Chapter Fifteen #2
Sophie smiled as Georgie twirled around and around in her room, showing off a very pretty shawl that had arrived for her. Though it was highly improper that it came from a Mr. A., Sophie hated to dampen Georgie’s spirits.
Georgie suddenly stopped twirling and stumbled a bit. She grabbed on to her bedpost. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
The green shawl was well made and had tiny beads sewn into the edges. The man had an eye for what would suit Georgie, which was a bit concerning. “It is, indeed. Do you know this Mr. A.?”
Georgie waved her hand. “Of course. It’s Lord Ashfield. I haven’t had any correspondence with anyone else.”
Sophie was shocked, and couldn’t keep it from her voice. “Georgie, you haven’t. Writing to an unmarried man who hasn’t made his intentions known is beyond the pale.”
“Oh, but I did. Don’t worry. Mother knows and approves. She said it may bring the lord to the altar all the quicker.”
Sophie hoped that Lady Edgerton hadn’t said that, but it was possible.
Georgie’s mother was as anxious to be rid of her daughter as Georgie was to find someone who would love her.
She certainly hadn’t been loved at home.
“Just be careful what you say in your letters. Remember what happened to Lady Susan when her younger sister found one of her letters?”
Georgie flounced onto her bed. “Yes, but I don’t have a younger sister, so it really doesn’t matter. Besides, I’m quite sure he’s in love with me. He’s just waiting until the start of the Season to talk to my parents.”
That didn’t make sense, but Georgie would only see what she wished to see.
Sophie was determined to confide in someone about Georgie, possibly even Lady Sommerset.
Though she would feel like a hypocrite after what she’d experienced with Tam.
He seemed genuinely pleased to have given her so much.
Did that mean he felt something for her?
She’d thought them friends, but now it was different.
“Can you imagine me, Georgina Bridgeman, as Viscountess Ashfield?”
The change of subject jolted Sophie back to Georgie. “I can imagine you a duchess, as long as you’re happy.”
Georgie’s smile disappeared. “Honestly, I don’t care if he’s a vicar. I just want someone to myself.”
“I know. You’ll find him, be it Lord Ashfield or someone else.”
Georgie gave her a weak smile.
“Are you ready to go down to eat? Isn’t today the day you and Mrs. Evans are going to Ravenridge to see the ravens?”
Georgie jumped up, her melancholy vanishing. “It is. We need to hurry. I don’t want to waste a minute.”
Sophie followed Georgie out of her room, down the stairs, and into the dining room. Trying to keep up with Georgie when she was excited was futile. As her friend went to the sideboard, Sophie moved to the table to start with a cup of cocoa. She had the footman pour one for Georgie as well.
There were about a half-dozen ladies already eating, all first-year students. Sophie enjoyed watching them interact with each other. It was clear they had formed strong bonds over the term, just as she had with all her own classmates.
Georgie joined her with a large plate full of pound cake and strawberry jam. The lady had a robust appetite that she hid when in male company, yet she was thin enough for the wind to make her stumble.
“Is there brioche today?”
Georgie nodded as she took a bite of cake.
Sophie rose and walked to the sideboard. She’d just lifted a plate when the conversation in the room abruptly ceased.
She looked over her shoulder at the table and found everyone’s gazes on the parlor. Turning, she saw Rose pushing Arabella toward the dining room in her wheeled chair. The entrance was rather brave, and immediately Sophie put down her plate and moved toward them.
Arabella’s wavy chestnut hair was pulled back in a neat bun and she wore a pretty dress of buttercups with yellow edging.
The dress was obviously too big, but it complemented the woman’s skin tone and hid her broken leg well.
Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done to hide the bruises on her cheek and forehead or the sling on her broken arm.
Sophie met them just inside the dining room. “Arabella, how lovely to see you down here. I’m so pleased you are feeling well enough to join us.”
Arabella glanced at Rose before responding. “Rose insisted, since my pain is tolerable today. She told me about all the wonderful ladies who will be my classmates.”
Arabella’s smile was genuine, and Sophie gestured toward where Georgie sat. “We are just over there. Mrs. Boyd, the cook, made pound cakes today. Do you like those?”
“Indeed, I do. Rose, wheel me over there so I can see what else Mrs. Boyd has prepared.”
As the two moved to the sideboard, Sophie turned toward the table to find the first-year students still staring. At her look, they went back to eating, their voices much lowered.
Once Arabella had seen the food, Rose pushed her to the end of the table, where a footman removed a chair. Arabella then told the man what she wanted, while Rose introduced Georgie. Sophie relaxed as Georgie smiled and began conversing.
After Sophie filled her own plate, she walked back to her seat. She’d just sat down when Arabella addressed her. “Rose said you are the expert on literature.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “I’m not an expert, but I do enjoy reading poems, plays, and stories.”
“Do you have a favorite?”
“Oh, no. I could ever choose one over all others. There are just so many that I have read more than once because I enjoyed them so much.”
Arabella’s brows rose, before she winced and lowered them. “I am partial to mythology.”
“You will read some of that as well as Greek plays and the best of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In history, you’ll also read Herodotus and Homer, so if you like the Greek myths, you will be sure to enjoy the rest.”
Arabella smiled before turning to Georgie. “And Rose said you enjoy bird watching and can tell me what bird I saw on my window this morning.”
As Georgie asked about the bird in question, Sophie looked over to the other ladies, who kept glancing over.
It had to be quite a shock to them to have a classmate in a wheeled chair with numerous physical injuries.
She hoped they would eventually make Arabella a friend.
Maybe once she started joining the conversations with the instructors.
“Sophie, I hope I can watch you skate one afternoon.”
At Arabella’s statement, she turned her attention back to her friends. “Me? Why?”
Rose, now seated next to Arabella with a plate of food, knitted her brow. “Because you’re so graceful. You outshine us all. Truly, Sophie, you are so good at observing others, you forget to observe yourself.”
Sophie had never thought of observing herself. “That may be a bit difficult.”
“I agree.”
At the new voice, Sophie looked over her shoulder to find Lady Felicity standing next to her. She felt her heart fill with joy. Lady Felicity was very shy, yet she’d come over to meet Arabella. “Lady Felicity, this is Lady Arabella. She’s just starting her first year.”
Lady Felicity moved around the table to take the seat next to Arabella. “You have been injured. I imagine it will take a long time to heal.”
As Arabella and Felicity began to converse, Sophie felt contentment. The Belinda School for Curious Ladies truly was a haven like no other, with the best people.
It wasn’t just the students, but the instructors as well. One of those was Lord Tamworth, who would leave for his new estate when the duke and duchess returned. She was determined to find a way to speak to him. She had many questions only he could answer.