The next morning when she entered the dining room for breakfast Sylvia was alone and reading the paper.
"Good morning my dear, how was your evening out on the town with Reggie?
"It was fun," Georgia said, sitting across from her with a cup of coffee from the sideboard.
"Good, I'm glad to hear it."
Georgia hadn't slept well the night before, she had been up late pacing the floor and thinking of Ewan. Her late night must have shown because Sylvia regarded her closely but eventually she went back to reading her paper.
"As you know some of Renee's friends arrive today. Will you please see to the arrangements and make sure their rooms are prepared?"
"Of course anything else?"
"That's all for now, I am sure once they arrive there will be plenty to do."
Reggie entered the dining room with a smile for both ladies. "Good morning to my two favorite ladies." He kissed Sylvia's cheek before setting his phone and newspaper down on the table and moving towards the sideboard to fix himself a plate.
"Don't forget to be on your best behavior today Reggie. Renee's friends arrive."
"Yes, more women. I would enjoy some male bonding. Doesn't Renee have any male friends that she can invite to these weekends?" Reggie looked over his shoulder at Sylvia with a look of resignation on his face.
"Ewan is coming with his sister this trip. I haven't seen him in almost twenty years." Sylvia shook her head in disbelief at the thought.
"No he's not, we ran into him last night at the theater and he had to beg off. He said something came up unexpectedly," Reggie said with his back towards the two women so he missed Georgia as she paled at the mention of Ewan's name.
She set her coffee cup down harder than she had intended and it was like a gun shot in the silent room. She focused on her phone in front of her because she didn't dare look up at Sylvia, whose stare was drilling into her.
"Interesting, I wonder what was so important. I was looking forward to seeing him again."
Georgia knew the real reason and she was afraid that it would show on her face so she picked up her coffee, taking another sip not daring to take her eyes off of her phone. She was hoping that she was presenting as if she was not really listening to their conversation.
"You never know with Mailler. I was telling Georgia that I had a bit of a man crush on him." Reggie joined them at the table.
"Is there such a thing?" Georgia could hear the frown in the older woman's voice.
"Yes, it's when a guy wants to be another guy." Reggie opened his paper.
"And you want to be Ewan?"
"For sure, the man has everything; wealth, power, looks, women, there isn't anything or anyone he can't have, and he is so cold and calculating as if nothing bothers or worries him. He's in total control."
"You met him last night at the theater didn't you Georgia? Is Reggie right, did he grow up to be handsome and powerful?"
Georgia was very uncomfortable with the conversation but a small part of her was amused. If Ewan could hear them he would be very uncomfortable as well. She looked up at Sylvia with a strained smile hovering. She had to play this just right. Too much interest would seem odd as would not enough.
"Ewan Mailler is a very handsome man and does appear to be in control of himself as most people are when they reach adulthood." Georgia looked over at Reggie as if to imply the fact that he still hadn't reached adulthood.
Reggie looked over at her and grinned before taking a bite of his bacon and winking.
Georgia couldn't help but laugh at his antics.
Sylvia watched her closely again before changing the subject. She and Reggie talked about plans for the weekend while they continued to eat. Georgia tried her best to put Ewan away so that she could focus on her day.
Her thoughts turned to Diana and whether or not she should talk to Sylvia. She decided to let it ride because she was only temporarily employed by Sylvia so it wasn't worth sharing the past.
Sylvia asked Reggie if he had a moment and the two rose to move into the hallway just at Reggie's phone rang. "Would you grab that for me Georgia, my voicemail is full," he said as the two exited the room.
Georgia shook her head in disbelief, who let their voice mail get full? He probably did it so he could pretend to be popular. She would have to remember to give him a hard time about it in the future.
"Reggie Carlisle's phone." Georgia answered.
She was greeted by silence. "Hello?"
"Hello Georgia." Ewan's deep voice filled her ear and she swallowed a whimper.
"Ewan." It was barely a whisper.
"I was trying to get in touch with Carlisle."
"He had to step away for a moment."
They were both silent and Georgia was sure he could hear her pounding heart through the phone.
"You looked lovely last night. I would have liked to say hello but you seemed to be avoiding me at all costs."
"Please don't." She had to clear her throat to keep the tears away. It had taken all of her strength not to call every hotel in search of him so she could go to him.
"So you and Carlisle?"
"No." She shook her head, not that he could see her.
"No?"
"No."
More silence
"So you and Isobel?"
"No."
"No?"
"No." She could hear the laughter in his voice and she couldn't help but smile in response.
"I miss you." It was out before she realized she was even thinking it and she closed her eyes in embarrassment. "I'll tell Reggie you called."
"Georgia." It was so soft, so warm, just her name. It reminded her of all of those private and intimate moments between them.
