Chapter 41
Georgina waited for what felt like an eternity but was, according to the clock on the ledge, actually only a few minutes.
Finally, the door creaked open, and Elizabeth entered, resplendent in a high-waisted, white cotton dress with puff sleeves and embroidered floral vines.
She wore a simple silver locket around her neck and a silver bracelet on her elegant wrist.
Behind her, like her nemesis waiting in the shadows, followed the figure of Mrs Gardner. She appeared to have not long arrived herself, given the curls that framed her face were damp. She had dispensed with any travelling garments and, Georgina noted, looked quite at home.
Elizabeth joined Georgina by the fire, a furrow on her brow. “Georgina, what are you doing here? Would you like a drink? Goodness, you are wet!”
“I did tell you she might turn up,” Mrs Gardner said.
Georgina, her hair dishevelled and her garments damp, looked up at Elizabeth, attempting to ignore Mrs Gardner. “I must talk to you.”
“We are all here to talk to you.” Mrs Gardner took a seat, making it clear she intended to stay.
Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, as if to gather herself, before fetching them each a glass of brandy and settling down on the sofa beside Georgina. “Very well.”
Georgina opened her mouth to speak, but Mrs Gardner’s shrill voice interrupted.
“As I was just saying to you, Elizabeth. I am naturally mortified to be the one to tell you about your little favourite’s involvement in the duel, but I could not keep it from you.
Miss Pace is guilty of felonious behaviour.
Again. I thought it was only right to warn you before you connected yourself with her further.
She’s already seen to it that your family name has been maligned in print once recently. How much more should you tolerate?”
Elizabeth’s gaze was inscrutable. Georgina chewed her bottom lip. She could not deny being present at the time of the duel, though to claim she had been involved was ludicrous.
“I am not sure what your motivation is today, but I need you to cease concerning yourself with my connections to Georgina.”
Mrs Gardner sighed theatrically. “Good. I knew you would not be foolish enough to be taken in by her. I warned you from the outset.”
Elizabeth’s posture stiffened. “On the contrary. I have full faith my credit will survive any connection Georgina chooses to have with me.” She at last looked at Georgina, a small smile touching the corners of her mouth.
If she had not already been sitting, Georgina may have tumbled over, such was her relief.
Mrs Gardner dropped her glass on the side table with a clatter. She stood up, hands on her hips, facing Georgina. “If you are so innocent, my girl, why don’t you tell Elizabeth where you were last night?”
Georgina’s eyes clouded over for a moment as she tried to recall the previous night. Everything seemed so long ago. Then she remembered she had been at Prudence’s house for dinner, and she wished the floor would swallow her up. Clearly, Mrs Gardner had followed her.
A peal of snide laughter from Mrs Gardner brought her back to the present, and Georgina realised she had intuitively covered her face with her hand. She looked at Elizabeth, who regarded her thoughtfully.
“Go on. Tell her.”
Georgina’s cheeks were on fire. She took a sip of her brandy before speaking. “I dined with Lady Ravenscroft. I did not stay.”
“So she claims,” Mrs Gardner sneered.
Elizabeth held Georgina’s gaze without saying a word. Then she stood and paced toward the mantlepiece, her back to both ladies. “Julia, I have been as patient with you as I can bear. You will leave this house and never return.”
Mrs Gardner gasped. “Elizabeth, no!”
Elizabeth turned around. “Yes. I have enabled you for too long. I tried to give you what you needed to live a good life, and you returned my goodwill by involving yourself with disreputable moneylenders and now trying to stand between me and someone I … care very much about.”
At these words, Georgina stood.
Mrs Gardner groped in her pocket for her handkerchief and wiped her face as tears sprang from her eyes. “Yes, I have done wicked things. But I have also cared for you, Elizabeth. Truly. I am sorry!”
“Just leave.”
“No!” Georgina interjected. The word had tumbled out before she realised she’d spoken.
Both Elizabeth and Mrs Gardner looked at her in astonishment.
Truth be told, Georgina herself was astounded at her words.
“Elizabeth, you are angry. As am I. But if our situation were -reversed, you would counsel me to have mercy and treat her with temperance. You have assisted her greatly thus far, and she must take responsibility for her choices. But when you provide someone with resources without the support to manage, you cannot blame her entirely for not knowing how to go along.”
Elizabeth blinked. “Are you saying this is my fault?”
“No. Only that we might help Mrs Gardner on to a more ethical path and teach her a better way.”
Mrs Gardner’s keen eyes were as round as saucers. She was nodding along with every word Georgina spoke now.
“I know about Blair,” Georgina said quietly. “Your efforts to keep them safe thus far would be wasted if you cut Mrs Gardner adrift.”
Mrs Gardner sniffled at the mention of her child.
“With Ellis and Montgomery out of the way, and Mrs Gardner educated not to become involved with their likes again, perhaps it is not too late?” Georgina held her breath.
Elizabeth’s expression softened.
Georgina went to Elizabeth by the fire. She took her hand tentatively, pressing her fingers. “This is you.”