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“My timing could have been better,” Elizabeth admitted.
“But it will do you good to talk to someone about what you've been through, and about how you feel,” Georgiana encouraged him. “It hasn't only been about me, Fitzwilliam. It's affected both of us.”
“I know. Um, I thought I would stay home tonight. We should talk, if you want to.”
Georgiana nodded. “Of–of course. I'm not going anywhere.”
Elizabeth gave Georgiana a hug and quietly assured her all would be well. When Will walked her out to her Jeep, she smiled up at him.
“Your name is Fitzwilliam.”
He looked at Elizabeth guiltily. “Something tells me you already knew that.”
“I did. But it’s kind of funny that we’ve been dating for a month and you never told me yourself.”
“It never came up,” he said with a shrug. “I'm sorry I didn't make it a point to tell you. I didn't think it was a big deal.”
She squeezed his hand lightly. “It's not. You're still just Will to me.”
He smiled but then turned serious, and she could tell he was gearing up to apologize again.
“We're okay, Will. We’re fine. Call me later so you can tell me good night.”
His expression softened, and when he lowered his head to her shoulder she breathed him in, then wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close.
“I'll probably call more than once,” he murmured.
His breath tickled her neck, and she shivered. “You can call as much as you like.”
He lifted his head and opened her door. “Okay. Bye, Elizabeth.”
She gave him one last kiss. “Bye, Will.”
* * *
Will foundGeorgiana waiting for him in the living room. They sat at opposite ends of the couch, and she asked what had happened with Elizabeth.
“She wanted to talk to me about you,” he answered. “I snapped at her.”
“She was only trying to help. I'm worried about you. You won't talk to me.”
He sighed. “It's hard, Georgie.”
“It's hard for me too, but we need to do it. Please?”
He took a deep breath, determined to get through this for his sister. “After everything happened, I felt like I’d lost you, and I couldn’t bear it. There was no life in your eyes. I thought bringing you here would help, but you wouldn't come out of your room. You wouldn't talk, you wouldn't eat. I didn't know what to do. I was terrified.”
“I wish–I wish you’d said something.”
“Why, so you could see how selfish I was? I should have been helping you, but instead, I was wallowing in self-pity.”
His thoughts quickly traveled to when he’d told Elizabeth about what he believed when he saw the pictures, and the feelings of guilt and shame were nearly overwhelming. He would never tell Georgie what he’d thought then, and he lowered his head, determined to keep his emotions in check. She scooted closer to him and took his hand, and when he saw tears rolling down her cheeks, he hugged her for a long moment.
“I blame myself for bringing all of this on you, on us,” she said softly.
He leaned back from her. “Noneof this is your fault, Georgie. None of it.”
She shook her head. “I should have told you what happened right away. I should have gone to the police and the hospital. I don't blame myself for what happened—not now, anyway—but Idoblame myself for how I handled it.”