"Goodbye Mr. Mailler, I'll be sure that he knows you called." She hit the end button with a shaking hand and set the phone down.
"Is everything all right dear?" Sylvia asked from the doorway. How long had she been there? How much had she heard?
"Fine," Georgia said a little too brightly.
"So, is Ewan everything my grandson says he is?" Sylvia asked as Georgia stood, gathering up her things.
He's so much more, he's not like that at all, she wanted to say but instead she just shrugged. "I imagine so. I've never seen him without a beautiful woman on his arm."
"Including you?"
She must have heard quite a bit of her conversation.
"Me? No, I am not in the same social class as Mailler. Having me on his arm would be out of the question, wouldn't it?"
Sylvia looked at her oddly and Georgia waited patiently for her to share her thoughts.
"Would you mind giving me your aunt's contact information. I haven't spoken to her in years and I would like to catch up with her."
The request took her by surprise. "Of course." She pulled out a piece of paper from her ever present notebook and wrote down her aunt's email and phone number.
"Excellent, this will give me something to do while you youngsters are all off having a good time this week."
Georgia didn't bother to correct her as she was sure she would not be welcomed to spend time with the others.
"I must call Ewan as well. Even if he cannot come up for the week perhaps just an evening for dinner. That would be nice," she said almost to herself. "We can invite your aunt as well."
Georgia's worst nightmare would be her aunt and Ewan in the same room. Her aunt would see right through her and all of her defenses would crumble. She had already said way to much to Ewan in that brief phone call. She wanted to groan aloud. Why had she said she missed him? That was the last thing he needed or wanted to hear.
Reggie came back into the room just then and reached for his phone. "Who was it?"
"Mailler," Georgia said moving towards the door. "I'll get started on the rooms, Sylvia."
Reggie had already picked up his phone and hit the return call button. "Ewan, yes how are you? Georgia mentioned you called..."
"Yes, please dear," Sylvia said watching her grandson as he looked serious.
Georgia began her day, keeping as busy as possible so that she wouldn't have to think about the warm voice that echoed her name in her ear.
Georgia was ready to go home at the end of the day and it was past time that she did when she finally had the nerve to track down Sylvia. She knew she was putting off the inevitable and that she would have to meet Diana again, but she was not happy that it would be so soon after her conversation with Ewan. If she could get to her home and steady herself it would be much easier to deal with Diana and any grief she might cause her.
She had managed to stay out of sight of the guests, which consisted of Diana, her new personal assistant Carrie, and Isobel Rossini. The three women had come into the house creating a whirlwind of activity.
Georgia eventually found Sylvia on the terrace surrounded by all of the young people as they were lounging around sun bathing. The four young women were all in skimpy bikinis and overly large sunglasses, their hair piled high on their head. At the sight of her, Diana sat up straighter and watched her closely as she approached the chair next to Sylvia.
"I'm finished for the day Sylvia so I thought I would head home if there is nothing else that you need from me." Georgia sat on the empty chairs her body tensed as if about to take a hit.
"Georgia, this is Isobel Rossini, Diana Mailler and her assistant Carrie O'Dell. Everyone this is my temporary Personal Assistant, Georgia Dawson."
Carrie was a pretty blond who was young and innocent looking and she smiled sweetly in greeting, Diana's expression was well hidden behind her sunglasses and Renee looked bored, but Isobel was looking at her closely.
"You were with Reggie at the theater last night, weren't you?" Isobel asked, lowering her sunglasses to look at her.
"Yes, I thought it was an excellent show, did you enjoy it?" Georgia asked politely, more for something to say than because she cared.
"Not particularly," Isobel said before she leaned back in her chair, finished with the conversation.
"Won't you join us for dinner this evening Georgia?" Sylvia asked offhandedly.
It was not odd for Georgia to stay for dinner some evenings but Sylvia knew that she also enjoyed her solitude as well and would not find it odd if she declined.
"No thank you Sylvia," Georgia said as she rose from her chair and onto tired feet.
"Oh come on Georgia, please join us," Reggie said, approaching her from behind and throwing his arm around her shoulder while kissing her cheek.
"Nope, not tonight. I have a good book and mug of hot cocoa waiting for me." Georgia could feel Diana's eyes shooting daggers at her as she gave Reggie a squeeze before extracting herself from his embrace.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning Sylvia," Georgia said as she made for the door.
She had reached driveway at the rear of the house and was almost to her car when she felt a hand on her shoulder stopping her. Knowing it was Diana, because it had all gone to easily, she slowly turned to face her, not saying a word, waiting for her to start the conversation.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
"I'm working for Sylvia, Diana, just as she said." Georgia kept her voice calm and neutral.
"What have you told her about us? About me and Ewan and your job with us?" Diana was looking over her shoulder.
