From the time Georgia returned home to Heywood Manor then to the peachy smooth comforts of her bed chambers that following night after tiptoeing through the dark corridors without managing to be noticed, bumping into anything, or waking anyone she stripped out of her pelisse and plain brown cotton dress until she was left in only her chemise and found her way underneath the made-up layers of peachy-yellow-colored silky covers and duvets.
Her head hit the pillow and instead of the slow inclination of sleep drawing upon her, her mind raced back to the meadow beyond Heywood Manor and Granville Estate, back to the secluded heavenly spiritual garden, back to how it felt to have Francis' lips right on top of hers. Oh, Francis.
Francis. Francis. Francis.
Was all Georgia could really think about and all she really had preferred to think about actually. She wasn't really sure what possessed him to kiss her like that but what made her even more uncertain is why had she responded in that way. How did she even know to respond in that way? It was all almost too frightening, too thrilling, and she had realized even more how her body didn't betray her because she had been mostly attracted to the duke since the first day, they had seen each other but what?
What else was there to really say she had kissed him as much as he wanted to kiss her. But why did she feel like now some secret spell was bound upon her all of a sudden solely cast by the duke himself and only he had the key to unlock the shackles from her wounded unforgiving heart.
Sleep came in fits that night, blurs of reality meeting the front lines of Georgia's dreams. Bits and pieces of her life put on display while in and out of consciousness. So it was no wonder after she had awoken and Susan dressed Georgia for the day in a vertical stripped light pink and creme colored day dress from her Robe a la Anglaise collection, which incorporated two fine silk creme linens wrapping comfortably around the front of her shoulders to cover her chest. She instantly remembered how the duke had slightly ravished her with his eyes there in that particular area last night and felt the need to be modestly covered being slightly embarrassed. No man had ever looked at her the way he did with such want and desire. It made Georgia's cheeks flush all over again.
Susan had taken the top half of Georgia's long raven strands and pinned them neatly to the middle of her head with a small crown of braids and curls using pearl hair pins and let the rest of her hair flow evenly down her back with slight ripples for waves. Georgia's hair was now down to the small of her back and moved silkily whenever she did as well. She looked in the mirror at herself and frowned noticing the dark purple circles under her eyes that Susan seemingly neglected.
"Are you not satisfied with your choice of hair and dress, my Lady?" Susan said clasping her hands together in front of her in nervous anticipation with concerned bright blue eyes.
"No, I am very satisfied. However, Susan my eyes look as if I hadn't slept all night." Georgia said straining her neck to actually look at her instead of seeing her through the mirror. "See." She said taking both hands and pushing her cheeks in a downwards motion with her fingertips.
Susan chuckled. "I thought you didn't prefer to wear French paint forgive me, my lady I shall concoct you something that will relieve you immediately." She said in an amused tone before turning around to the small table in Georgia's dressing room and opened a small wooden box that held a few small glass jars with contents Georgia wasn't all too familiar with as she poured a few in a small bowl and used a wooden stick to mash. After Susan finished mashing to her satisfaction, she went back over to where Georgia was sitting and started dabbing a bit under her eyes.
"There." Susan said with a satisfied grin and the tilt of her head to oversee her work. Georgia now looked refreshed as ever even if she didn't feel it.
"Thank you, Susan." Georgia smiled exasperatedly. "Oh, please don't forget my new hat I bought from the Shrewsbury fair that's light red with the light purple feather's, please fetch it. And, oh Susan?" Georgia said remembering something else. "I should like to wear my mother's pearls"
Seconds later the velvety feathery hat was placed in Georgia's head to her satisfaction and her mother's pearl choker clasped her neck lovingly with three fire opals fastened between the pearls, the biggest one resting in the center of her neck. She placed a light hand over it. It was the only thing she had left of her mother and would cherish it undyingly and pass the beautiful pearls on to Luella perhaps for her grand debut into society.
She left her chambers quickly and decided to stop by the nursery and grab Luella for breakfast. Her heart was pounding in her ears. After receiving the letter from Luella's grandparents, she now had to figure out a way to explain all of this to her innocent five-year-old daughter. Georgia was too afraid. She didn't want to get her, or her daughter's hopes up at the mere thought that there may be a part of her late husband's family that actually wants to love and acknowledge her child even if the poor indecent man could not and how hurtful that would be if it was all a lie and if his family never wanted to give her daughter what should somewhat be appropriately hers, land or perhaps even a dowry.
Even that felt like wishful thinking to Georgia that man and his family left her and her daughter with nothing, no money, no home, literally left on the streets of London to fend for themselves. Her aunt found her in some rundown inn that was highly inappropriate for a proper lady and her legitimate child, but she was treated like an outcast nevertheless because her husband's mistress made it seem as if Georgia was some betrothed-snatching-undutiful wife the thought still wounded her and made her angry.
