going to do about it? Did you tell her the reason why you left?”
“I did tell her, but it didn’t help my case very much. Just now, she is far too angry at me to even consider me in that way. My mother told me what some of the rumors were after my sudden departure … but, nevertheless, I intend to find out if there is any hope for me.”
“That sounds like a good plan! And do you have any competition? I mean, you were gone for a couple of years. Has she met anyone who might stand in your way?”
“No,” Walter replied almost instantly, but then he reconsidered. “Well, her childhood friend is probably not going to want to let me get close to her again, but that is understandable.”
“Ooh, childhood friends can have sharp tongues! You should consider placating this friend of hers by getting her some flowers or something.”
Walter was mildly confused; his mind having wandered for a moment. “How would giving Miss Montgomery flowers placate her friend?” he asked.
Henry laughed at the misunderstanding. “No, no, no! I meant you should give the flowers to her friend!”
Walter rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “I don’t think Mr. Rowley would appreciate flowers the way you are implying.”
“Mr. Rowley, eh? So, this childhood friend of hers is a man?” Henry asked in what Walter felt was a strange tone of voice.
“Yes…”
“Hmm … and you say it was a rumor which caused you to leave … you wouldn’t know where the rumor started, by any chance, would you?”
He sighed. “No, unfortunately, I do not…”
“And you are certain it was not started by this Rowley fellow?”
“What?” Walter exclaimed and turned his full attention on his friend. “You think he could be the one who started the rumor? But he is her friend!”
“Is he married, or is there some other reason why he shouldn’t be a suspect?” Henry quickly countered.
“Well, no … but—”
“But what?”
He was not able to answer for a while. His mind took him back to the glare Rowley had directed at him after he had danced with Georgiana. Something had felt off about it, and Henry’s reasoning seemed a perfect fit.
“Ah, so there is a possibility he is jealous!” Henry sounded pleased he had successfully deduced it.
“Well, now you say it, at the ball we attended the other evening, there was a certain glare he directed at me that seemed particularly hostile…” Walter admitted.
“Ha! Well, I can almost guarantee you he was the culprit, then, starting the rumor so he could have her for himself.”
“But … he must have known how hurt she would be and how it would damage her reputation and that of her family, come to think of it. If he really cared for her at all, how could he have done something so heinous?”
“Men do all sorts of things out of jealousy which make no sense.”
“But he has shown no signs of feeling anything more for her than friendship!”
“Being a childhood friend can be difficult at times. Perhaps he intended to declare his intentions but was uncertain how to make her to think of him as anything other than a friend. And then you came along … it makes perfect sense to me.”
Walter had to admit to himself that it made perfect sense to him, as well. In fact, it made such sense, it stuck in his head for the rest of the evening.
Even as he returned home and ate with his mother, who asked him countless questions about the ball she was preparing for, the new revelation stayed in his mind.
It was nearly time to retire for the night when he found himself alone in his study with his thoughts. Realizing there was only one way to find out for certain and to set his mind at ease, he quickly got out a sheet of paper, some ink, and a fresh quill in order to write a letter to Felicia.
My dear Cousin,
I know this letter may take a while to reach you, but I simply must know the answer to a certain question, although I hope it is merely my imagination is simply getting the better of me. Either way, I know you will set my mind at ease as soon as you can.
You know why I left London and why I remained in France for two years. You were the one to tell me of the rumor about Georgiana already being engaged. I know you haven’t forgotten that night any more