When Georgia had finally awoken, she didn't even realize she had been sleeping. Her eyes drastically fluttered open to reveal that it was almost near dusk. She looked around for a moment while sitting up a bit more almost feeling unfamiliar in her own bed or more so how she got in it, but then she remembered that she nearly cried so hard she flung herself unto to the bed and then passed out shortly after.
It was something else she was supposed to be remembering as well. She frantically searched her mind while her eyes adjusted some more to the almost dim lit room searching and landed on a perfectly sealed unopened letter from the Duke of Richmond.
She instantly shuffled out of bed and found her way over to her desk before propping down and noticing the other tear-stained letter from Luella's grandparents on her father's side. Georgia put the letter on her desk and placed a book on top of it neatly before grabbing the unopened letter from the Duke and lighting a candle. She felt her fingers tremble slightly at trying to get it open. For the first time since her husband died, she'd never felt so...so not at ease. Her fingers held the letter lightly tracing over the edges before she opened it up and began to read.
Tonight.
Georgia flipped the parchment over on the backside, but it was seemingly blank on the other side as well. Why had she thought it would actually be a real letter? She almost felt like a fool. The letter was not addressed to or from anyone and the only reason she knew it was from the Duke because she'd remembered the gigantic R in the middle of the red waxed seal from the first letter she opened.
She stared at the word again trying to conjure up any possible meaning to this dubious letter raking her brain for any possible explanations. In the end she came up with nothing, so she rang the bell for Susan, who came almost immediately after and helped Georgia dress for dinner.
Georgia tried her best to stay motivated throughout dinner and keep the news of information to herself about what either letter could possibly mean. Thankfully, no one had suspected a thing and dinner went on casually as if nothing was even bothering Georgia. She also spent much of the dinner pondering on whatever could the Duke of Richmond mean by tonight.
Her mind was still seemingly frustratingly blank. But, as dinner concluded, and the sun settled deep within the sky and as Georgia rounded her way up to the nursery, she thought she might have just figured it out. She had walked into the nursery to see Luella already fast asleep.
"Oh, my Lue." She sat down after whisking her way through the sheer white canopy looming above Luella's exquisitely wooden carved bed. Luella
sighed deeply in her sleep at the touch of her mother's fingers.
"I love you. I have much to tell you in the morning, goodnight my sweet girl." Georgia said kissing her temple and then removing herself slowly from the nursery all the while her eyes were attached to the softness of her daughter's moon-lit cheek and how her breathing sighed in and out. She didn't really know how she was going to explain everything in that letter to her daughter.
Georgia sighed deeply and shook her head as she closed the door but nearly bumped into Harold the house butler.
"My apologies my lady, I should have been more careful." Harold said slightly anguished.
"Oh Harold, it is quite alright. I bid you goodnight."
Georgia said forgivingly with a hint of impatience which Harold might have noticed. Was Lady Pearson in a hurry for bed as well he thought?
"Goodnight, my Lady." Harold said taking a bow and then continuing on his work slowly to watch Lady Pearson as she retreated slowly down the corridor. He noticed instead of making a right to her chambers she made a left as if to leave Heywood Manor all together. Harold didn't want to pry or spy but he felt concerned for Lady Pearson's safety.
In the end he willed himself to continue with his work, perhaps there may come another time when he could figure out exactly what was Lady Pearson up to, even though it was none of his business nevertheless he reminded himself it would be for her safety only if he was presented the opportunity again as he shuffled away.
Moments later Georgia was outside in the backyard garden of Heywood Manor, she had already acquired Ginger, her mare who was seemingly eager to see her which almost made the experience all the more sweetly forbidden yet utterly exciting and equally transgressing as well. Her heart quickened as the fresh summer nights air blew over her face and hair which was braided in a neatly down her back as the outline of a familiar stranger came into view.
It was none other than the Duke of Richmond himself strolling over to her with the most casual usualness that somehow ignited and unlocked a twinge deep within her as he became more clearer and into her view. She could see the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips through the dim-moon starry lit sky and her toes and stomach curled at the thought that a smile like that could be directed towards her, no meant towards her, because it was her and only her standing there upon realizing her squinty brown eyes became wide with bewilderment.
"Your Grace," She was the first to break this impeccable silence. She bowed lightly, nervously, excitedly; her heart was almost thunderous in her chest.
"My Lady, I see you've gotten my letter." Francis said smoothly over the night, as smooth as if she were really his Lady. The next thing he did surprised them both as he took her bare hand his, thank God it was bare so he could feel the softness of her skin all the while taking his heated wet lips to her knuckles in a kiss that sent shocks of waves and wonder down Georgia's arm.
"Your Grace," This time she said almost flustered. "Please right this way." She began leading him quickly down the path with their horses in hand afterwards. She doubted it but in case he could see her heated blush from that small kiss through the night she immediately did not want him to notice his effects on her, surely maybe that was his purpose after all. She had no real clue. So, she began to feel slightly impatient.
"Your Grace." Georgia said with stern forethought.
Francis almost had to stop himself from laughing until Georgia noticed his shaking shoulders.
"Are you laughing?" She narrowed her diamond black eyes to slants. "What is so funny?"
