Hopeless Heart

“People would not question it,” Henry replied. “They are too shocked by the scandal Findley-Wreake has brought to the village. You will be seen as the victim, Georgiana. Don’t doubt that.”

“I have always suspected that there was something unusual about him. I should have looked deeper at his manner before I ever allowed Georgiana to go anywhere near him,” Ruth murmured with a sigh.

“He fooled everybody my dear,” Henry soothed. “It wasn’t just you. We were all fooled.”

“Me too,” Georgiana sighed. “Although I did see slight flickers of darkness in his character while we were out driving. I just didn’t stop to consider them too much. I should have ended all connection with him there and then.”

“We are always wiser in hindsight,” Henry murmured.

“Are you sure you won’t stop for dinner?” Ruth asked.

“No thank you, my dear. I just wanted to pop in to assure you that Findley-Wreake is now behind bars so you can be at ease now that there is no further threat to you.” With that Henry pushed away from the table and made his way to the door.

Before he took his leave of them, a rapid series of knocks on the front door drew their attention.

“I will go,” Georgiana offered leaving Ruth to say goodbye to him.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

“Hello, Georgiana.”

Georgiana stared in disbelief at the man on the doorstep. Stunned, she stepped back to allow him inside unaware of anything else that was going on around her. She didn’t even realise when her aunt and Henry had joined them in the hallway.

“Will?” Ruth gasped. “Is everything alright?”

Georgiana jerked out of her stupor and looked at her aunt. For a wild moment of hope there she had been thrilled at the prospect that he might have returned to speak with her. The prospect that he might be there because something awful had happened in Cranbury left her feeling foolish and gauche.

“Everything is fine,” Will assured her. “I would like to have a brief word with Georgiana, if I may?”

Georgiana desperately wanted to ask him if he was married but daren’t. She had no idea what she

would do if he said he was.

“How have you been?” he asked once they were in the study.

“Fine, thank you. Please take a seat.” She waved toward the chair on the opposite side of the fireplace and, aware that he wouldn’t sit until she did, perched on the edge of the brocade chair to wait. Her hands clasped tightly on her lap to try to hide the visible shaking, but there was nothing she could do about the nerves that fluttered in her stomach.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon,” she said politely.

Will studied her closely and experienced the warmest flood of emotion sweep through him. Everything suddenly became right in his world. The sun shone brighter; the birds sang louder; the world seemed a more enjoyable place. It confirmed that he had made the right decision to leave here several weeks ago–it had taught him a lot about himself and, more importantly, the way he felt about her.

“How have you been?” he asked huskily.

The longer she stayed quiet the more his concern grew. There were dark circles beneath her eyes he hadn’t seen there before. What worried him the most was the cold aloofness in her manner he had not expected to find. He wondered what he had to do to get the wayward, spirited woman Georgiana was to emerge.

“Fine, thank you.”

No, I haven’t been fine. I have missed you so much that I cannot bear it, she cried silently.

“I wanted to speak with you.”

Georgiana stared hard at him. Their eyes met, but she valiantly ignored the fluttering of awareness that rattled through her.

“Oh?” she asked politely.

Will nodded. “I have spoken with the magistrate regarding Findley-Wreake,” he began.

Inside, she deflated just a little. “Yes, I heard he has been arrested now and is behind bars. It is a relief, don’t you think?”