“That sounds delightful,” he told her as he held out his arm for her to take.
Just as she had linked arms with him and they had gone a few steps, the attention of the whole room shifted towards the doors again. “Perhaps we should wait for a moment, so you may be introduced to the newest guests?”
“Of course,” she replied politely.
As they turned to look at the door, Walter froze where he stood. There, coming in the door, were the Earl and Countess of Irvington. Behind them were the last two people on earth he ever wanted to see again: Georgiana, accompanied by Ambrose Rowley.
By now, he supposed it was Mr. and Mrs. Rowley. The thought took his mind to the past, and his stomach suddenly twisted into knots. That had been the reason he had left England two years ago.
While he was still frozen looking at her, Georgiana happened to glance at him. Her eyes locked with his own from near the entrance, and both seemed be unable to look away.
There was a quiet whispering, but whether it concerned her or the fact they had been staring at each other for a scandalous amount of time, Walter couldn’t have said, even if he had noticed.
He vaguely heard something being said in a loud voice, at which point Georgiana averted her gaze. However, it was feeling someone give his arm a light squeeze which finally allowed him to turn his eyes away from Georgiana.
“Lord Bartlett,” Miss Rutherford said, clearly trying to get his attention. “The butler has just announced dinner is ready.”
Chapter 5
Georgiana felt her head start to spin the moment she locked eyes with Walter. Of course, the very first person she laid eyes upon had to be him! When had he returned from France?!
How long she had stood there frozen, she had no idea. It wasn’t until the butler announced dinner, just as Ambrose linked arms with her, that she finally came to her senses.
Georgiana felt suddenly lightheaded, yet somehow, she also felt flushed at the same time. She was certain people must already be whispering about how long she and Lord Bartlett had stared at each other.
As she finally came fully back to the present, she found she was walking along beside Ambrose towards the dining hall. She sent a grateful smile at him, noticing how concerned he seemed as he looked at her.
“You are doing very well,” he whispered to her, so no one could hear him. “Just look at yourself. This is your first ball, and you have already seen Lord Bartlett, so the worst of it is already over. You can do it.”
Georgiana found her breathing came easier at Ambrose’s comforting words. When did my breathing become so strained? However, she found she was soon to need as many comforting words as Ambrose could muster for the ordeal that lay ahead.
It was just her bad luck that Walter should also be in town for the season. It was enough to make her wish she had attended the year before instead of putting it off. Then, she wouldn’t have to be dealing with it now, on top of attending the season for the first time since…
But why did she have to be seated directly opposite him at the dinner table? She felt the moment Ambrose noticed it, as well, since he stiffened at her side and seemed to consider pulling her away from the table.
“Let us sit down,” Georgiana told him with a meaningful look, stiffening her spine as best she could. She was not going to back down now and make a scene. She absolutely refused to!
His expression was doubtful, clearly preferring they leave, despite how rude that would seem to their hosts. “I think, just this once—”
Georgiana did not let him finish, looking away and pulling her arm out of his, while deliberately moving towards her assigned seat. That left Ambrose no choice but to follow or risk making a scene. She was surprised at how long he hesitated, but he followed eventually.
Now she wasn’t looking at Ambrose, Georgiana was able to see her aunt and uncle were clearly worried about her but were trying not to show it too plainly to the other guests.
As soon as all were seated, the first course of the meal was served. Georgiana could not concentrate on what was on her plate. She did pick up her spoon, but it was only for appearance’s sake.
“I don’t think this was a wise idea,” Ambrose said quietly from the seat beside her.
From where she sat, he seemed just as ill at ease as she was. That made Georgiana feel a little sympathy at how worried he was for her…
“I understand you are worried, but I would prefer to hold out for as long as I can,” she told him gently.
He pursed his lips in clear displeasure but nodded. “Perhaps you can avoid talking to him? Having to sit across from him is more than enough for now.”
“If that will make you more comfortable, then, yes, I will not deliberately start a conversation with him. And if he tries to start one with me, I shall keep it brief.”
The promise seemed to moderately appease Ambrose, who took a bite of his food. Georgiana moved her food around on her plate, but she couldn’t bring herself to eat anything.
When one of the other ladies at the table addressed a question to her, she could barely concentrate enough to give even the appearance of having been listening to her.
Adelaide, apparently seeing Georgiana was not fit for conversation, took over and answered whatever question had been addressed to her niece.
“Well, we were not certain we were going to be able to attend this season. After all, I could hardly do so without arranging at least one garden party myself, and I am not quite as young as I once was.”
Georgiana sent a thankful smile to her aunt, as she tried to concentrate on the conversation. Aunt Adelaide simply smiled back at her with one of her determined looks. That piqued Georgiana’s interest for a moment, until her aunt continued, and she realized what she was up to.
“However, I am pleased to tell you all that I will be arranging a garden party this season. I have most of the details already in mind, but you know how troublesome it can be to get everything in place…”
Georgiana’s attention drifted, safe in the knowledge her aunt was subtly holding the reins of the conversation at that part of the table. Though she had rarely seen it happen, when Adelaide decided she wanted to control a conversation, no one else was ever able to get in so much as a word.
It was at moments like these that Georgiana felt her aunt to be fully the Countess of Irvington. And, on this occasion, the earl was assisting her in every way possible.
Telling herself she would have to thank them both later, Georgiana forced herself to eat a bite of food. Though she was certain it was excellent, she could not help but feel nauseated as she tried to swallow it.
Then again, part of that was quite possibly due to the fact the man she was seated across from was engaged in a quiet but animated conversation with the young lady beside him. Clarissa Rutherford was laughing at something Walter had said.