instructed me to help you get ready for the tea party. It won’t be too much longer before the first guests start to arrive.”
“You are right,” Georgiana replied with one last glance out of the window to see the progress that had been made.
“What dress do you wish to wear today, Miss?” Lucy asked as she began to help Georgiana out of the dress she was wearing.
“Hmm … the light blue one with the ribbons. It tends to get warm in the garden when the sun is out, even this early in the year,” she replied thoughtfully. However, that reminded her of how Walter had made her feel so warm…
“That sounds a wise choice. And are you looking forward to attending a tea party again? I know you used to love them.”
“What was that?” she had to ask, not having caught what Lucy had said beyond her having asked a question.
“Are you feeling quite well, Miss?” Lucy asked with a look of concern, pausing her work.
“Yes, of course,” she answered perhaps a bit too hastily.
Lucy, clearly not convinced, returned to dressing her without further comment. Meanwhile, Georgiana grew tense as she wondered if Walter would be attending…
While it had been simple enough to avoid him at the duchess’s large soiree, if he chose to attend a small gathering like this, it would be practically impossible to avoid him. But he surely wouldn’t come here …?
She must have sighed, as Lucy, now doing her hair, asked, “What is the matter, Miss Georgiana?”
After considering what to say, or if she even wanted to answer at all, she decided a second opinion might be helpful. “I … I just don’t know what to do about something … actually, it is about Walter … I mean Lord Bartlett … I should doubtless stop calling him Walter, even to myself, and start calling him Lord Bartlett or Baron Bartlett again…”
“And what is it about him you are unsure about?” Lucy asked with genuine sympathy.
“Well … a lot of things,” Georgiana sighed, and then with a short and bitter laugh she said, “But I suppose the main thing bothering me is that, when I saw him at Burford Manor, he referred to me as Mrs. Rowley. I have no idea why or what could have given him the impression I am married to Ambrose. As if it wasn’t confusing enough just seeing him again…”
Lucy was silent for a long moment. “And what have your aunt and uncle said on the matter?”
“Well, they are worried for me … I don’t want to trouble them. I told Ambrose, and he has been such a support to me of late. Actually, he has always been a support when I have needed him. Oh … I don’t know, I suppose I just want to talk to someone else about it. Another woman, close to my age, who can give me a different perspective.”
“I think Lady Irvington would want to know about something like this, though I can see why you wouldn’t want to worry her. I am honored you are talking to me about it, but I must admit, I don’t see where the confusion comes from. Surely you must ask the baron why he called you Mrs. Rowley?”
“I thought that myself, at first, but then Ambrose convinced me otherwise. In fact, he made it seem as though it was the last thing I should do…”
“Whatever for?” Lucy exclaimed incredulously. “As fond as I am of Mr. Rowley, I think he has missed the mark in this case. After all, this will doubtless keep bothering you until you understand it, and Baron Bartlett is the only one who can offer an explanation.”
Georgiana paused to consider the line of thought, tempted to shake her head at herself as it sank in. “It sounds so simple when you say it like that.”
“Pardon me for saying so, but I believe it is that simple, Miss,” Lucy told her as she finished the last few details on her hair.
Turning around to give her lady’s maid a hug, she said, “Thank you for your advice. I think I will do just as you say. I am only disappointed we didn’t have this talk sooner, as I might have had my answer before now. However, I still have to gather the courage to talk to him…”
She sighed as Lucy patted her arms consolingly. “I know you can do it, Miss. You are far too determined to do otherwise.”