Pearson's Hall
London, England
One month later...
Like in Shrewsbury and any other parts of England, when it rains it pours.
Georgia and Luella had only been in London for a little over a month. They were made comfortable with their lodgings at Pearson's Hall, which was famous for it's ever growing pear trees, but Georgia couldn't help but think back to those wild summer nights she spent in the duke's arms.
Oh, how she missed him. He had truly respected her wishes and he didn't come after her. What is was doing to her heart was torturous. Luckily, her good friend Lady Vivienne and Lord Hackett came to London with Isaac about a fortnight ago. They all had spent much time together since then, mostly indoors as the weather was already becoming ghastly cold.
Georgia stood staring at her deceased husband's portrait and nearly felt a shiver go down her spine when she heard someone's voice and footsteps echo from behind her.
"He was not the most gentlemanly of the lot, nevertheless he was still my son." Lady Edna, the mother of the late Lord Pearson's said with a vindictive tone. She was tough as nails on the outside and all sweet, soft, and buttery on the inside although she wore a deep, permanent scowl while her sharp blue eyes glistened like they were always filled with tears.
"No, your son surely was not an angel, but I still want you to know I did care for him as any wife should." Georgia said with her own hint of vindictiveness. Although, she meant no harm, but everything she said was all true.
While her husband was not the best of husbands Georgia was surely brought up be a countess at a young age. It came naturally to her hosting the dinner parties and maintaining the staff and home of an earl.
It wasn't until her wretched husband started stripping away those joys when Georgia became pregnant with his child. He hated the way she glowed with child and how all the other noble lords noticed. He could tell just by the way the other noblemen looked at her and confined her nearly alone for the rest of her pregnancy in the quietness of the countryside to have their son and heir.
And when Lord Walter Pearson got word that there was no heir, but instead a little girl, he left Georgia and the child in the countryside for almost two years before she came back to London and saw what treacherous affair her husband had been partaking in.
He was so in love with another woman that he let it ruin him and their good family name. The gossips that were spread amongst the ton that season were vile, cruel, and downright hurtful until Lady Willoughby saved her and for three years now she'd been saved over, but now she was back. Back to where it all started.
"Yes, well I'm sure that you were and please, I beg of you to hear me if nothing else I say gets to you child, don't let that stop you from being that same wife again to an even more deserving man." Edna placed two hands on Georgia's shoulders then huffed in satisfaction at her words of wisdom.
A pang went off in Georgia's chest and she felt numb. She instantly thought to Francis and what would never, ever be. No, she decided she would give up all hope on that dream. He had yet to even reach out to her. Surely, she meant nothing to him. She had accepted that, even if her heart didn't quite seem to understand.
"No, my lady. I fear you are mistaken. I shall never marry again. Luella and I will do just fine in our own little cottage off in the country. Are the renovations still set to be finished by winter?"
"Yes, of course, my dear, patience." Was all Lady Edna said and Georgia fought the nerves to roll her eyes and huff out loud. She didn't know why she felt so anxious and somewhat annoyed but she did. "Will you be attending the ball Saturday next, my dear?"
"What ball? I did not receive an invitation, perhaps I am not quite popular or even favored by the ton." Georgia said not realizing there was a even a ball being held on Saturday next and also feeling a pang of hurt and betrayal stab through her chest for when she used to host dinner parties and private balls herself for ominous members of the ton. Does everyone still not think it best to associate themselves with a widow whom survived scandal? Surely, they all cannot possibly.
"It seems like you are invited, did you not see your invitation? Hmm, that's quite odd. Charles!" Edna called for the house butler that was never too far. Georgia started to question the relationship between and the butler and his lady over the last week and all her answers were inconclusive in regards to the pair.
"How may I be of assistance, my lady." The butler answered coming from a room down the hall not too far from the set of stairs that they were standing on.
"Would you happen to know what has happened to Lady's Georgia's invitation to the duke's ball? It seems to be misplaced." Lady Edna asked the old butler.
Georgia's eyes went wide. "Duke's ball? Which duke?" She quickly placed a hand over her heart to calm herself. It was not like Lady Edna had knew what had transpired between Georgia and the duke.
"One of the richest men in town of course." Lady Edna said with a hardness to her voice. "The Duke of Richmond, my dear. 'Twas said he just returned from the country and is holding a private ball in honor of his return before the start of the new season. Of course, only the most eligible families of the ton are invited I'm sure."
Charles came back with a silver tray and an invitation perched on top of it. Georgia carefully read the words as she took the invitation off the tray. Her fingers shook slightly as she held the corners.
"Come to think of it now, I'm sure you were out at mayfair with Luella and Lady Hackett when the invitations arrived ." Lady Edna stated reaffirming her earlier suspicions.
She was indeed invited to this said private ball hosted by none other than her Duke of Richmond, however he wasn't really hers anymore. "Oh dear whatever shall I wear? I will most certainly need something of the newest fashion for the upcoming season and in only a sennight away, we must be quick."
"Never fret, my dear we shall head to the modiste tomorrow afternoon. Why don't you sit down and write for Lady Vivienne to join us."
