Chapter 29 #2
“In truth, Amelia, he is my husband, but for both of us, that was simply a title. A convenience. I hope, and I sincerely want for it to be a true marriage, but… I cannot swear on it. I do not know everything about him yet. I do not know if he trusts me. All I have is… hope.”
Speaking those words aloud cemented the feeling within her, repaired those broken foundations, and left Georgia feeling that she was facing the tribulations ahead on firm ground.
“Hope is all anyone can ask for, but you are wrong about one thing...” Lord Swinthorpe stood in the doorway.
Amelia gasped audibly, and Georgia whirled. She had closed the door.
Did I, though? Or did I leave it open, so excited was I to find Amelia?
“And what is that, Lord Swinthorpe?” Georgia asked, raising her chin and standing in front of Amelia protectively.
Swinthorpe loomed in the doorway, larger than both of them, though a pale shadow next to his nephew.
He stepped inside, and suddenly it was as though he shrank.
He spread his hands as though to show he meant no harm.
The smile on his face was honest and open, crinkling his eyes in a grandfatherly way. A kind way.
“A woman under the age of one-and-twenty is the ward of her legal guardian. In this case, her parents. Lord Silverton could demand that she be returned to him and could press suit against Westvale if he refuses. He could accuse Keaton of kidnapping. I believe he will go that far. The scandal would be terrible, not to mention the possible criminal repercussions. How do you think a blind man would fare in Newgate, Your Grace?”
A cold sensation slid down Georgia's throat as though she had swallowed ice. She looked at Amelia, who was staring into space with a look of horror.
“Uncle Benjamin cannot compel Amelia to marry,” Georgia pressed bravely.
Swinthorpe arched an eyebrow. “Can he not? How did you come to be in this house, again, Your Grace? Because of the compulsion he was imposing on you. And you are over one-and-twenty. It is not fair, and it is not just, but it is the way of things in England.”
“I will run away. Far away!” Amelia blurted loudly, “I will not be the ruin of Westvale or you. Not after all you have shown me is kindness.”
“If you do, then you will not be alone. I will be alongside you,” Georgia assured her.
“And Westvale will still be a house of kidnappers,” Swinthorpe interjected, casually tearing the plan to pieces, “but running away is the best plan, as far as I can see.”
Georgia saw his reasoning. If it was known that Amelia had run away from her rightful guardians in the company of her older Duchess cousin, it would be assumed that Georgia was the instigator.
“She cannot go alone!” Georgia snapped, irrespective, angry at the dead ends being presented.
“I am not proposing that she does. You come with her, by all means.
But not running into the hills aimlessly.
You will both come to Swinthorpe. Then it can be framed as a visit to family, not an escape or an abduction.
When Silverton and that rogue, Emsworth, come back with the Runners, Rutherford will simply tell them that the birds have flown.
A visit to the country to get out of town for a while.
And no, he doesn't know when they will be back. A butler is not privy to such information. I cannot see a chink in that armor, can you?”
Georgia laughed. The relief that swept through her was palpable. Amelia grinned, eyes shining. She giggled too.
“I cannot. It seems impenetrable! Thank you, Lord Swinthorpe. The ideal solution,” Georgia agreed.
“If it pleases, Your Grace, I would deem it a great honor if you addressed me as my nephew does. Edric is the name I was given, and it is a good one, I think.”
“An excellent name, Edric,” Amelia enthused, “if I also have leave to use it?”
Edric bowed in an old-fashioned, courtly way. It enhanced the air of grandfatherly kindness that emanated from him.
“Of course, Miss Vexley,” he said, graciously.
“Amelia, please, Edric,” Amelia offered.
Edric smiled warmly. “I would recommend departing at once. If you would like to pack some small items of luggage, I will inform Rutherford.”
He turned to go, then paused.
“On second thoughts. Let us not give any of the staff reason to gossip about your departure or the manner of it,” he said, tapping his lips thoughtfully with a finger, “we shall slip out by the servant's door. Your Grace, perhaps a note in your own fair hand will be sufficient to inform Rutherford.”
“Of course. Come, Amelia, we will pack a bag each, and I will write the note,” Georgia said, linking arms with her cousin.
She was happy to see the fear and anxiety leave her cousin’s shining face.
Now all we need to do is engineer a two-year visit to the country until Amelia turns twenty-one. Simple!
As they returned to their rooms to pack, Georgia found herself smiling. It was a ludicrous thought, but she suddenly had such confidence in Keaton and, yes, in Edric too, that she felt nothing could go wrong!