battledore and shuttlecock with some of the guests. Her anger eased only slightly as she saw how much her aunt was enjoying herself.
When Adelaide saw her standing to the side, the concerned look she gave helped ease her anger further. “Are you quite well, dear?” her aunt asked at a pause in the game, slightly out of breath.
“Yes, I am fine. In fact, if I may, I would like to join in and play with you,” she replied firmly. Perhaps hitting something, even something as small as a shuttlecock, would make her feel better.
Adelaide was not convinced, but she seemed to understand her niece’s desire not to talk about whatever was troubling her, at least for now. So, Georgiana was handed a battledore, and, if she hit the shuttlecock a little harder than was necessary, no one complained.
It was not long before Adelaide had to excuse herself to see to her other guests, but Georgiana continued to play until the tea party drew to an end.
Then, she set down her battledore and stood near her aunt at the entrance to the garden, as the guests began to trickle out. Their goodbyes were laced with compliments regarding the gardens, the food, the place settings, and about what a wonderful hostess the countess was.
While Georgiana was standing there, she paused for a moment to see how many people remained. Despite her best efforts, her eyes almost immediately found Walter standing not too far away, engaged in what seemed like an animated conversation with Miss Rutherford and the Viscountess Burford.
Unfortunately, at that moment Walter happened to look in her direction, their eyes locking. She could tell he wanted to speak to her, all but pleading with his eyes, but she deliberately looked away with a scowl, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Aunt, may I go inside now?” she asked. She knew Walter would be leaving soon, and she did not want to give him the chance to say another word to her, even in passing.
“Of course, dear,” Adelaide replied with a touch of concern in her voice. She looked as if she wanted to ask a question, but then she simply gave Georgiana a light hug and let her go.
Glad to go inside, she looked for her book, to give her mind something else to focus upon. After she had found it necessary to read the same page ten times over, she a last saw her aunt approaching.
“The last of the guests have finally left,” Adelaide said as she sat next to her niece. “Now, tell me, what is the matter? Why do you look so sullen?”
With a deep sigh, she replied with a question first. “Do you recall encouraging me to talk to Walter?”
“Yes. I take it the conversation did not go well?”
“Oh, it went well enough if you consider I discovered why Walter left for France without a word.” She felt her anger rising again, certain her aunt could see it.
“And?”
“But the reason behind it, Aunt! He left because he heard a stupid rumor I was already engaged! Can you believe it? What he must have thought of me to be acting as I was while engaged to someone else, I don’t even want to think. But he couldn’t even be bothered to verify the rumor by asking me about it, or anyone else! What—” Georgiana cut herself off with a deep breath, forcing herself to hold it for several seconds before she completely lost her temper.
“I see. So, that is what he said to you? That the reason why he left is because he heard you were engaged?”
“Yes! And to Ambrose, of all people. I introduced him to Ambrose and told him he was just a friend to me, like an older brother.”
There was silence for a moment, and then her aunt asked her, “Did it seem as though Walter really believed that? Or was he simply making an excuse?”
Georgiana thought seriously on that for a moment, trying to call to mind his exact words. “No … I think he really believed what he said. The first time he spoke to me since he returned, he called me Mrs. Rowley.”
“Perhaps some stranger had seen you and Ambrose and assumed … but that does not excuse Walter in the slightest as, you are right, he should have verified the matter. But you and Ambrose appear close enough for a stranger to make such an assumption.”
“I suppose … but you would think a stranger might just as well assume we are cousins or