She must have fallen asleep during the journey because the sudden jerking motion of the carriage suddenly stopping made her jolt in alarm. She opened her eyes in time to watch Will disembark. Confused, she studied the building outside of the window. She looked hesitantly at the hand he held out to her and reluctantly took it.

The cold night air made her shiver, but it was insignificant against the deep sense of foreboding that swept through her when she stepped down from the carriage and studied the front façade of the tavern.

Will paid the driver and removed their bags from the carriage. Georgiana watched it trundle away and then turned to him.

“Come on,” he ordered with a nod to the tavern door.

“I can’t come in with you,” she replied.

“You are going to come in here,” he declared flatly. “I am just going to pack the rest of my things and then we are leaving.”

“Leaving? For where?” she asked, struggling to understand. She looked at her aunt’s door longingly. “I will go on ahead.”

She started to walk toward her aunt’s house only for Will to stop her. “No, you are coming in here with me. Then we are leaving the village.”

“To go where? Simeon is back in town, most probably with the magistrate by now. There can be no further threat tonight. Ruth is at Mrs Merriweather’s house but she won’t mind that I have returned home early given what has happened,” she protested.

Will sighed impatiently. It was clear that his battles weren’t over yet.

“You cannot stop in this village any longer, Georgiana,” Will snapped. “Now, I have spent a lot of time here waiting for you to get over whatever issues you have and stop these shenanigans but I have just about run out of patience. It is time all of this stopped, right here, right now. It is not a game. There are no second chances if anything goes wrong–like it has done tonight. It is time you returned to Cranbury. Get the rest of your things–we are leaving.”

Georgiana watched him disappear into the tavern, completely aghast. He had clearly expected her to lose interest, or get over whatever tantrum she was having, and change her mind about being here. It was clear from both his tone of voice and his high-handed behaviour, that he still intended to override her wishes and get her back to Cranbury. It frustrated her that after all the times she had repeatedly told him she had no intention of leaving here he completely refused to listen.

Arguing with him anymore was clearly futile. There wasn’t anything more she could say to him. If he didn’t want to listen, he wasn’t going to listen it was as simple as that. With that in mind, Georgiana walked to her aunt’s house. By the time she reached the front door she was positively shaking from the force of her anger.

Once inside, she closed and bolted the front door and carried her bag up to her room where she promptly unpacked it and pushed the empty bag under her bed out of sight.

When the dull sound of knocking broke the silence of the night, Georgiana ceased her pacing before the fire and marched to the front door.

Will looked around the empty hall. 

“Where are your things?” he demanded with a frown.

Georgiana crossed her arms. “I am not going back to Cranbury. Why do you persist in considering me incapable of making decisions for myself? I am an adult. I have told you all of this. You might ignorantly refuse to believe what I have told you, but take it or leave it the truth is there. If you are going back to Cranbury, you are going to go alone and that is final.”

“I have to go back to Cranbury, Georgiana. I can’t stay in the village any longer, there are matters back at home that need my attention,” Will said.

“Yes, you have a wedding to prepare for, and a bride waiting for you,” she whispered.

Will tipped his chin up proudly and kept his face impassive. He wasn’t going to beg. “You truly want to stay here?”

“It is what I need,” she whispered sadly.

“You need to be with people who love you,” he replied harshly.

He wanted to tell her that he loved her, but he wasn’t sure that he did. He didn’t want his reluctance to let go of a childhood friend to be clouded by his need to take care of her, which had been a part of him since the day they had first met. He wanted to love her because it was her he wanted to be with–the woman, not because he was afraid to let go of the past.

“I am. Ruth doesn’t just love me, she respects me and my decisions in life,” Georgiana replied sadly.

“I respect your decisions in life. I just don’t want you to get hurt,” Will countered.

Georgiana sighed. She knew what he was going to say even before he said it. When he began to speak, something inside her died.

“Just consider how close you came to total destruction with Simeon. While you acted in good faith, you have to understand that there will be people–men–who will take advantage of your youth,” Will replied.

“Because I am too stupid and naive to understand how the world works,” Georgiana finished for him, a hint of cynicism in her voice.

“I am just saying that you need someone to watch over you,” Will said.

“No, I don’t,” Georgiana replied. “I am perfectly capable of looking after myself. Why do you not see that? I had no idea Simeon is dangerous. How could I? Ruth has been in this village for years and had no idea about what lay beneath the surface with him. If she doesn’t see him for what he is how on earth could I? That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t speak with people, or should stay inside where it is safe in case someone decides to be cruel. You won’t be happy until you have stuffed me back inside that box of a room at my parent’s house so they can dictate my life. You want to do that for you, not me. You are constantly telling me what to do and are continually trying to make me do what you want me to do. What I want doesn’t even feature in your world. I can’t live with that.”

