatever it was smelled heavenly, and elicited a yearning she knew deep down inside-even drunk-that she should ignore. It was difficult, though, when he was holding her so tightly against him. Like a new born foal, she struggled to find her legs, which wobbled and shook as she tried desperately to regain her balance.

“Just how much have you drunk?” Will muttered in exasperated disbelief when he tried to release her only for her to start to fall again. “You are drunk.”

His astonishment was clear in his tone but he doubted she had heard it. She was oblivious to the world. It gave him the time to study her up close–something he had never done before.

It was a revelation.

What struck him, first of all, was that he wasn’t holding a young girl. He was holding a woman; a well-rounded, extremely sensual woman. His body responded to her every movement and became almost painful the longer he touched her. With temptation so close, Will had to call upon every ounce of self-control he possessed not to throw caution to the wind and take what she so brazenly offered. The last thing he wanted to do was take advantage of her while she was drunk–she would hate him for it. Moreover, he would hate himself for being that weak.

Determined to keep his mind off the needs of his flesh, he scowled down at her. He then found himself staring into the hypnotic depths of her eyes which seem to lure him in. There was clarity in the gaze she levelled on him, but he also saw a hint of shadow, wariness even, and that worried him.

“Why are you doing this?” he whispered. It wasn’t lost on him that if he hoped to get the truth out of her, there was no greater time to try to prise honesty from her than when alcohol had loosened her lips.

“What?” Georgiana hiccupped.

“You are going wild,” he sighed.

“I am not the person you believe I am,” she replied indignantly. “I am not a child anymore.”

Will sighed impatiently. “We have been through all of that. I am asking you why you are drunk. The other week you were skinny dipping. When I got to the village, I caught you stealing apples. Not just stealing them but sitting up a tree while you ate them. Now, you are not only dressed like a harlot but you are drunk as well.”

/> “I am not dressed like a harlot,” she gasped in outrage. “How dare you suggest such a thing?”

“I didn’t say it looked bad on you but you are a lady, Georgiana,” Will replied calmly but firmly.

Georgiana snorted inelegantly. “I am sorry. You must be confusing me with your fiancé. She is a lady. I am merely a commoner.”

With that, she pushed roughly out of his arms and put the solid bulk of the chaise between them. It helped that there was something other than him to lean against but she still struggled to focus on anything. “Your fiancé is one of your kind. I am not.”

“Wait!” Will held a hand up. His temper stirred. “What do you mean, ‘one of my kind’?”

“You are aristocracy. I am a commoner,” she declared firmly. “As such, a different set of expectations apply to me.”

“You are a gently bred young woman,” Will ground out through gritted teeth. “As such, a certain level of expectation is put upon you, I will admit, but you are not a commoner.”

“What I wear is nothing to do with you.” She tried to point a finger at him in a desperate attempt to change the subject but it wavered alarmingly. Issues about social status were too complicated to focus on right now. Her head was starting to ache already, and she suspected that if she kept arguing with him, she would end up looking a fool.

“It is highly inappropriate attire for a lady,” he said firmly.

“I am sure you are already aware of that,” she snapped as tears sting her eyes. “Go away. You spoil everything I do.”

“How?” he demanded when she struggled toward the door. “Georgiana, come back here.”

“No, go away. I don’t want to talk to you. Who let you in anyway? How did you get into this house?” She was aware of her voice becoming shriller the more she spoke but for the life of her seemed to have no self-control over anything she did anymore. Her legs wouldn’t work, her brain wouldn’t work, and she had now started to feel sick from those grapes, or the brandy. Now, to add insult to injury, Will had seen her wearing her red dress and had made it clear she looked foolish in it.

“We are going to talk about this,” Will snapped hauling her to a stand-still before him.

“Why do you always try to put me down?” she cried, yanking her elbow out of his grip. “I have done nothing to you. I am nothing to you. Why are you here?”

“I don’t always put you down,” Will protested.

“Yes, you do. You always ignore the things I want just to please my parents. You are always ignoring what I want. You are always ignoring me. Why, I might as well be a piece of furniture for all you care. You are just like my parents. Go away,” she snapped. “I don’t wish to speak to you anymore.”

“Georgiana, don’t upset yourself so.” Will’s voice turned placating, but he got no more than three steps away from her when she turned a glare on him that would have molten lava.