two were close, and Rowley was, no doubt, feeling protective of her as her friend. But Walter felt there might be something more to it than that … he just didn’t know what.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Miss Rutherford leaned towards him and whispered, “How are you enjoying the performance so far?”
He quickly surmised she had mistaken his quiet and thoughtful demeanor for attentiveness to the performance. Not wanting to be impolite, he put on a smile and replied, “I am finding it quite interesting. Perhaps you could tell me how it ends?”
“No,” she giggled in reply.
Knowing he would have to discuss the performance with her later, he did his best to concentrate on the remainder of it. He could ponder more about what to think about Rowley later.
While he could see why other people found it an enjoyable opera, he did not find the topic very appealing. After all, the whole play was essentially about flirting with others while your intended was away…
He was glad when the performance was finally over, clapping politely, but not enthusiastically, as the curtains were lowered. He stood along with the others in the box as they began to leave.
“Well? What did you think of it?” Miss Rutherford soon asked as she took his arm.
Though he was expecting to be asked such a question, he had to think for a moment on how to reply while still being polite. “It was very entertaining, and perhaps a little thought-provoking. I can see why you were so eager to see it again.”
This seemed to be a satisfactory reply, as she smiled up at him and enthusiastically nodded her head. “I agree! The first time I watched it, I could barely breathe as I waited to see what would happen next and wondered how far the men would take their wager.”
If he had been free to speak his mind, he would have remarked that it wouldn’t have held his attention even on a good day. However, saying something like that was out of the question.
One glance at the others showed his mother was engaging the viscount and viscountess in conversation. They were, no doubt, deliberately giving the young people some space to become better acquainted.
So, he tried to change the subject slightly by asking, “What is your favorite opera? I know you must have one.”
“My favorite tends to change too frequently. It depends upon what is being performed,” she admitted. “I would have to say that Così Fan Tutte is my favorite of the moment.”
“And what is your favorite part?” he asked, hoping she would not expect him to answer the same question. He couldn’t really say he liked any part of the opera.
“Oh, that is easy! I love the part near the end when the maid is disguised as a notary and the music signals the return of the officers. The hurry of the men to go and change out of their disguises only to come back in and pretend to be enraged is so humorous.”
“Well, we are drawing near your carriage,” he told her with an air of disappointment. They were actually still some distance away, but he considered them to be close enough to make such a statement. “Perhaps we should do this again when a new opera comes out?”
“Yes, we should, though … it will be a long while before that happens…” she told him, hinting none too subtly that she hoped to see him again long before then.
“Perhaps the day after tomorrow we could go for a ride if the weather is fine? It is certainly a lovely time of year, now the flowers are blooming.”
“That sounds perfect,” she replied, helping her into her carriage. “I look forward to seeing you then.”
He bowed and stepped back as the Burford carriage departed and left him and his mother standing. Offering her his arm, they headed towards their own carriage.
Sylvia seemed to understand her son was in a thoughtful mood, and did not ask him any questions, for which Walter was grateful. He still knew he had to apologize to Georgiana.
However, now he knew she didn’t want to talk with him, apologizing would be even more difficult. Then, there was the look on Mr. Rowley’s face to think about…
***
After the confrontation with Walter, Georgiana found she had a hard time concentrating on the opera performance as it began. She had not expected to see him here, and to have him approach so suddenly had caught her completely by surprise.