“Alright then,” he murmured with a sigh.

Walking out of the door and leaving her behind, maybe to never see her again, was the hardest thing Will had ever had to do. But it was clear from the expression on her face that it had to happen.

“You are not coming with me then,” he tried one last time.

“I can’t,” she whispered, too choked with emotion to say anything else.

Will nodded. Everything within him was screaming at him to do something or say something to persuade her to stay with him, and at least try to live in Cranbury again.

“Maybe if I spoke with your parents, they would allow you to make a few more decisions for yourself,” he offered.

Georgiana shook her head. “You cannot ever make my mother change her ways,” she replied sadly. “You and I both know that. It is a waste of time trying to reason with someone like Cecily. It is best all round if I stay here.”

Will stepped toward her but then hesitated. If he held her he might do something foolhardy and rash like bed her just to ruin her so then she would have to marry him and return to Cranbury.

“I am sorry, Georgiana,” he whispered.

He had no idea if he was apologising for having to leave her behind, or promising her hope for a future he couldn’t offer her right now. It had been the most foolish thing he had ever done to kiss her knowing he might be engaged to someone else. He had just created more problems and heartache, not just for himself but for Georgiana too.

He suspected that Georgiana cared about him, but he had no idea how much. Now he couldn’t ask her, and might never know for sure if she did or not.

“It is alright,” she whispered offering him a brave smile that did little to hide the wounded look in her eye. “You need to go.”

He had to accept defeat. Will turned to the door. He suspected that the time he would have to be away sorting matters out in Cranbury would bring about a lot of changes for Georgiana. She would undoubtedly take her life by the horns and turn it into something she wanted. While he applauded her for that and silently willed her to do it, he was deeply worried that he might not have a place in the new life she forged for herself. 

He yanked open the door and studied his horse waiting for him at the end of the path and hesitated. Before he could change his mind he turned around and hauled her into his arms for one last kiss. He poured every ounce emotion into the kiss that he couldn’t put a voice to, silently promising her everything while offering her nothing. Before she could do anything more than whimper, he released her and slammed out of the house. 

The dull thud of the door closing behind him sounded like the death knell of his position in the life of the woman he had come to know and, he suspected, love. He hated it.

Georgiana listened to the clip-clop of his horses’ hooves fade into the distance and slumped dejectedly on the stairs. She stared blankly into space and allowed the numbness to slide over her. It was bearable, until she slid beneath the covers in bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. Whenever she tried to focus her thoughts on something other than Will, her mind went blank and all she could do was think of the ache in her heart. In the end, she gave in to pain and allowed the tears to fall.

 

Six weeks later

 

Georgiana swung on the seat beneath the huge oak tree at the end of Ruth’s garden. The gentle scent of baked pie and boiled potatoes wafted through the air toward her. Her stomach rumbled hungrily, but she remained outside, savouring the warm morning sunshine and gentle breeze on her cheeks.

She tipped her head back, studied the cotton-soft clouds high above her, and watched them glide past for several minutes. Eventually, her attention was drawn back down to the parchment in her hand.

The letter had only arrived this morning, but had immediately thrown the peace she had fought so hard to find over the last several weeks out of the window completely. She had shaken so much when she had broken the seal that it had taken an hour before she had been able to sit down and force herself to read its contents. Even then, Ruth had remained with her while she had read her father’s spidery scrawl.

While he didn’t condone the way she had left the house nearly three months ago now, he had to accept her decision to stay with her aunt, and of course would offer restitution to her aunt for the expense of having to accommodate her. He hoped that she would pay a visit, but would leave that to Georgiana to decide on. Until then he wished her the best and offered her his help should she need it.

The tone of the note could only be described as conciliatory. It had none of the sanctimonious scorn, or condemnation, she had expected. Nor did it have any mention of Cecily or Will in it, and for that she was eternally grateful. Not least because she was well aware that today was the day Will was marrying Penelope Smedgrove.

“Are you alright, Georgiana?” Ruth asked with a frown.

Georgiana looked at her sadly and nodded. There was nothing to say. Her aunt understood, and that was all that mattered right now. Words could not describe the tumultuous emotions that swirled through her, and it was a relief not to even have to try to think about the way she felt.

“Come on. Dinner is ready. Try to get something to eat. It will be alright, you will see,” Ruth said enthusiastically, but that enthusiasm dimmed when her eyes met Georgiana’s. There was a commiseration in the depths of her aunt’s eyes that nearly brought Georgiana to tears. She had to look away, or she was going to cry.

“I have decided to buy Mrs Merriweather’s house,” she whispered.

Ruth looked at her and smiled. “She would have liked that,” she said softly.

Ruth had also had a recent loss. The demise of her good friend had rendered her grief-stricken as well and had sunk the house into one of tearful despair for the last several weeks.

