Chapter Twenty #2
“I believe Mama did try to warn me, in her way,” Ursula responded, dropping her face into her hands.
“Oh, heavens, Georgie, I’ve been the greatest fool.
Here I have been imagining that he loves me, when really, the dowager was right all along.
I mistook ordinary marital duty for love, and a merely kind man for a doting husband. Oh, I cannot stay a moment longer.”
Something danced in Georgie’s eyes, hastily hidden away.
“What do you mean, Ursula? What do you mean, you cannot stay?”
Ursula crossed to the bell pull in the corner and heaved on it. There was a moment or two of silence, and she used this time to reflect.
He does not love me, she thought, and the idea had a painful flatness to it.
In time, Ursula was sure that she would accept the idea.
Many husbands and wives lived miserable, separate lives.
Perhaps Graham would be able to seek out his true love.
That would leave two out of the three of them happy, at least.
Her idea to leave came quickly on the heels of that realisation.
Ursula did not want to live the life of her mother, full of anger and resentment, with the knowledge she could not leave even if she wanted to.
She did not want to live the sort of life Margaret had led, at the mercy of a man who despised her.
The only choice, then, was to leave.
Running footsteps sounded in the hallway outside, and the door opened. To Ursula’s relief, she saw Ruthie.
“Pack my things,” she ordered. “I am leaving this house within the hour.”
Ruthie’s eyes bulged. “Leaving, your ladyship?”
“Yes, Ruthie. “I am sorry to take my leave, and I regret having to depart from you."
Ruthie breathed in, steeling herself. “Well, if you are leaving, your ladyship, I had better come with you, too.”
Ursula shot her a smile. “You’re a lovely girl, Ruthie. I should never insist upon you doing that.”
“No, I… I wish to. I’m your lady’s maid, after all. I go where my lady goes, do I not?” Ruthie flashed a quick, brave smile. “I’ll go and see about your things, now.”
She disappeared at once, leaving the door swinging open.
“You really are leaving, then,” Georgie murmured, getting to her feet and coming to stand beside her cousin. “Where will you go? Back to your Mama’s?”
“No, Mama would not take me,” Ursula responded crisply. “I’ll go to Charlotte. No, wait, I cannot. Charlotte’s parents would not allow it. Oh, heavens, Georgie, I don’t know where I shall go. Perhaps I shall have to stay after all.”
“No, don’t do that,” Georgie said, a trifle too quickly. “You can come and stay with me, cousin.”
***
Jonathan, as always, had been perfectly frank.
“If you love her,” he’d said, in his pragmatic, no-nonsense way, then you must tell her. For heaven’s sake, the two of you are already husband and wife. What more are you waiting for?”
He was right, of course. Graham had a spring in his step as he walked home. He had been attending to one of the upper fields in his remit, and Jonathan had arrived to walk with him. It had seemed most natural to walk home. He was glad of the exercise, and it was most refreshing.
I will be perfectly honest, he thought, cresting the last hill and pausing at the summit, peering down at his house far below.
I will tell her how much she means to me.
I will suggest that we begin a courtship.
We never had a courtship … and build a new relationship, brick by brick.
I will tell her that I can imagine no finer woman by my side, and no better viscountess.
Mother should have begun her preparations to leave by now, and so we will be alone. Just the two of us.
Heart pounding in his chest, he begun a sharp jog, descending the hill. As he grew closer, he noticed for the first time that there was a carriage loitering in front of the house. He did not recognize the crest. As he approached, he saw that there were a few cases lashed to the top of the carriage.
That coach belongs to the Worths, he thought with a jolt. Ursula’s aunt and uncle.
And then Ursula came sailing out of the house, head held high, and a cloak billowing around her. Ruthie followed, dressed for going out, and she kept her gaze fixed to the ground.
Something like fear shot through Graham’s chest, and he began to run faster.
“Ursula!” he shouted. “What are you doing?”
Upon hearing his words, she faltered in her steps. She slowed but did not stop, reaching the carriage and climbing inside it. Ruthie climbed in after her.
Then Georgiana Worth appeared at the door, turning to talk earnestly and quietly to somebody standing inside the threshold.
Glancing across the courtyard, she saw Graham approaching and quickened her pace.
She hurried to the carriage and climbed in herself, and the coachman closed the door after her.
Graham realised, with dull surprise that he was not going to reach the carriage before it drove away.
He broke into a sprint, but it was too late.
The carriage wheeled around, the coachman snapped the reins, and the horses broke into a brisk trot.
They shot past Graham, spraying gravel against his shins.
With a shout, Graham attempted to run after the carriage, calling for Ursula to stop and just listen.
He had no idea whether she heard him or not, but the carriage did not stop.
It did not even slow down. About halfway down the driveway, it left him decidedly behind, and Graham finally skidded to a halt, gasping for breath.
The carriage reached the wrought-iron gates, disappearing onto the road beyond.
She’s gone, he realised dully. She packed her things and left. I don’t understand.
Turning to stare back up at the house, he saw that his mother was standing on the top of the stone steps, staring down at him.
It was her that Miss Worth was speaking to, he thought in a rush.
“Oh, Mother,” he murmured aloud. “What have you done?”