Chapter Six
“He has been so attentive, I keep pinching myself because I can’t believe it’s true.” Georgina pinched her arm to show her friends, Ellie and Rose, as they sat at Monsieur Armand’s confectionary, awaiting their treats while Lord Durham and Lord Ferncroft spoke to a mutual acquaintance.
Ellie, now Lady Ferncroft, who was dressed in a blue day dress that complemented her red hair beautifully, smiled warmly. “Georgie, I just knew all would end well. Look at me. I met my husband on my wedding day, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Rose, who was being chaperoned by Ellie for their visit to the confectioner’s, looked beautiful in her pale peach dress even when she wrinkled her nose. “Did Lord Durham really bring you to Vaux Hall? That sounds a bit scandalous, and the last thing you want is gossip.”
“Only because I asked him to. Since I haven’t been allowed to leave the house unless he accompanies me, I wished for a longer outing.
We are betrothed, after all, and he insisted that we not walk in the gardens there.
He’s very careful of my reputation and reassures me often that what happened was not my fault. ”
Rose leaned closer. “Has he asked who ruined you?”
Ellie gasped. “Rose! We shouldn’t speak of him.”
“I didn’t. I just wondered because I couldn’t imagine having to sit in Parliament next to the person who ruined my wife. I wonder what Lord Durham would say if he knew.”
Georgina waved off Rose’s comment. “He has not asked, and I have not said anything. But if he does ask, I will, of course, tell him. What worries me more is that we are to have dinner at his sister’s house the evening after next, and I will be meeting his mother.
Lord Durham says that we must have a story about how we came to know each other.
He feels it will help me keep from revealing that I’m ruined.
” She looked at each of her friends and grimaced.
“I do wish Sophie were here.” Ellie sighed. “She knows so many stories.”
Georgina had thought the same. “Unfortunately, I received a letter from her just the other day, and she won’t arrive until next week. That will be far too late.”
Ellie crossed her arms over her significant bosom. “I see no reason why we can’t think of something.”
Rose’s face lit with excitement. “Yes. I’m sure we can. Every great lie starts with a solid truth, so let us build on when you two first met.”
Georgina took a moment to think about the very first time she spoke to Lord Durham. “That would have been at Ellie’s Twelfth Night ball. We were introduced briefly at the start.”
“Did you speak to him at any time over the next day, while skating, perhaps?”
“I’m afraid not. I was distracted by Lord Ashfield. He had been the only person to dance with me.”
“I don’t think we should mention him,” Rose replied.
“As Ellie said, that name needs to disappear from your mind. So let us think about the ball. I do remember Lord Durham was dressed as a jester, which is known for making people laugh. I’m sure when you conversed with him, he made you laugh and so you were quite taken with him. ”
Understanding dawned. Rose was creating the story. “Yes, you’re right. Though I have to say it was not the first thing I noticed—after all, he strikes quite a figure, being so tall, and when he looked at me with those light blue eyes, I swear I was mesmerized.”
Ellie clapped her hands. “That’s wonderful. Now, let’s see… Unfortunately, he was taken away by his friends and didn’t reappear until dinnertime.”
Georgina remembered Lord Tamworth coming to the table. “And after speaking with Lord Tamworth, I couldn’t help noticing when he returned to his table with Lord Durham that everyone there were laughing. I couldn’t wait to speak with him again.”
Rose moved to the edge of her chair. “What next? Should we say you spoke to him?”
As her friend made the suggestion, Georgina could picture the scene in her head. “Yes. At the punch bowl. He came specifically to talk to me and complimented me on my costume. I was smitten right then with how courteous and caring he seemed, especially since he asked if I was enjoying my evening.”
“But the night ended far too soon, and you found yourself looking forward to skating with him.” Ellie held her hand out. “Right?”
“Oh yes. In fact, I rose at a most unreasonable time to go skating just so I could be there when he arrived.”
Rose chimed in, “And you admired how well he skated.”
Georgina frowned. “But what about him pushing Lord Tamworth? That is hardly admirable.”
Ellie blew air out between her lips. “Well-made point. Let’s see. He felt very bad about that. Perhaps you tried to reassure him that it was an honest mistake born of excitement.”
That was actually something Georgina would do. “Yes, and then I comforted him when he made it up to Lord Tamworth by losing his townhouse to him in a bet.” She stilled. “Oh dear.”
Rose took her hand. “What is it?”