“Her nephew will be glad it is going to someone who will appreciate it,” Ruth continued.

“I cannot stay with you forever,” Georgiana replied with a smile.

“You are more than welcome,” Ruth assured her. “So, are we going to call today the beginning of a new era?”

Georgiana considered that as she entered the kitchen and nodded.

“We should, both of us. Neither of us can carry on this way,” she replied. “We have both suffered a loss and need to catch our breaths and regroup.”

“Well, if you need my help in any way, just let me know,” Ruth offered.

Georgiana nodded her thanks and, together, the women set about preparing the luncheon.

“Hallo?”

They both watched Henry Parker poke his head around the door.

“Good morning, Henry,” Georgiana replied. 

“Come on in, Henry.” Ruth beckoned into the kitchen. “Would you like to take luncheon with us?”

“No, thank you,” Henry waved. “No, I am just passing by on my way back from church and decided to drop in to make sure everything is alright with you both.”

He is wondering why we didn’t go to church today.

“We are alright,” Ruth replied hesitantly and watched Henry close the door carefully behind him.

There was something in the rigid set of his shoulders that warned both women he had news. They looked at each other warily and waited.

“Would you like tea?” Georgiana asked helpfully.

“No, thank you. I just wanted you both to know that I overheard some news in church about Simeon Findley-Wreake.” He looked at Georgiana hesitantly, clearly undecided whether he should tell her or not.

“Go on,” Georgiana said bravely, her face betraying no sign of the dread that swept through her.

“He has been found hiding out at his uncle’s old hunting lodge in Normanton. He has been arrested for attempted murder and assault because he attacked the men who arrived to arrest him. The magistrate has sent men to speak with Will and, once furnished with a statement then sent a group out to find Findley-Wreake. His father’s lack of help in the matter has resulted in his arrest for attempting to thwart the judiciary.”

“Good Lord,” Georgiana murmured, slumping down into a chair at the table in shock. Her legs were trembling so much that they wouldn’t hold her up for much longer.

Fatefully, the memory of what had happened that awful evening resulted in her thoughts turning toward Will, and his departure later that same night. It had been the last time-

“He is behind bars?” Ruth asked, blessedly interrupting Georgiana’s thoughts.

Henry nodded. “I hear that the magistrate is getting statements off other guests in the hotel that evening who can attest to having witnessed Findley-Wreake with a weapon. Whatever they have learned, it is enough to ensure that Findley-Wreake is put behind bars for a very long time.”

“It won’t be just him, though, will it?” Ruth interrupted. “His father is going to face jail too.”

“It looks like it,” Henry said with a sigh. “I am afraid it is the talk of the village.”

“Is there any mention of Georgiana?”

Henry shook his head firmly. “No. So far, nobody knows she was there.”

“It is inevitable that they will find out,” Georgiana whispered, feeling slightly hunted. “I still want to buy Mrs Merriweather’s cottage, though.”

“Given that Simeon is going to be tried for attempted murder, people won’t bother whether you were there or not, Georgiana. Your presence that night will be mentioned at some point I don’t doubt, but if anybody does raise it we can tell them that you were in town to buy some new dresses and were followed by Simeon, who was stalking you.”

“People would not question it,” Henry replied. “They are too shocked by the scandal Findley-Wreake has brought to the village. You will be seen as the victim, Georgiana. Don’t doubt that.”

“I have always suspected that there was something unusual about him. I should have looked deeper at his behaviour before I ever allowed Georgiana to go anywhere near him,” Ruth murmured with a sigh.

“Why did you tell him where I was?” Georgiana asked with a frown. Given everything that had happened, the whys and wherefores hadn’t seemed all that important before. Now, she was just curious.

Ruth frowned at her. “I didn’t.” She traded a look with Henry.

“He followed me,” Georgiana whispered.

“Will asked me, and I couldn’t lie to him. I am glad I told him where to find you now,” Henry confided. “I didn’t say anything to Findley-Wreake.”

Georgiana smiled sadly. “I didn’t think I was in any danger.”

“Findley-Wreake fooled everybody, my dear,” Henry soothed. “It wasn’t just you. We were all taken in by him.”

“Me too,” Georgiana sighed. “Although, I did see slight flickers of darkness in his character while we were out driving. I just didn’t stop to consider them too much. I should have ended all connection with him there and then.”

“We are always wiser in hindsight,” Henry murmured.

“Are you sure you won’t stop for dinner?” Ruth asked.

“No, thank you my dear. I just wanted to pop in to assure you that Findley-Wreake is now behind bars so you can be at ease now that there is no further threat to you.” With that Henry pushed away from the table and made his way to the door.

Before he took his leave of them, a rapid series of knocks on the front door drew their attention.

“I will go,” Georgiana offered leaving Ruth to say goodbye to their guest.