Much to her added shock, her aunt did not look at all surprised. In fact, quite the opposite. “Ah, I was beginning to think they wouldn’t come.”
She was only vaguely aware her aunt had grasped her hands and was rubbing them soothingly, in an effort to help her stay calm. “You knew they were coming?!”
“Yes. I invited them.”
Georgiana was taken aback, and nearly jerked her hands away. “And you never thought to tell me?”
“I knew you would only grow anxious by thinking too much about it if you knew in advance. Just as you are doing now.”
“But … but why? You know how hard it is…”
“Yes. I know, my dear. But I also know there is something still creating tension between you two. The way you have both been acting since meeting again. Whatever it is, it must be resolved so you can both move on.”
She took a deep breath as the words sank in. Lucy’s words came back to mind, reminding her how she had said she would confront Walter the next time she saw him. She had even partially wished she could do so that very day, but now he was actually here…
Taking another deep breath, she slowly nodded. “Very well. I shall try.”
“Good girl. For now, it is time for everyone to take their seats. You can help me ensure everyone finds their assigned seat.”
Nodding once again, Georgiana released her aunt’s hands, as they both went to help the guests. She enjoyed having something to do, and there were a few looks of amusement as well disappointment as people discovered who they were seated beside.
When she looked for her own seat, she was surprised to notice miss Rutherford sitting next to two other young ladies. Upon closer inspection, she found there were very few open seats left, one of which happened to be next to Walter.
A glance at Adelaide, who was clearly avoiding looking at her, almost confirmed her worst fears. Slowly making her way to a spot as far away as possible but from where she could still read the name on the card placed upon the seat, she found her suspicion was correct.
Her aunt had seated her beside Walter. She understood that, naturally, this was to give them an opportunity to talk, but it felt like far too much!
Still, she couldn’t make a scene, so she quietly took her seat without looking at him, sitting as far away from him as she could manage. She tensed as, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him open his mouth as though to say something to her.
Georgiana exhaled when he seemed to change his mind, instead remaining silent. They both sat there, neither speaking to the other or to anyone else. Others all around them were engaged in light conversation, but they remained silent.
She felt the tension between them was tangible, as the picnic lunch was served, and they both began to eat small bites of their food, not even looking at each other.
Though outwardly silent, Georgiana felt her thoughts running rampant. I am going to do it; I am going to ask him why he thinks I am married to Ambrose. But then, what will I say to his reply? What if he refuses to reply at all? What will people say if I burst into tears at whatever he says? That will hardly help with the gossip, especially with all the people around us to witness such a scene…
As though reading the direction of her thoughts, Georgiana heard her aunt’s voice. “Well, ladies, now most of us have finished our tea, I hope you will join me in a game of battledore and shuttlecock. I have plenty of battledores for everyone who wants one, and a few shuttlecocks, so we can spread out and have several games going at once.”
Georgiana didn’t move, while most of the guests stood and went over to the lawned area several yards away. Walter was the only other person left, and she knew that moment was the best chance she would have to pose her question. It might be the only opportunity she would get.
Taking a deep breath, and trying to ignore the way her heart was racing, she turned to look at him and blurted out her question, “Why did you call me Mrs. Rowley?”
Walter, looking back at her, seemed stunned by the question, making her wonder if she had spoken too quickly for him to catch her words. She forced herself to repeat the question more slowly. “At the ball. Why did you call me Mrs. Rowley?”
“I thought… Is it not true you are married to Ambrose Rowley?”
She had no idea what to make of the clear confusion on his face, so it took her a moment to shake her head. “No. I have told you more than once, he is nothing more than a childhood friend and more like an older brother to me.”
“But I…”
After a moment’s silence, she asked him the most obvious question, “Where did you hear such a thing? Everyone I am familiar with knows well Ambrose and I grew up together, so I know none of them would have said such a thing.”
He seemed not to hear her question, apparently lost in his own thoughts. Whatever he was thinking seemed to agitate him, and Georgiana considered leaving, but she still had questions she wanted answers to.
Eventually, she heard him sigh. “I was … I heard about you and … Ambrose at the last ball I attended … before leaving for France. You were ill that day and had stayed at home, but your aunt and uncle were there, and I was going to…” He paused and took a deep breath. “I was gathering up my courage to ask your uncle’s permission to officially court you.”
Georgiana felt her breath catch at this admission from him. She had thought, had hoped, he might be going to ask to court her, but then he had left without a word. Perhaps, at last, she was about to find out why.
After a lengthy pause, he continued, “I told Felicia— You remember her, don’t you? She is my cousin, and we have always been close. Anyway, I told her what I had in mind. I had expected her to be happy for me…”
She remembered Felicia; though their tastes did not agree in many areas, they had nevertheless gotten along quite well. At least, she had thought so, but, if what he was saying were true, perhaps she had been wrong…?
But Walter went on, “Instead of encouraging me, she told me she had been told you were already engaged to be married to Mr. Ambrose Rowley, that it was too late for me, as you had been engaged for some time, but you were simply not making it known yet…”
Georgiana wondered if it were possible to feel one’s own brain freezing up with shock. Engaged? To Ambrose? Certainly, there was nothing wrong with him, but that still didn’t mean she had ever wanted to marry him.
Along with the shock, realization sank in, as well. So, that is why Walter left. He heard I was engaged to someone else. What must he think of me to have believed such a thing?
That last question sent a sharp pain through her heart. At least she knew now, but at what cost?
Chapter 14
Walter felt every bit as stunned as Georgiana was clearly feeling. So, she hadn’t been engaged at all. And she wasn’t married to Ambrose Rowley, or anyone. For the last two years, he had believed a lie…