Page 68 of Georgiana
“Nonsense. Clearly you are dressed and ready. As it is, I find words escaping me at the moment.”
“Anything you wish to talk about?”
“No.” At Lizzy’s raised eyebrow she hurried to assure her sister. “We’ve arrived at the letter ‘Q’ and I’ve hit a bit of a roadblock.”
“Hmm… Querulous? Quarrelsome? Quirky?”
“No,” Georgiana laughed. “Maxwell is none of those.”
“Apologies, my quick-witted sister. I must have been projecting your quaint brother’s thoughts about me.”
“I appreciate your attempt to help me as you are very clever, but I think I’ve stumbled upon a word that suits my need.”
“Do you care to share?”
“Quiet. My husband is quiet, yet in a good way.”
“You know what they say about quiet people.”
“Do tell.”
“Still waters run deep. I’m convinced, if asked, he would take on the twelve labors of Hercules to prove his love.”
Georgiana pondered Lizzy’s words as they strolled the perimeter of the park, stopping at the small lake so Bennet could throw bread crumbs at the ducks. Would Maxwell perform a Herculean quest if she asked? A peace settled over heart with the knowledge that he would. Indeed, since December he’d proven over and over that he was sincere in his love and in his quest to regain her favor. It was time she moved them closer to the finish line. However, she was thoroughly enjoying their journey through the alphabet and didn’t want to end their correspondence just yet.
Instead of sending a letter every third day she’d encourage him to exchange them daily. After a quick calculation, she realized they’d finish in about two weeks. She almost clapped her hands in delight. As it was the sky became bluer, the bird song more melodic and the sun shone brighter than ever.
Ten days later, after using the letter ‘Y’, Georgiana signed her final communication to Max. After sealing the missive, she rang for a footman to deliver it to Kerr House. Familiar with his mission, the young lad gladly walked the quarter mile before he handed it over to the butler and enjoyed his usual treat of lemon tarts.
~~~~~
Max sat behind his desk; shoulders slumped in defeat. Words refused to come to mind. They were nearing the end of the alphabet and once he received the next letter from Georgiana, he’d have to reply. A piece of ivory vellum lay beneath his hand with words written and crossed out.
Zephyr
Zeal
Zing
Zone
Zebra
He groaned. Zebra? The urge to smash his forehead against his desk nearly overwhelmed him. He absolutely refused to give up after six months of courting and exchanging letters. Instinctively he knew this was purely a symbolic gesture, but he needed to complete the task so they could begin anew. With a longsuffering sigh, he dipped his quill into the ink pot, prepared to scratch out the last word.
“A letter has arrived, your Grace.”
In his despair he hadn’t heard Benson open the door. He dropped the quill, unmindful of the large ink blotch created on the parchment and held out his hand. His butler handed him the single page and politely bowed out of the room.
He broke the seal and read the note. At first his heart stopped beating before thudding back to life. He pushed back his chair, nearly toppling it over in his haste to stand and call out, “Benson, my hat and cane please.”
Within the half hour, he’d reached Darcy House and was admitted by the butler.
“Good afternoon, your Grace.”
“Good afternoon.” He handed his hat and cane to the man. “Would you inform Miss Darcy I am here to see her.”
“Right away, sir. Would you care to wait in the blue salon?”