"You have called my name all but three different ways within in the last five minutes. Are you a cynic my Lady?" This time she was the one who laughed, and the sound almost rattled her ears for a moment. When was the last time she ever laughed like that, especially at the expense of a man or duke rather that she had not even known all that long?
Her brain puzzled along silently as she cursed herself and then as if the Duke had been reading her mind all along, he looked over to her and said, "And, here I thought you were a widow." She burst out in fits this time, the sound was so contagious Francis caught himself a few chuckles as well.
She looked over to him with the smallest of amount of wickedness her voice could muster and said, "I much prefer a cynic, your grace."
"As do I." He said chillingly and then her heart nearly really did stop beating for just the slightest moment. Wait? What could he possibly mean by that? She nearly shuddered she almost didn't want to know and was definitely too afraid to ask.
Changing the subject she started, "Would like you to know how I have come of this place...?" ending with a deep gulp in anticipation for an answer.
"Why yes..." Francis said as Georgia noticed his hesitation. "Although, I do pray you did not grapple anyone like such as myself."
She smiled quietly to herself, and the duke winced at the memory, but as embarrassing as it was, he still could feel the weight of his enlarged body over her small delicate petite frame, and it sent shivers down his spine, of course he apologized at the time, but he didn't ever really feel sorry. He felt almost savoringly capitulated. Actually, he did.
So, Georgia continued on her story of how she had found the small Oasis on his land. In her mind she had always though it was whimsical or enchanting but not really at all as she spoke the words out loud to the Duke for some reason, she had felt silly and that the story had turned out actually quite boring and that he possibly might be unimpressed.
It was a rather simple story actually she had just been exploring the land and stumbled upon it, but she couldn't help but resist the urge from telling him of the magical spiritual calling the place had on her. By the time her story came to an end they both had approached the vines after stationing their horses tying them both to a tree on both sides of the gaping opening.
"And we are here." Georgia announced lively stupefied.
"And that was a most fascinating story, here allow me." The duke said holding the vines as she stepped through willingly at the race of her beating heart.
Once inside Georgia felt the need to explain her take of everything that consisted of the small spiritual garden as she walked along the stone carved steps as Francis followed her willingly.
"The vines I feel are protection, the riverbed is the healer, for I've always loved the lily pads I feel they are for comfort as are the trees and all the other flowers, the gazebo, well... it is the temple and the statue...."
"Is Greek." The duke said roughly scanning his eyes on her backside. The sight hardened him, and he immediately averted his eyes to find Georgia snapped back around to say something, but her lips were parted open with surprise and her index finder rose in the air slightly above her breast and he suddenly looked at those too. Oh. bloody hell! I didn't know she looked like that.
He had thought to himself truly astounded as his pale crystal blue eyes met back up with her meltingly brown ones. Somehow, the light in the garden illuminated Georgia's skin as if she were a pale blue goddess as her eyes sparkled up at him in a way no woman had ever looked at him not even Lucia and he suddenly felt himself ache with desire. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and if by God, he didn't kiss her, wait. Kiss her. That's all he needed to do was kiss her.
"I had always thought..." Georgia said now breathlessly distracted. Her eyes never left his, but she definitely saw how those crystal blue eyes ravished her and a small noticeable blush painted her cheeks light red. She put her hand there embarrassingly. Oh, Good Lord! She thought as she noticed a gleam of wickedness in the way the Duke was looking at her.
She parted her lips to say something once more but was stopped by the sudden closeness of the Duke as he took a few steps forward before turning her way. He was so close she could feel the warmth of his breathing trickling over her skin, which suddenly made her feel ravenous.
Oh, my goodness. She thought to herself suddenly. Why did she feel that way she wondered? She had never felt that way. She did not know what this new feeling was only that she may be willing to invite it in just a little bit more to find out.
"What do you have to say, my Lady?" Francis asked with more of a commanding tone than actually inquiring in which Georgia nearly fought the urge to squirm beneath him. Actually, no she wanted to stay right where she was and hold her ground... and see where this little exchange might ultimately lead her, or them.
"I merely want to ask why you were looking at me in that way, your grace?" She blinked up at him with a small courage.
"Because." He breathed lightly on her cheek for a moment and she nearly faltered. Grabbing her fore arms to steady her he said effortlessly, "I want to kiss you. Will you allow me that honor?"
"Y-yes." Georgia said almost chirping as she noticed his heavy-lidded gaze and the lowering of his head before she could even get the word out. How had he known she would even say yes? Her heart quickened at the panic and then the softest of moist warm heated lips touched hers as they both held there unforgivingly. Georgia felt his lips move over hers to deepen the kiss and she parted her lips with him, and her tense shoulders seemed to relax as she tilted her head back for more, and more was what she got.
Francis enclosed his mouth with hers using his tongue to part her lips slightly more open to meet her shy moist one as he encouraged her in an endless dance of swirls of hot heated moistness. Oh, earlier wasn't compared to how hardened he was now as he pressed himself up against Georgia more prominently. She broke away shortly after with wide shocked eyes and the taste of him sizzling on her lips.
"Your Grace," She breathlessly huffed noticing her hands were now clinching unto his coat lapels. Whenever did she do that? She thought to herself almost not recognizing herself or any of her actions.
"Francis..." He said breathlessly as well. "Call me by my name Francis."