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“What is it?” Georgiana asked, but didn’t wait for Ruth to answer. Instead, she lifted the lid of the box and gasped at what she saw nestled within.
“How?” Georgiana breathed.
“I asked the modiste who made your dress, and she has made it for you using your dress sizes. I am assured it will fit,” Ruth replied as she held the crimson red and black corset aloft that was her gift to Georgiana.
“It’s beautiful,” Georgiana gushed. “I don’t know what to say, except for thank you.”
Ruth smiled knowingly at her. “Secrets are powerful, my dear. Every woman should have a secret, even from her lover. It would never do to allow oneself to be too open and honest with anybody, ever. That way, there is always an air of mystery that attracts attention. That way, there is always something to talk about when life becomes dull. That way, even on the darkest days when life is as dull and boring as the sky, you have a secret, deep in your heart, that you are something just a little different.”
“That’s where the undergarments work their magic,” she replied. “But I couldn’t wear anything red with a pale dress on,” Georgiana replied.
“Then you will have to buy one or two dresses that allow you to wear whatever colour you like underneath. You can do that now,” Ruth assured her. “Besides, it is a good enough reason to shop for some dresses.”
“But not for weddings,?
?? Georgiana replied with a wry smile.
“But not for weddings,” Ruth assured her.
“Maybe I have been too open and honest with Will,” Georgiana murmured. “Maybe that’s why he has never seen me as an adult.”
“The innocence of youth you mean?” Ruth asked and shook her head. “No. If there is any issue there it is purely that he doesn’t like change. He won’t want you to stray out of the box he has put you into. You are Georgiana, the pesky young girl who always followed him. No, you stand your ground, my dear. Go about your life as you see fit and don’t allow anybody to talk you out of it. He will come around in time. If he doesn’t then he doesn’t want what is best for you and you are much better off without him.”
Georgiana watched her aunt repackage the emerald dress and thoughtfully took her new, prized possession to her bedchamber.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Georgiana had no sooner taken a seat at the table when knocking on the front door echoed around the house.
“I shall answer it, my dear,” Ruth replied with a battle-hardened glint in her eye.
It wasn’t Will though. It was the neighbour of her good friend, Mrs Merriweather. Although the voices were too low to hear what was being said, the concern on Ruth’s face when she returned to the kitchen had Georgiana rising out of her seat in alarm.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Mrs Merriweather has taken ill. I need to go and sit with her for a while,” Ruth replied tremulously.
“Mrs Merriweather was the lady you had tea with, isn’t she?”
Ruth nodded. “I am sorry, Georgiana. Will you be alright here by yourself? I have no idea how long I will be. She seemed alright earlier, but she has taken a turn for the worse and is in a bad way, apparently.”
“Of course you must go. Is there anything I can do?” Georgiana asked.
She hurried over to the hearth and put a pot of water on to boil although had no idea why. It seemed that every time something unusual or distressing happened the first thing anybody ever did was put a pot of water on to boil. Whether it was in anticipation of having to make tea, or just to have something to do she had no idea, but she quickly filled a pot and placed it over the flames. When she turned around, she found herself alone. Ruth had gone up to her room to gather a few belongings.
“Mrs Merriweather lives in the next village so it is highly unlikely I will be back tonight. I shall stay at her house until she is well enough,” Ruth declared when she appeared in the doorway.
“If there is anything I can do,” Georgiana murmured.
“Thank you dear but I am sure everything will be alright. Just go to Mr Parker if there is anything amiss. I shall be back as soon as I can, or shall send word if I am likely to be gone for more than a couple of days.” At the door, she paused and turned to study her niece. “Are you sure you are going to be alright?”
Georgiana waved her away with a confident smile. “I am fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Her confident smile dimmed once the door was closed, and she was all alone. The silence that settled about her was strangely disquieting. It wasn’t that she was perturbed at being left alone. Her aunt had gone out on many occasions since Georgiana had taken up residence here and it had never bothered her before. However, this time she had no idea when Ruth would return. It left her on edge and restless as though she wasn’t sure what she should do all the time she had to herself. She certainly didn’t have anybody else to talk to. What was she supposed to do now?
“This was what I wanted–to be left alone,” she muttered with a frown. Strangely, it wasn’t all that appealing now she was actually by herself. Still, not one to be defeated, Georgiana went in search of something to occupy her time.
“I could sew,” she mused thoughtfully as she eyed the sewing basket in the sitting room, but then wrinkled her nose up and turned away. “Maybe bake something?” Once again, she found little interest in even looking in the cupboards.
