Page 36 of Georgiana
“This one’s not too wrinkled, your Grace. I can help you dress and then take you to the dining room.”
“Yes, that gown will suffice for this evening. If Mrs. Howell is unable to locate a lady’s maid before the morrow, I will require you to press my remaining dresses.”
Not for the first time that day she missed her own lady’s maid. Anna was not expected to arrive for another fortnight. If she wrote Fitz directly, maybe he would send Anna to Adborough Hall immediately. Right after her meal she’d prepare a letter to post first thing in the morning.
In no time Georgiana presented herself to the dining room and stopped cold in the doorframe. Max, seated at the table, put down his cup of tea and stood.
“I was told you were having your meal in your room.”
“I changed my mind.”
He sat and signaled the two footmen, standing in silent tribute against the wall, to begin serving them. She took her seat and for her food. The meal, though not grand, was artfully arranged and tasted as good as it looked, and she hated every single minute. For over half and hour, she endured the scraping of their flatware on expensive dishes in solitary silence. Finally, before the dessert dishes were removed, she summoned the courage to speak.
“Adborough Hall is lovely, at least, what I’ve seen so far.”
“I cannot do this.” Max pushed back his chair and stood. “I refuse to pretend all is well and feign ignorance. I leave for London tomorrow morning.”
“So soon!” She also pushed back her chair and stood. “Am I to stay here, alone?”
“Yes. I shall leave instructions with Chapman and Mrs. Howell.”
He threw his napkin onto his plate and strode from the room. A little dazed over what had just occurred, Georgiana fell back into her chair. What in the world would Max feign ignorance of? She went over all the details from the past few days again and came up blank. She could think of nothing to explain his anger.
With nothing to keep her in the dining room, she exited and began wandering down the hall in search of the grand staircase. Turning a corner, she caught sight of Max near the front entrance speaking with the butler and Mrs. Howell.
“Your Grace,” she called out.
Max stopped talking, but did not turn around. She picked up her skirts and hurried toward them, determined to make him speak to her. If nothing else, to have him explain why she was being treated as though she had some dread disease. With dismay, she watched Max hand Mrs. Howell a letter and leave without once acknowledging she had called out to him. Although they maintained a stoic demeanor, Georgiana knew the two head servants were dismayed by their master’s behavior.
“Maxwell!” she cried out once more, but the heavy door closed with a resounding thud and she halted in her tracks. No one need tell her that Max was not waiting for morning light to leave Adborough Hall. She’d seen a groomsman, with Pericles, waiting on the graveled drive.
The butler, whom Georgiana learned from Molly was called Mr. Chapman, exchanged a telling glance with Mrs. Howell. He spoke quietly to her and giving Georgiana a polite half bow, exited through one of the many doors lining the grand hall.
Mrs. Howell approached and handed her the envelope Max had given her. The envelope was sealed and addressed to: Her Grace, Duchess of Adborough. Silently, Mrs. Howell moved down the hall and Georgiana was, once again, left to her own devices.
With trembling fingers, Georgiana opened the envelope and began to read.
Madam,
Your seclusion at Adborough Hall can come as no surprise. I have given instruction that you are not to leave the grounds of Adborough alone. You may attend the nearby village of Dorset for purchase of personal needs as well as attend church with no less than your maid and two footmen, and if accompanied by my trusted steward, Mr. Mason, you may visit my tenants.
Upon my return I will determine how we proceed.
Yours, etc.,
Adborough
The letter fluttered out of her fingers. Her whole body grew numb and began to shake. What had she done? What did he mean her seclusion came at no surprise? She sank to the floor, her skirts puddling around her legs in a mass of wrinkles.
~~~~~
Pericles thundered down the graveled drive, matching the dull fury that flowed through Max. How blind he’d been. If he hadn’t overheard a conversation between Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, he’d have blindly entered into his marriage bed and been none the wiser. After attending to some personal needs, he’d stopped to adjust a buckle outside the library door at Matlock House and heard the words that broke his heart in two.
“Surely you’re happy for Georgie.”
“I am. Adborough is an admirable man. My only regret is that this marriage was such a rushed affair.”
“Must needs, Richard. We had no guarantee rumors would not spread and I couldn’t make this one go away.”
