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It looked quite promising, given that their other sister, Franny, seemed far more interested in books than men.
“What are you two giggling about?” Louisa asked as she secured her newly found hat to her head, a monstrously large creation resembling a garish floral display that she insisted was the height of fashion.
“I was just telling David how fond I am of him. You’ve truly done well in your choice of husband.”
Louisa beamed as she slipped her arm through his. “Yes. Thank God I came to my senses and accepted his proposal before he could ask that horrid Kitty Webb.”
“As I’ve told you many times, there was neveranychance of that happening, my dear,” David said with a blush.
“But you danced with her twice at Lady Bernby’s ball the day after I turned you down! Her own mother was running around the room telling people it was only a matter of time.”
Louisa’s initial refusal, born out of nerves during her first season, had quickly turned into anxious regret, and she tearfully appealed to Georgiana for help. Little did she know that Georgiana had also been approached by an equally distraught David. She had been all too happy to help the thwarted young lovers, and their reunion had been near Shakespearean, complete with laughter, tears, and pledges of undying love.
“Well, I won’t pretend to be above inspiring a little petty jealousy on your part,” David said with a grin.
Louisa playfully batted him with her fan before giving him a sly look more suitable for the bedroom, which Georgiana pretended not to notice.
“Come along, children,” she said as she headed toward the front door, where Reggie was already waiting in the carriage. “I won’t miss the overture.”
***
When Georgiana’s husband was alive, attending the opera together had been one of the very few events she could fully enjoy. While many turned such outings into yet another opportunity to flaunt their wealth or seek connections, she had always come for the music. As the carriage pulled up alongside the Royal Opera House, Georgiana’s stomach fluttered with excitement along with a thick sliver of dread. Reggie helped her down from the carriage and dutifully escorted her inside. Louisa and David lagged a few steps behind, mooning over each other like the newlyweds they still were.
Reggie cleared his throat a few times in an attempt to get their attention before he gave up. “I should have said so earlier, but you look wonderful tonight, Georgie. It’s been so nice seeing you out of that awful black.”
The opera would be the first major social event Georgiana had attended since her full mourning period ended. She had dutifully donned plain black crepe and floor-length veils for the last year and a half, but with the encouragement of her closest friends and family, she had recently transitioned to half mourning. Nevertheless, her appearance would likely scandalize the more conservative members of society, for whom nothing less than two years of deep mourning for a widow would do.
But Georgiana simply couldn’t do it. Between her marriage and mourning period, she had already given up eight years of her life to the viscount. She would not give him one minute more.
“Thank you, Reg,” she said just as something caught her eye. Lady Phillips and Mrs. Elliott, two of the most esteemed society matrons, were noticeably glaring in their direction before they bowed their heads together. Georgiana’s hold on Reggie’s arm tightened. They weren’t yet in the door and it was already happening.
Reggie looked down at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Georgiana said quickly, tearing her gaze away from the gossips. She gave her brother a bright smile, but he wasn’t fooled.
“Ignore them. They’re nothing but a pair of petty old vultures who want nothing more than to feast on the misfortunes of others.”
Georgiana raised an eyebrow, now thoroughly distracted by Reggie’s turn of phrase. “My, that’s an awfully poetic way to put it.”
He shot her a grin. “Well, you aren’t the only member of the family with some artistic talent.”
Georgiana was an accomplished pianist, though she had largely abandoned the practice during her marriage. The viscount thought it vulgar for his wife to perform for anyone other than him, and eventually Georgiana decided she would rather never play at all. Taking it up again since his death had been a source of great comfort.
“Reggie, don’t tell me you write!”
“It’s only a bit of fun,” he demurred, but Georgiana suspected it was far more than that. Her brother had always been an avid reader. It wouldn’t be much of a leap to compose his own pieces.
“You must let me read some of your work.”
The blood drained from his face. “Oh, please no, Georgie. I couldn’t. What if you hated it?”
She smiled at his sudden gravity. “I could never. It is entirely at your discretion, of course. But if you need me, I am here.”
By that time, Louisa and David had caught up and as they made their way through the well-heeled crowd, Georgiana was heartened to see that no other disapproving matrons were scandalized by her appearance, but she couldn’t fully relax until they reached the safe confines of their private box. Reggie escorted her to a velvet-lined seat and then immediately excused himself. “I’ll be just a moment,” he said cryptically and was gone before Georgiana could say another word.
Louisa sat beside her. “Where’s he off to?”
Georgiana shrugged and scanned the crowd that was slowly filling the theater. “He didn’t say.”