No, she would not speak about the letter today with her daughter. She might even just forget it all together as she held back the tears that would not come for three years and entered the nursery.
Shrewsbury, England
Orchard House
Mr. and Mrs. Cashwell's Tea Party
The day was starting to go by as fast as Georgia's mind was racing about the duke. She had completely forgot that her Lady Aunt announced they'd been invited to Mr. and Mrs. Cashwell's tea party. Good God, was that today? Georgia thought as they were all getting ready to depart in Lord and Lady Willoughby's most fine towns carriage.
The couple sat on the rear-side while Georgia and Katherine sat on the front facing seat. Katherine was dressed in a dark teal day dress with tainted golden embroideries of vines and small pink flowers throughout the fine silky material. Her lace trimmed gloves brushed over her skirts neatly and Lord and Lady Willoughby seemed to be a matching pair of dark red.
Today wasn't as warm as it had been the past week. There was a breeze over the town and the weather had slightly looked clenched, but they still weren't anticipating any rain so the plans to the tea party continued on. Georgia couldn't help but notice the duke's exquisitely made towns carriage that was seemingly stationed in front of Granville estate as if it were expecting him. Her stomach dropped then clenched tightly before hurling into a small ball of conscious nerves. Her throat tightened but she said anyway,
"Will His Grace be in attendance as well Lady Aunt?"
"Oh, I believe so I thought I saw his name on the guest list dear, did I not mention the Earl of Montrose will also be in attendance as well?" Lady Willoughby said adjusting the diamonds on her wristlet. Not that she was a materialistic sort of woman, but she thought they'd actually needed some adjusting as a small smirk played on her pursed lips.
Georgia started to say "No." but Katherine smoothly interrupted.
"What makes you ask about the duke, Georgia?" Katherine asked with a cynical smirk much to match her mother's.
"I only noticed His Grace's carriage that is all." Georgia said silently retreating from the conversation, but her heart wasn't. It was beating rapidly in her chest. She'd wondered if they all could hear it.
"And a few other things..."Katherine whispered just enough for Georgia and Lord Willoughby to hear. Georgia burned whole heartedly because she knew deep in her heart that it was true. She had noticed everything, well everything that was physically allowed about Fran- she meant the duke. And the fact that he had asked her to address him as such she hadn't even thought about that yet. She was a widow, with a scandal attached, men like the duke only bedded widows. It could only make sense as to why he must feel the need to seek his comforts-or kisses with Georgia and she had been just as wicked to return them. Her heart burned and her head ached suddenly.
"Kathy." Lord Willoughby said shooting his daughter a stern look. "Watch it." He warned and returned back to his book after turning his attention to his niece. "Georgia, you look quite exquisite this evening my dear, any man would be lucky to have such a wife Earl or Duke, might I add."
"You got that right," Lady Willoughby chimed in along with her husband on the praise of their beloved niece, "If they had any sense, they'd have a quarrel over you dear child you are young and still of child-bearing age, Luella proves it can be done."
Oh, God! Not a quarrel, quarrels turn into duels, duels turn into death. Georgia nearly thought she was having a heart attack and not only that, but her aunt was also mentioning her reproductive system and possibly producing another child. Not over her dead body! Did her aunt not understand after everything that happened and the scandal that was seemingly attached to Georgia's name that she failed miserably a being a first wife, producing an heir, and securing her husband's love. She would never expect such things, she'd just be lucky to find someone agreeable with her being a widow with a child.
"Mother! You are nearly frightening Georgia to a crisp that is enough!" Katherine said trying to suppress her laughter.
"And speaking of children, where is my grandchildren Katherine should we send you off back to London until an heir is produced or child at least!" Lady Willoughby exclaimed throwing her hands in the air. Katherine turned the color red. Georgia almost had to suppress her own laughter this time. She was just happy the attention would be off of her until the ride was over, hopefully.
Must have been wishful thinking yet again. She escaped being brought into the conversation for the rest of the ride however as soon as their carriage arrived at the tea party, and they were all escorted out into the courtyard of Mr. and Mrs. Cashwell's lovely home all eyes were on her. Only she didn't see the ones she wanted to look into the most. Disappointed she retreated from her family after they greeted their generous hosts for a glass of ratafia to calm her nerves. Before she could even get it down, she was nearly surprised to see her Lady Aunt walking her way with a gentleman she had never seen before.
"My dearest niece please allow me to introduce you to the earl of Montrose. Montrose I am wonderfully pleased for you to meet, my niece, Lady Pearson."