“You do know, if my uncle catches you here at this time of the evening, we will both be in a world of trouble,” she had finally said with a smile at him.
“And yet you still agreed to walk through the garden with me,” he pointed out.
“Hmm. That is only because of how lovely the stars are tonight,” she retorted, turning her gaze up to the clear, starlit sky.
“In that case, shall I tell you about them?”
“Yes, please. Though I can never find them, I do enjoy being shown where the constellations are.”
“But have you heard any of the stories behind the constellations?”
“Stories?” she had asked curiously.
“Take that constellation, for example,” he began, moving close to her to better point out one particular set of stars. “Those stars are called Gemini. If you look at them a certain way, they seem to be two stick-figure men hand in hand.”
“And there is a story behind them?” Georgiana asked.
“Yes. That constellation is named after a story from Greek mythology. Castor and Pollux were twins from the same mother but with different fathers. Pollux was actually a son of Zeus, and from his father he got immortality.
“However, that never came between the two brothers, who were as close as two brothers could possibly be. Eventually, though, Castor, being mortal, died. Pollux could not bear to live without his brother, so he pleaded with Zeus to do something. His father then made them both into a constellation, so they could be together for all time.”
“Goodness,” Georgiana had said in a quiet voice after staring at the constellation for some time. “If they had not been twins, that might seem quite romantic.”
As she had looked up at him then, her hazel eyes gazing straight into his gray ones, he had seen the stars reflected in her gaze. She was still standing quite close to him. “Yes. It would,” he replied in an equally quiet voice.
He still had no idea who had moved first, but the next moment their lips met gently in a stolen kiss. It was not long or deep, but soft, like a promise, or a whisper.
“Miss Georgiana!” They both jumped apart at the sound of her lady’s maid calling for her out of her window.
“Oh dear, Lucy will come out here next. You had best leave through the side entrance,” Georgiana told him hurriedly, as she headed back towards the house.
But Walter caught her for a moment. “And what about you? I don’t want to leave you in trouble by yourself.”
With a smile and a quick peck on his cheek, Georgiana tried to put his mind at ease. “I will simply say I went for a walk in the rose garden and looked at the stars. Now go!”
Walter had begrudgingly released her, but had watched her for a moment longer, catching with pleasure her backwards glance as she reached the side door just as Lucy was opening it from the inside.
Walter sighed as the memory ended. He ought to put such thoughts behind him. She was married now. To someone other than himself. Nothing could ever come of it, no matter what he felt.
With a few deep breaths, he put on a smile, and then calmly walked back into the ballroom. He hid the relief he felt when he did not see Georgiana anywhere.
Standing in the doorway for a moment, he spotted his mother in a seemingly animated conversation with the Viscountess Burford and her daughter. Over in another direction stood a few of the gentlemen Walter was acquainted with.
As soon as he took a step in the latter direction, he caught his mother looking at him and motioning for him to join them. With a sigh, he changed course to go to her instead.
He knew what she was about. She would no doubt find an excuse to take the viscountess aside to leave him alone with the young lady. And, if what had happened earlier was any indication, neither of the other two ladies would have any complaint.
Miss Rutherford smiled broadly as Walter came to stand next to his mother, who said, “My dear, where have you been? You have missed the last two dances.”
Walter caught the underlying rebuke, but simply smiled at Clarissa. “My apologies, ladies. I was occupied elsewhere, but I am at your service now,” he said with a slight bow.
Just then, the orchestra played the first chords of a bold and somewhat scandalous waltz. “Perfect!” Sylvia exclaimed as she clapped