“But … he must have known how hurt she would be and how it would damage her reputation and that of her family, come to think of it. If he really cared for her at all, how could he have done something so heinous?”
“Men do all sorts of things out of jealousy which make no sense.”
“But he has shown no signs of feeling anything more for her than friendship!”
“Being a childhood friend can be difficult at times. Perhaps he intended to declare his intentions but was uncertain how to make her to think of him as anything other than a friend. And then you came along … it makes perfect sense to me.”
Walter had to admit to himself that it made perfect sense to him, as well. In fact, it made such sense, it stuck in his head for the rest of the evening.
Even as he returned home and ate with his mother, who asked him countless questions about the ball she was preparing for, the new revelation stayed in his mind.
It was nearly time to retire for the night when he found himself alone in his study with his thoughts. Realizing there was only one way to find out for certain and to set his mind at ease, he quickly got out a sheet of paper, some ink, and a fresh quill in order to write a letter to Felicia.
My dear Cousin,
I know this letter may take a while to reach you, but I simply must know the answer to a certain question, although I hope it is merely my imagination is simply getting the better of me. Either way, I know you will set my mind at ease as soon as you can.
You know why I left London and why I remained in France for two years. You were the one to tell me of the rumor about Georgiana already being engaged. I know you haven’t forgotten that night any more than I have.
You can probably imagine how I avoided her and could scarcely stand to look at her when I first returned to London. However, imagine my surprise when I discovered she is still Miss Montgomery.
How I discovered it is a long story, too long for this letter. In short, my mother and her aunt threw the two of us into conversation, clearly to try to lessen the tension between us, which was attracting unwanted attention.
She knows nothing of any engagement and has never been engaged to Mr. Rowley. Nor has she ever been anywhere near marrying him, or anyone else. In fact, she reaffirmed what I had told you, namely, he has never been anything more than a childhood friend to her.
As my confidante of the past few years, I am certain you can understand my guilt and regret at discovering this. Therefore, I must know who told you of the rumor.
I will not tell you more, or bother you with a longer letter, but I simply must know where or by whom my happiness was ruined. Any help you can give me in this matter will be forever appreciated.
Your affectionate cousin,
Walter
Once he was satisfied with the letter, Walter wasted no time in sealing it. Even though it was now late at night, he immediately took it to the post, so it would be sent first thing in the morning.
Part of him hoped his new suspicion was wrong, that it could not have been Rowley who had started the rumor. If he had, Georgiana would be utterly devastated when she found out.
At the same time, it was almost pleasant to picture Rowley as the culprit, if for no other reason than it would give him someone to punch.
Unfortunately, there was no doubt in his mind he would have to tell Georgiana should he discover Rowley had betrayed her. He simply couldn’t keep information like that to himself. If he truly was jealous before, there was nothing preventing him from behaving jealously again.
No, telling her was not in question. The only thing would be whether she believed him… Please, Felicia, write back soon…
Chapter 22
Georgiana hummed as she snipped the dead blossoms from the rose bushes. It was a lovely day and, with her mind more at ease than it had been in a long time, she was able to enjoy it.
Though they had a gardener who cared for Adelaide’s roses, both she and her aunt enjoyed helping every now and then. Just then, with all the roses in full bloom, poor Jacobs was having a hard time keeping up.
“Hey, Georgie,” she heard someone say behind her. Turning, she saw Ambrose with a picnic basket.
“Your aunt says you should stop and eat something, so I thought…”
“That sounds lovely,” she replied with a smile, realizing she was really quite hungry. She put her snips away, while Ambrose got their picnic ready.
“You are not overexerting yourself, are you?” he asked as they sat down.
“Not at all. I enjoy helping care for the roses. Perhaps you could help me when we have finished eating?”
He looked uncertain about it. “I don’t know. I think I would cut something I wasn’t supposed to…”
“It is not so hard, Ambrose. I am certain you can learn to do it.”
“Don’t those stems fall off the plants on their own if you just leave them? I would imagine a rosebush with a number of dead flowers on it would not look as nice. However, your aunt isn’t planning another garden party for at least a few more weeks, is she? So, what would it matter?”
“It does matter. The flowers that bloom will be much healthier, and the plant will be able to make more of them, if they are removed as soon as they wilt. We do want there to be plenty of fresh blooms for as long as possible, so they have to be trimmed.”
“Well, I will think about helping you for an hour or so, in that case, but only because I know how much you enjoy them,” he finally replied.
Just then, they heard another voice drawing closer to them. “Ah, I was hoping I would catch the two of you.”
Georgiana turned and saw Adelaide coming toward them. “Is there something you need us for, Aunt? I was going to continue trimming, but I don’t have to if you need me for something else.”
“No… it is nothing like that. I have just received an invitation for us all to attend a masquerade ball, and I want to know if you wish to accept the invitation.”
“A masquerade? How lovely!” Then, Georgiana registered that her aunt had spoken a little … cautiously. It caught her full attention and caused her to ask, “What is the matter?”
“Well, it is being held at Bartlett Manor.”
“Oh,” she replied and thought about it.
“In that case, I think it would be for the best if we don’t attend,” Ambrose said, as though that was the end of the conversation.
“I don’t know about that…” Georgiana replied.
Adelaide seemed pleased she was considering the invitation. “I think there cannot be any harm in going if you are certain. We don’t have to stay for the whole ball.”
Slowly, Georgiana began to nod. “Yes … I think I would like to go. It has been a while since I have been to a masquerade, and I love the designs of the masks and the dresses.”