"Nothing Diana. She doesn't even know that I worked for you or your family. Reggie got me this job so I didn't have to give any references when I was hired and if it's all right with you I would like to keep it that way. The less said the better I think."
"I bet you would," Diana said, taking in Georgia's usual conservative appearance.
Georgia didn't reply, there was no point.
"Well don't worry, it just so happens that I agree with you on this one, and I don't wish to tell anyone about your...loss of control."
Georgia watched Diana as she crossed her arms defensively. "Tell me something Georgia, why are you always trying to reach above your station. First it was Ewan and now it's Reggie. What's going on between the two of you? You really are living in your own world if you think you stand a chance with either Ewan or Reggie."
The comment hurt and mystified her. She knew she didn't stand a chance with Ewan, but why did Diana care about Reggie?
Then as if someone had turned on a light it was all suddenly very clear to Georgia. Diana didn't want to say anything, she didn't want to oust Georgia because she thought she could use 'her loss of control' to control her, or use the information at the right moment discredit her in Reggie's eyes. Diana liked Reggie and was obviously upset that he had embraced her on the porch.
"Reggie is just a friend," Georgia supplied
"Just a friend who takes you to the theater and kisses you."
"Yes."
Diana looked at her with disbelief.
With nothing else to say Georgia turned away from Diana and opened her car door throwing her purse across the seat before turning back to Diana. "For the record I think Mr. Mailler would approve of Reggie. He would be a good match for you when you both grow up a little bit more."
Diana looked at her with her mouth hanging open, speechless for a moment, then her face flooded with color. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, I do Diana. I worked for you for five years and I'm guessing I know you better than anyone. Reggie's a good guy and he's one that is worth chasing, but mind how you do it because he will scare easily. He likes to do the chasing."
Diana looked back over her shoulder, making sure she couldn't be heard. "So you really aren't interested in him?"
"No Diana, he's just a friend. A fun loving, affectionate friend."
Suddenly, Diana threw her arms around Georgia. "Why Georgia, why did you have to mess it all up!"
"Diana, I was already on my way out. If it hadn't of been my 'loss of control' it would have been something else. You were ready to believe Molly's lies and you believed that I spoke against you and James."
"But you didn't." It was a statement not a question.
"No, I didn't. Your brother and I always had candid conversations about you, but I never revealed anything that was not general knowledge. I did, on occasion, share my opinion on certain matters in an attempt to help him understand you and your situations better, but I never once spoke against you."
"No, you wouldn't have."
"No, and your brother would not have kept me on if I had. Despite what you think, he is doing what he thinks is best for you and whether you choose to believe it or not he is loyal to you and will not tolerate a word said against you."
Diana was tearing up. "Even from Parks."
Georgia smiled. "Even from Parks."
"You know he thinks you went mad."
"Who?"
"Parks. He thinks that you hid it better than most but that you were like all of the others."
Georgia had to stop at that revelation. Was she like all of the others? She had fallen for Ewan. No, she had fallen for the private Ewan not the public one, she knew his secrets and his fears, fears that even Parks didn't know.
"I was very disappointed in Parks. I thought that he knew me better or at least knew the situation better," Georgia finally said.
"But you weren't disappointed in me?" Diana said looking down at her feet like a little girl.
"No, as harsh as it sounds Diana, you are very self-involved. You only choose to see how the situation affected you, not myself or your brother, and for you that's the norm."
"How can you say I'm self-involved?" Diana drew herself up to her full height turning red with anger.
"Diana, I was hit in the face by a door. You didn't even stop to let me take and aspirin or ask if I was all right."
"Well, neither did Ewan, in fact he gave you a reprimand in front of the entire staff that same evening."
Georgia sighed. How much was she willing to reveal and did it really matter?
"Mr. Mailler did care but he had to do what needed to be done to stop the rumor that Molly was spreading. He informed me ahead of time, after making sure my cheek was not broken, that he would have to do something. I was caught off guard by the harshness of it but not by the fact of it. Very little is as it seems Diana. You must learn which people to trust and then trust them. Trust that there is a reason for what they do even if you don't understand it, and if you don't understand it try to get clarification before assuming the worst."
"So you didn't kiss Ewan because you think you stood a chance with him and you wanted him."
Georgia was suddenly every tired of the conversation and just wanted peace and quiet.
"All I will say is that there is a very good reason for doing what I did and I would do it again if I had to. I have no unrealistic expectations where your brother is concerned." Georgia took her seat behind the wheel. "Goodnight Diana. I'm sure I'll see you tomorrow."
Diana stepped back as Georgia closed her door and started her engine. "Remember, let Reggie chase you."
As Georgia pulled away and headed down the drive she saw Diana start slowly towards the house. She couldn't help but wonder if anything she had said would make an impact.