Helping her out of the carriage, he gave her his arm as they approached the side entrance of Irvington Manor. To get to the rose garden, where the tea party was being held, they were required to go through the side gate and towards the back of the manor.
Neither was at all surprised to find no one there to greet them since they were so late in arriving. Soon enough, they were among the other guests.
Sylvia patted his arm before she released it, looking at him with one final glance that told him not to forget what he must do. Then, with a smile that seemed much more natural than before, she left him to go and talk with some of the other ladies.
Taking a deep breath, Walter scanned the crowd for Georgiana, hoping to talk to her and get it over with as soon as possible.
He was certain Mr. Rowley must be there, too, but he had no desire to have any conversation with him present. He would simply have to steal a moment with her alone somehow…
How he was going to do it or what he was going to say to her once he succeeded, he had not the slightest idea. But his mother had been right in saying he needed to overcome past events and put the matter behind him. If only it were as easy as it sounded…
When his eyes found Georgiana beside Lady Irvington, a part of him felt the familiar twist of pain. Then, she noticed him. And when she seemed to pale as she hurriedly turned to say something to her aunt, the pain deepened further.
Perhaps he should just not bother her by trying to talk to her? But, no, if he got an opportunity, he must say something and clear things up once and for all…
Chapter 13
It had not taken Georgiana long to find her Aunt Adelaide. The first place she had looked had been the rose garden, where the garden party was to be held, and that is where she had found her.
“Perfect timing,” Adelaide told her excitedly once she saw her.
“I thought it was time for me to come and find you,” she replied as she gave her aunt a small hug. “Lucy mentioned you sent her up to help me get ready, so here I am!”
“Yes, and you look lovely,” her aunt said, taking a moment to look her over.
“Why, thank you. I think Lucy had done a particularly good job with my hair today.”
Adelaide nodded in agreement, but then paused, as she seemed to have the impression something was missing. “And where is Ambrose? I thought I caught a glimpse of him not too long ago, and I was certain I would see him with you…”
She laughed, and then said one word, “Uncle.”
This was all it needed for her aunt to scowl and roll her eyes. “Of course. That man … I know I told Jonas he needn’t stay for the whole party. All I wanted him to do was to show his face for a little while, but no…”
Georgiana laughed, then patted her aunt’s arm with amused sympathy. “You should have remembered you cannot let him out of your sight on such occasions, or he will make a bolt for it. This time, he happened to take Ambrose with him…”
“And where have they run off to this time?” Adelaide asked her niece with a shake of her head. She linked arms with her and headed towards the gate to the garden as the first guests came within sight.
“Uncle said there are some horses he wants to look at, and he might buy one or two.”
“Hmm. In that case, I have no doubt I will be losing you later in the day when they return. However, while I have you, I can put you to work helping me entertain my guests.”
“I’ll do my best,” Georgiana replied before taking a deep breath. It was not going to be easy. With her aunt being so busy, she would likely have no one by her side to take her mind off … other matters.
With a brief greeting to the first three ladies, a mother and her two daughters who arrived together, Georgiana remained silent, while Adelaide engaged them in conversation.
Fortunately, the carriage of the dowager duchess was the next to pull up the drive. Just the sight of it sent a wave of relief over Georgiana. Mary would doubtless keep her company for a fair portion of the time.
Too excited to wait, she exited the garden to meet the dowager duchess as she stepped from her carriage. “It is so lovely to see you, Your Grace,” she said with a quick curtsy.
“And you too, dear,” Mary replied with a smile. “I intended to be the first one here to keep you company, but it seems I was a little too slow.”
Georgiana linked arms with the duchess as they walked towards the garden. “Well, you are almost the first, and I am certain your age must be taken into consideration.”
Mary swatted at her with her free hand. “I may be getting on in years, and my hair may be completely gray, but I am not elderly quite yet,” she retorted.
“I’ll try to remember it,” Georgina replied with a smile, and then asked, eyebrows raised, “And when, if I may ask, will you consider yourself to be elderly and not simply old?”
Mary’s glare held a hint of amusement. “Humph. I thought to cheer you up a little, but it seems you have no need of me. You are quite pert enough without my assistance.”
Georgiana giggled lightly then, resting her head affectionately for just a moment on the shoulder of the duchess, she replied, “Only with you there … even when you redirect the conversation instead of answering my question.”
By now, they were in the garden, but Adelaide seemed content to let them talk, while she entertained the other guests. On her part, Georgiana was more than content to stay and talk to her friend, even as more guests continued to arrive.
She only left Mary’s side when the latter pointed out some other guests arriving, some whom Georgiana knew fairly well. She encouraged Georgiana to go to greet them.
This required a few deep breaths and a false smile, but soon the smile became a genuine one. She had not seen Susan in quite a while, and they had previously been quite close.
While she had half expected Susan to be uncomfortable or to try to avoid her, there was no sign of that at all. Instead, they were able to reclaim a small part of the closeness they had used to share.
However, her friend had other young ladies she wished to talk to, as well, so, eventually, Georgiana was left to herself. As she looked around to see who she could talk to next, she noticed her aunt standing just a few feet away.
Deciding to join her for a while, she paused at the edge of the conversation, so as not to be rude. While she was waiting to be acknowledged, she cast a glance towards the entrance of the garden, only to freeze at the sight meeting her eyes.
There, entering the garden, was Walter and his mother, the Dowager Baroness Bartlett. Seeing Adelaide had finished her conversation, she quickly took her aunt aside.
“What are— Why are the Bartletts here?!” Georgiana exclaimed, unable to decide how to behave as apprehension blocked all other thoughts from her mind.