“If he doesn’t have a townhouse, will I be forced to stay in the country and miss the Season once we have married?”
Her friends looked at her and then at each other, their silence deafening.
Ellie finally spoke. “You have plenty of time to ask him about that. First, we must finish your story. The rest of that day, you two were not near each other, as many people would know that. The last day, the Curious Ladies had breakfast in my stargazing room, so we must think about what happened between then and now. Did he come to call?”
More than happy to be distracted, Georgina nodded.
“Yes, he came to call often after I came home from school. And he always let me know when he’d be in the village so I could be sure to go on an outing that day.
Our affection blossomed. He first asked me if I would wed him, and then spoke to my father.
When he asked me, we were outside in the evening, though it was a bit chilly, and a nightingale sang in the tree nearby, which confirmed for me that he was meant to be my husband. ”
Ellie grinned. “I think it’s a beautiful story. Now you must tell him, so you’re both quite familiar with it. You could talk about it on your ride home and discuss some small details that stand out, like that part about the bird at the proposal. Are you truly pleased with him in truth?”
Georgina didn’t need to think about the question for a moment. “I think could love him.” As Ellie opened her mouth, Georgina held up her hand. “I know what you would say. Don’t worry, I’m guarding my heart. But I have never had anyone be so interested in me…not even him.”
“Did you hear what happened at Langston’s opening ball?” Rose gave a sly smile, so like her when she was up to something.
Though Georgina didn’t think it right to wish ill upon a person, she admitted she was anxious to hear about any unfortunate incident that might befall him. “Oh, do tell. I’ve missed so much being forced to stay out of Society.”
Rose sat back and rearranged her dress skirts just so. “I witnessed the whole event. He bumped into the punch table so hard, it sent the bowl over and the punch splattered on the hostess.”
Georgina gasped. “The poor lady.”
“Yes. And to make matters worse, he tried to say he hadn’t done it.”
“No. How unflattering.” Ellie shook her head.
Georgina couldn’t help but notice Rose’s smug smile. “Rose, did you set that up?”
“Maybe.” Rose laughed.
Georgina couldn’t believe it, but she noticed Ellie nodding. “Ellie, you expected that? Why?”
Rose took Georgina’s hand. “When we all heard what happened to you, we decided on a plan.”
Ellie nodded. “Yes. All of us who are married set our husbands to the task of finding the man who would most likely make a good husband for you.”
Rose continued, “But I’m not married, and I wanted to help. And I was so mad at him that I wanted to tell everyone what he’d done, but of course that would have hurt you.”
“So we decided that Rose could play a few pranks just to make him appear awkward—nothing too harsh.”
“Yes, I’ve learned my lesson after Sophie went through the ice.” Rose looked truly sorry for that prank gone wrong.
Georgina’s heart filled with warmth. “I’m so lucky to have you all as friends. I hope I can do something for you in the future.”
“No need, Georgie. We will always be friends even when our own children are grown.” Ellie, who had always mothered them all, had gained two children when she married. “But I do need to confess something to the both of you.”
Honored that Ellie would take her into her confidence, Georgina laid her hand on her chest. “I know it will be difficult, but I will guard your confession.”
“It won’t be so hard. You see, I find it difficult to keep a secret too, especially if I cannot talk to anyone about it, so I told another Curious Lady about your predicament, and she is very good at keeping her own counsel.
I told Lady Felicity so I could talk with someone.
She and I were the first to arrive in Town, and it felt like forever before you all arrived. ”
Georgina laughed. “I cannot lay any fault at your door for that. Besides, I do like Lady Felicity very much.”
“Then I will confess that I also told someone.”
Georgina looked at Rose in surprise. “You did? You never reveal anything you don’t wish to.”
“True. I’ve been spending so much time with Arabella that I wished her to know.
In fact, she’s the one who suggested we look at Lord Durham because he’s always gambling.
So she has, in fact, been helpful. I wrote to Sophie and let her know, since her husband is good friends with Lord Durham. You will forgive me, won’t you?”
“Of course I will. I do like Lady Arabella, and I trust your judgment of her character. Now, if only I can continue to keep my ruination to myself, all will be well.”
“We will help you.” Ellie smiled fondly. “We all will.”
Georgina smiled widely at her two friends, delighted that she had them. “I never realized how truly life changing it would be going to the Belinda School for Curious Ladies. I’m so happy my mother was tired of having me at home.”