She felt her aunt place a hand on her shoulder to get her full attention. “Only if you are certain, dear.”
She could read the concern in her aunt’s voice and knew it was because of Walter. So, with a reassuring smile, she replied, “I will gladly attend the ball. Unless I am indisposed, I may very well want to stay there all evening, so I don’t miss a single thing.”
This reply seemed more than satisfactory, as Adelaide smiled. “I am glad to hear it. Since it is being held quite soon, we should go into town for our costumes as soon as possible. The modiste is going to be very busy when all the ladies come to order their dresses for the event. The sooner we can get there, the better.”
“When do you want to leave?” Georgiana asked, starting to stand in case her aunt wanted to leave right away.
“Oh, you can sit back down and finish your picnic first. I will arrange for the carriage to leave in the next hour. That should still be soon enough, though there are sure to be other ladies already there.”
“That sounds perfect,” Georgiana replied and sat back down. “I will be ready to leave then.”
“Ambrose can come with us if he wishes to. Men don’t usually go to such lengths about their appearance as we ladies do, but he will still need a mask, at the very least.”
They both looked at him, and he quickly replied, “That suits me, if you don’t mind having me along.”
“Not at all,” Adelaide replied as she began to leave. “Jonas and I will meet you at the carriage in an hour.
When her aunt was out of sight, Georgiana noted a trace of sourness on Ambrose’s face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
He sighed. “Are you sure about attending a ball at Bartlett Manor? You do know the baron will certainly be there, don’t you? We could arrive late, I suppose, to make sure he and his mother will not be at the door to greet us, along with their other guests…”
“What? No, Ambrose. That won’t do at all,” she scolded. “I told him we might be friends, and friends don’t avoid each other. I do not intend to seek him out or anything like that. But, if we run into each other, I will make polite conversation with him.”
“I still think you have forgiven him far too easily,” he murmured.
“You know, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to,” she retorted, only half in playfulness. There were moments when she found his grudge against Walter quite tiresome.
His head jerked up to look at her. “Of course, I will be come, if you wish it.”
“I do want you to come with us, Ambrose. There is nothing to be afraid of; it is just a ball, you’ll see.”
Though he didn’t seem convinced, he did change the subject. Soon, they had finished eating and were heading towards the carriage. While one part of her mind was beginning to consider what kind of costume she might chose, another part was bothered by just how much Ambrose seemed to dislike Walter.
Certainly, he had behaved badly and had hurt her, but as she had already forgiven him, she hardly felt it was Ambrose’s place to continue to hold it against him.
He was no doubt simply being protective of her, as any older brother might be. He simply didn’t want her to risk getting hurt again by the same man.
However, this ball was the perfect way to show him, she was perfectly fine about it now. Surely, it would be all that was needed, and he wouldn’t be so angry with Walter any longer.
***
Ambrose felt himself on edge the moment he heard where the ball was to be held. He quickly tried to think of any reason, any excuse, to convince Georgiana to decline the invitation, but without success.
Why has that blasted man sent an invitation at all? And how had all the anger Georgiana had once felt disappear so quickly? Even with me encouraging her to hold onto her resentment, she has still forgiven! How am I to keep them apart now?
He had agreed to go into town with Georgiana and her aunt in the hopes he would get another chance to dissuade her. Perhaps the modiste would be too busy to make what they wanted, or Georgiana might not be able to find a costume she liked.
During the carriage ride, he stayed mostly silent, listening to Georgiana, Adelaide, and Jonas discussing what costumes they might choose. With the two ladies doing most of the talking, he was able to plan how he might stop them—or at least Georgiana—from going.
“Ambrose?” he was startled out of his thoughts by Georgiana.
“Hmm? What was that? I was just … lost in thought,” he replied.
He loved the sound she made when she giggled at him before she replied, “That is quite obvious. I was just trying to get your attention because we have arrived.”
“Oh, I see,” he replied, as he quickly got out of the carriage and turned to assist her. “It seems we are not the only ones getting ready for the masquerade,” he added, as they saw that several ladies and a few gentlemen were already present in the shop.
“Well, that will give us a little more time to decide what we want,” she replied, as they found a place where they could wait their turn.
“Hopefully, they will have something you like, and the modiste will have time to make it,” he told her, his voice showing he was anything but hopeful. “But what if you don’t see anything you like?”
“I am sure I will find something,” she assured him.
Seeing the notion did not bother her in the slightest, he tried something else after a moment or two. “Do you think Bartlett might have something planned? I mean, it seems to be extremely convenient he is throwing a ball directly after you have forgiven him…”
“What do you mean, Ambrose?” she asked, and he was pleased to see he now had her full attention.
“Well…” he began, seeming to hesitate as he considered his words. “It is possible he thinks he still might have a chance with you…” Especially considering the way he looked at you as you walked away from him after that dance, he mentally added.
Ambrose was glad to see the shock on her face, but the next moment he was far from pleased to see how she flushed slightly and turned her head away.
Still, her reply was satisfactory, as she told him, “Well, even if he has such intentions, I will not accept them. He can court Clarissa Rutherford for all I care.”
Though her words were a flat denial, something in her tone sounded less than confident. However, Ambrose decided to press the issue at hand instead of questioning her about it.
“So, you don’t think it is possible that could be the reason why he has decided to host a masquerade ball? So, he might have a chance to see you?”
When he saw her frown and consider the suggestion, he continued before she could reply, “I merely want you to consider not attending the ball. That is all.”