"Excellent idea." Georgia told her wholly agreeing with the plan.
"Now, let's go enjoy a glass of my sherry." Lady Edna smiled. Georgia smiled back.
"Wonderful."
The following day was a Sunday and with the weather finally clear most folks were able to attend church. Afterwards. Lady Edna, Georgia, and Luella all stood standing at the cemetery behind the St. Peter's cathedral where Luella's father and his father the previous earl were both buried.
Luella laid some bluebells she picked out the gardens from the day before back at Pearson's Hall on both of their graves. She guessed this is what Luella's grandmother meant when she asked for Luella to visit her and her husband. Not that Georgia's had anything against the deceased, but this would not be something that she could be wholly invested into. Especially, after the ram-shackle marriage.
"Rest in heaven, papa." Luella said which made Georgia's heart twist inside with sadness. That vile man never loved their child all because she wasn't the heir that he had initially wanted to extend his family name. What a tragedy. "Mama?" Luella asked, looking up to her mother while her light, colored brows creased when her blue eyes hit the sun removing Georgia from her thoughts.
"Yes, my darling?" Georgia asked kneeling to her daughter's height.
"May we go get cream ice now?" Luella asked pleadingly with adorable, big, blue eyes while she tugged on her mother's free hand while the other adjusted the elegant, feathery hat on top her head.
"Of course, my dear. Let us go now." Georgia laughed taking her daughter's hand and leading her to the awaiting carriage where Lady Edna was already seated inside.
When they all got to the local cream ice shop they noticed Lord and Lady Hackett in one of the many fine booths set up for visiting families and couples.
"Gi, what a wonderful surprise!" Lady Hackett said from her table over to the left which caused half the people in the diner to turn and look at what caused the outburst.
Lady Hackett had abandoned all proprietary. Georgia flushed with embarrassment. While she loved her dear friend, there were still things being said about her amongst the ton, and this instance was only drawing more attention to herself.
"My Lord and Lady, how wonderful it is to see you both, and Hello Lord Isaac, Luella is looking forward to tasting the cream ice, how are you finding it?"
"On the contrary," Isaac started and they all erupted in giggles. "I find it quite delicious, my lady." He said with a happy and cheerful tone of a six year old boy. Georgia was quite pleased with his schooling.
"My lady, please allow Luella to sit with us and eat her cream ice and you and Lady Edna take the booth beside us." Lord Hackett made the necessary arrangements and with the servers help they were all sitting down enjoying the cream ice.
Georgia's thoughts swirled to the duke and being around one of his closest confidants, Lord Hackett wasn't helping those matters either. She wanted to blatantly ask him had he heard or seen from the duke of Richmond, but now was not the place or time to even do so.
She suddenly felt tired from all the days events. Which was actually how she had been feeling the entire month. Tired, anxious, and slightly moody. She figured it was just nerves from the separation from her and the duke.
She had never felt this way about any man, except for him. She knew now that what she had felt all this time was that she loved a man with her whole body, heart, and soul.
The imprint he left on her soul bounded her to him. He found her in all her dreams and all her ever waking thoughts. She thought that perhaps the time would help her heart heal but she began to fear she was wrong. For wherever the duke was in the world didn't matter because her defenses were weakened at the mere thought of him. There would be no sleep tonight only her lying awake and wishing for what could still be.
Later that that same night after Georgia finished eating dinner with Lady Edna and visiting Luella in the nursery she was finally able to relax after a hot, steaming bath with her favorite Jasmin and Vanilla added herbs. She got dressed in her thin night rail and pulled on a thick robe over the thin night dress for any early winter chills that escaped into the halls.
She lit a candle and continued down to her late husband's and his father's library. She distracted herself with reading one of the latest gothic novels for a time trying to dissipate any lingering thoughts of Francis.
Her plan worked for a while until there was knock on the door and Georgia could not fathom whomever it could be at this time of the hour. The new earl was still on his grand tour and had yet to return and she doubted Lady Edna would be wondering the halls at this hour our of the night.
A figure entered answering all her worst suspicions. There were two other candles lit besides her in the room. A man entered with his own candle and familiar dark hair and eyes. He wore a deep brown greatcoat and black hat, boots, and trousers.
"Georgia?" The man asked. Oh my, It couldn't be. Georgia could have nearly swooned. It was George her long lost twin brother. Actually, she did swoon.
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UPDATE ‼️
HI GUYS!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING THIS FAR AND READING MY STORY. Writer's BLOCK IS TERRIBLE!!!! Anyways I am working on releasing the next two parts at the same time. Hopefully they will be done by the end of this MONTH! My goal was to enter this book into the wattys 2022 and write 25 chapters 2000 words each. It's a challenge but I'm almost there! Couldn't have done it without your reads and support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️
UPDATE***
Sorry guys chapter 22 is complete however I had went to the hospital and I am still recovering ❤️🩹 I'm still editing chapter 22 but it is complete! With that said I will get it out as soon as I have the strength. There is only 2 chapters left and then the epilogue. I'm working tirelessly to get these finished you guys! Thank you for all your love and support. We're almost there!