Chapter Twenty-One #2
At Arabella’s name, Georgina refocused. “If Arabella went to the ball, she had a very good reason. Knowing her as I do, I believe she is looking for prospective husbands. She plans to walk again, no matter what the physicians say, and with Lady Rose by her side, I don’t doubt she will. If I were a man, I’d bet on that.”
Berry’s brows rose. “I admire her spirit. Maybe I’ll pay her a call. She is Lord and Lady Inwood’s daughter, is she not?”
“She is. But she’s not staying with her parents this Season. I believe her mother has given up on her, so she’s staying with Lady Rose at Lord and Lady Harewood’s.”
“Harewood? I’m not sure I know the Harewoods.”
“I’d be happy to introduce you…while I’m still in Town.” She took the final swallow of her cocoa and rose. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to walk in your garden.”
“Of course. Georgie, I do hope that you will have all that you wish.”
She gave a nod and walked out of the room, through the townhouse, and into the back garden.
It wasn’t particularly large, but it was beautifully done, with small trees, rosebushes not yet budding, and a bench at the center.
She didn’t wish to sit, so she strolled slowly, not wanting to disturb any of the birds.
A few perched in the trees and a couple hopped along the wall.
She counted three house sparrows in the trees, two starlings on the roof next door, a Eurasian blackbird on the one wall and a robin on the other, and one blue tit searched the juncture where two large slabs met in the wall.
They were the usual birds to be found in the spring in London, and their consistency helped soothe her soul.
She stopped and simply watched as the blue tit poked and searched along the laid stonework for a crevice to nest in.
Finding none, she flew to one of the trees, inspecting it thoroughly until, finding it lacking, flying off into the neighboring garden.
Georgina finally sat on the bench and observed the birds as they flitted about.
They didn’t mind that she was there, and they went about their activity oblivious to the heartache she felt deep inside.
How did birds do it, pairing up for a year and then moving on to another?
Only swans and geese, that she knew of, paired for life.
If only she was truly a bird who could give her heart to someone different each Season.
But she was a human, and she feared her heart was broken.
The man she loved couldn’t love her, not if he could so quickly think she had lied, and certainly not if he considered her his penance.
Tears began to gather again, and she angrily wiped them away with the back of her hand. She would not bring her sorrow to the birds. Rising, she returned to the house and the room Berry had given her. Maybe she just needed some rest.
*
Four hours later, Georgina found herself entering Berry’s parlor, having been told she had a caller. Assuming it was one of her friends, she strode in—only to stop at the sight of the dowager Durham.
“There you are, Georgie.” The dowager rose and walked to her, holding her hands out.
Georgina clasped them then let go.
“I have been quite worried about you. Come, sit with us.”
Georgina looked at Berry, who gave a reassuring nod. She sat in a straight-back chair opposite the dowager. “I apologize for worrying you. That was not my intent.”
The dowager waved her hand as if it was not worth considering. “I’m not here to chastise you. I’m here because my son came to me this afternoon with a most surprising tale.”
“Was he looking for me?”
“Indeed he was, and when he didn’t find you, he was quite beside himself.”
Georgina frowned. “I don’t understand. The last I saw him, he was furious with me.” Or perhaps he wished her back for more torture, but she kept that to herself. “Is he afraid my being here will cause the Durham name some slight?”
“My dear, he was worried about you, and quite frantic to find you. Luckily, Berry had sent me a note this morning letting me know you were here, but don’t worry.
I didn’t tell him where you were, only that you were safe, as I wished to hear from you what caused such a rift so soon in your marriage. ”
Georgina looked down at her hands, crinkling the folds of her day dress. “We had an argument in which he led me to understand that living without me would be more pleasant, so I’ve requested an annulment.”
“Mother, what she means is my brother told her he married her to punish himself for not coming home when father was ill.”
At Berry’s statement, Georgina looked up to find the dowager’s blue gaze widen.
“Unfortunately, that does sound like Philip. Georgie, you must know that hiding from him and asking for an annulment is torture for my son. If he did marry you for such a silly reason, then you’re fulfilling his wishes now.
Surely you don’t want him to have what he wants if you’re unhappy with him. ”
“I don’t understand.”
“Truly? My dear, he loves you and, with a terrible rumor going about, wishes to protect you. He feels helpless right now. He wants to make it right. I believe he wishes to apologize.”
Not able to sit still any longer, Georgina rose and strode to the window. How could she explain to Philip’s mother that an apology wasn’t enough, especially when she was quite sure he only wished to keep the family name from being slandered?
She stared outside and caught sight of a male blue tit who landed on a bush.
He puffed up his feathers and preened. She looked for the female he was trying to impress, but didn’t see her.
Then the little bird flew to another branch of the bush, diving between the leaves, only to come out with a caterpillar in his beak.
He flew up to a tree not far away, obviously gifting the lady blue tit with the meal.
Georgina still couldn’t find the female, but the male came out to the end of a branch, minus the caterpillar, and fluffed himself again.
The bird courtship just saddened her all the more.
She and Philip hadn’t had a true courtship.
He’d needed her and she’d needed him, both because of societal opinion—though, to be fair, their circumstances had been dire.
Still, he’d hurt her more than Lord Ashfield, because she loved Philip, and he knew she did.
Even if he thought being married to her would be uncomfortable at best, how could he think she had lied to him?
“Georgie, Philip told me why you two married.”