picnic to be set up for us, as well.”
“Perfect,” she replied, thinking it a nice idea.
“I will make the arrangements while you finish eating, and you can meet me at the stables. I will make certain your favorite delicacies are packed. I know you deem some foods to be incompatible with eating outdoors,” he teased.
“Thank you, that sounds nice, and I will try not to keep you waiting for too long,” she replied, as he rose from his seat.
As he stood, he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles with a look of adoration in his eyes. Georgiana couldn’t shake a gnawing feeling of guilt at feeling nothing when he gazed at her so passionately. She couldn’t even have said she felt flattered by the attention.
Fortunately, Jonas and Adelaide had started their own conversation, and so did not notice her lack of appetite as she tried to eat. If they did, they would hopefully attribute it to her being too lovestruck to entertain such a mundane concern as food.
She took the opportunity to remind herself how well Ambrose knew her. He knew what foods she would and would not like to have on a picnic, and she had no doubt the whole thing would be perfect.
Somehow, that line of thought did not comfort Georgiana, who instead felt her mind drifting back to the recent memories of Walter. He had remembered such a small detail about her as the fact she was fond of the myths surrounding Amphitrite.
Ambrose had known her for much longer, so it was only natural he should know almost everything about her. But Walter had not known her for long at all in comparison, and yet he knew her so well. It had been one of the many things that had made her feel the two of them were meant to be…
She had to shake herself from such thoughts, reminding herself she couldn’t pursue anything with Walter since she had committed herself to giving Ambrose a chance. She refused to let herself regret her decision.
Chapter 26
A week later, Walter was sitting in his study absentmindedly compiling ledgers as he recalled his amusement at the events of the previous day. There had been another soiree which he had attended.
Though nothing of note had happened there, he had caught a glimpse of Miss Rutherford with a gentleman clearly paying attention to her and being well received. It did not surprise him at all that she had not even tried to approach him, though his mother had insisted he at least greet the young lady, which he did, for all of two minutes.
Her clear disinterest had been very entertaining to him, as had the almost jealous appearance of the young man she had been showing a preference for.
These thoughts, however, soon led him back to thinking about Georgiana. She was the one thing he had been trying for the past week to avoid thinking too much about.
Whenever he thought of her, he also thought of Mr. Rowley and what he had no doubt done. Walter had to remind himself once again, he could do nothing about it until he had proof.
With such regular mail between England and France, Felicia should have received his letter by now. With any luck, a reply was already on its way back to him. If one more week passed without him hearing anything, he would consider making a quick trip to France.
His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a carriage arriving. It was odd since his mother hadn’t gone anywhere today, nor were any guests expected.
He got up and went over to the window, curious to see who it could be. Pulling the curtain aside, he watched as the carriage came to a stop and the person inside stepped down from it.
When he saw it was Felicia, who was heading for the front door of the manor, he was both surprised and elated. He quickly rushed out of his study, down the hallway, and towards the entrance of the manor to meet her.
“Felicia!” he called out the moment he saw her.
Her head jerked in his direction, and a bright smile instantly appeared on her face. “Walter!” she exclaimed as he drew her into a warm embrace so enthusiastic, he lifted her a few inches off the ground for a moment.
Before they could say anything further, Sylvia came from another direction, asking, “What is all this commotion about?”
Walter took a step back, releasing Felicia, so his mother could see her.