Page 79 of Counting on Love

“Everything about her.” He rubbed a hand through his hair. “It’s only, she isn’t Vanessa. You understand? And I handled that badly too.”

He needed to say something. But he had no idea what. That Jasper didn’t deserve Georgiana if he was still tied by the heartstrings to his mistress? That Jasper could not wed Georgiana because he was desperately in love with her?

“Well,” he said slowly, “what are you planning to do?”

“I can’t do anything this morning. I have a proposal to read over that I should have gotten to a month ago. One of Lord Billings’ projects. He’s stopping here today on his way to Plimpton. I’d forgotten I invited him. Thank God Peters reminded me.”

“Billings?” One of the Earl’s good friends. “Will he want to see Father?”

“He may want to, but he won’t. This is not how the Earl would want to be remembered. I mean to spare him that. So I suppose we’ll have a dinner for Billings. Set up the targets and do some shooting. That’ll amuse him. Then I’ll have to give him an hour to try to convince me to support his theater censorship bill.”

“Well, at least you know what the Earl would do with that.”

“Ha! Yes. That I do know. And that Father always aimed just a hair off the mark, then served his finest brandy, so that Billings would trot off well pleased with himself regardless.” The faintest smile crossed Jasper’s face. “Can I trust you not to humiliate the man if I let you shoot with us?”

“I haven’t shot a gun in over a year.”

“I don’t think that matters. Aim to the side.”

Reginald laughed. “If that’s all you require of me—”

“Oh, well, no. There’s more. I’ve got to play host to Billings which means I’m going to neglect Georgiana yet again. I hate to ask, but can you and Olivia entertain her this morning? And Alice, of course. And the Duchess unless she chooses to sit with Mother.”

He felt the request like a physical blow. “Entertain them how?” He knew what would interest Georgiana, but they couldn’t drag Alice to the library to thumb through accounts.

“Fortunately, it looks to be a fine day. I had wanted to take Georgiana out to see the folly if the sun ever came out. The walk out there is pleasant and it’s an amusing pretend ruin.”

“Crispin will be sorry he missed it. The folly is his favorite part of Chaumbers.”

“Well, if he gets back in time, he can join you. You don’t mind, do you?”

“No. I don’t mind.” And that was the truth. It was almost too perfect. Olivia and Alice were thick as thieves. It would be no trouble to find a spot for a private talk with Georgiana. She’d said she felt close to figuring out where the money had gone. If she had, then they were done with all this. If she hadn’t, well, perhaps they were done anyway. Once Bradwell and Father were both dead, what did a few hundred missing pounds matter?

The important thing was they needed to talk. He’d touched her hand. Stroked it. It had been such a tiny gesture. Insignificant on the vast scale of possible ways for humans to touch. But it hadn’t felt insignificant. It felt monumental. Intimate. It had been the most utterly wrong thing to do. He owed her an abject apology. But the truth was, he did not regret it at all.

*

Sunshine streamed through the windows. Georgiana did not see a cloud in the sky. Everything that was wrong was still wrong; nevertheless, her spirits lifted.

She waited for Alice to wake and dress, and then they both went downstairs together. Mama must not have announced any decision to leave, because Reginald and Olivia awaited them in the breakfast parlor with plans for the morning.

“We thought we’d walk out to the folly,” Olivia said. “It’ll be good to stretch our limbs. It’ll be just the four of us unless Crispin returns soon. Jasper is obliged to meet with Lord Billings.”

“Oh,” Georgiana smiled. “Is he coming here? Mama will enjoy seeing him.”

“Evidently,” Reginald said. “And my mother appreciated the Duchess volunteering to act as hostess for the dinner. She’s with Cook now, going over the menu. While Jasper is reading through whatever hare-brained proposal Billings wants him to support.”

They ate a quick light breakfast, then gathered their wraps and bonnets and set off. The path across the meadow was wide enough for the girls to walk three abreast. Reginald trailed behind. He was so quiet that Georgiana glanced over her shoulder a few times to assure herself he was there. His brow was clouded. She didn’t think he was even listening to their talk.

Olivia served as guide, pointing out the various landmarks. The village was behind them, the lake off to the left. Across the lake, though of course they could not see it, was the neighboring village of Crofton, where Jeremy and Jeffrey had their home. And beyond that, was the town of Ipswich, where one could find a surprisingly good milliner, Olivia’s bonnet being proof.

It was a hefty walk up a long, gradual incline. Georgiana was beginning to feel it in her legs when the gradient increased abruptly to an actual climb. They reached a plateau and Olivia halted and bid them turn around. Reginald came up to stand beside them, a wicked grin on his face.

“Oh,” Georgiana said, looking back at Chaumbers. From this perspective, one was able to truly form an impression of the whole of the house. She tried forcing a smile.

Alice giggled, then guffawed. “I do apologize,” she said, drawing breath. “I’m sure your grandfather was a lovely man, but…”

“He was no architect,” Reginald allowed.