Several days later, Georgiana was finally starting to lose the tension she hadn’t even known she was carrying. Ruth’s house had quickly started to feel more like home than her old home in Cranbury had ever been. The ease in which she had settled into life in Mecklemerry was startling, but also proved she had made the right decision in coming to live with Ruth.

Of course, she had yet to decide what to do about writing to her father, but didn’t see the need to rush into making any decisions about when, or how, she was going to deal with her family. That would have to come later, in several weeks’ time, when Will had wed his beloved, and Cecily had realised her wailing and weeping dramatics were getting her nowhere. 

Over the last day or so, Georgiana had started to contemplate the list of things she wanted to experience in her life–her ‘adventures’ as Mr Parker liked to call them. Although the list wasn’t long, and wasn’t all that adventurous by some people’s standards, for someone who had led a relatively sheltered life like her, it was about as hedonistic as she dared risk her reputation to experience.

“To skinny dip; I have done that but I would love to experience it again. Scrump for apples. Ride bareback. Dress as a man, which I should need to do to ride bareback. Smoke a pipe; Ruth won’t have one of those. Get drunk; well, that can be arranged without too much anxiety. Wear a red dress and eat grapes.” Georgiana sighed and looked into the conservatory located just off the kitchen. Huge bunches of grapes hung from the ceiling which were ripe and edible. “Perfect. All I need is to buy a red dress, and that is another adventure made possible.”

She studied the next adventure; to kiss a stranger and walking away. While she had once crossed that off her list because she had kissed Will and walked away, it was an incomplete adventure because Will was not technically a stranger.

“It doesn’t count,” she sighed, and re-wrote that particular adventure at the bottom of her list. “I need to do it with a complete stranger. That would count. Now, playing poker in a gaming house; that is something I need to discuss with Ruth.”

If there was a gaming house in the area, she had no idea if she truly understood the semantics of playing poker to be able to play there.

“I really do need to discuss this with Ruth,” she murmured as she studied her list. “At some point, I have to either make a start on these or accept they are nothing more than a flight of fancy I would do better to forget about.”

Even though she spoke the words aloud, something inside was already dismissing that notion. She simply refused to relinquish her goals, any of them. In spite of her dithering, she knew, deep down, that she wouldn’t settle until she had crossed some of the adventures off she most wanted to try–like getting drunk.

“No time like the present,” she murmured with a frown as she eyed the rest of the list. Now was not the time to get drunk, but it was daylight outside and perfect weather to be able to experience something on her list.

“To scrump for apples,” she whispered suddenly.

Dare I? She looked down at her rather plain, pale brown dress. She had brought it with her because it was something she ordinarily wore to do chores in. It was clean and serviceable, and wouldn’t upset her too much if it got ripped or soiled.

“To scrump for apples it is then,” she murmured as she gathered her shawl about her shoulders.

Ruth had gone into the village to fetch some provisions and intended to visit a friend before she returned. With time to herself, Georgiana knew it was now or never. Quickly scribbling a note for her aunt, Georgiana left it on the kitchen table and set off down the garden. 

Half-way down the path she stopped and stared at her aunt’s orchard. To pick some apples from there wasn’t as daring as it ought to be to qualify as an adventure.

Was it because it wasn’t really scrumping if she was just picking apples off her aunt’s tree? She had watched her brothers climbing someone else’s tree many years ago. That had seemed considerably more daring, especially when they had been chased away by the farmer who had owned the orchard.

With that in mind, Georgiana turned her attention to her surroundings but had no idea where she might find another orchard. Nor did she intend to ask anybody because she would have to lie to them about why she was looking for an apple tree in the first place.

“As long as I choose my tree wisely nobody need ever find out about this. This is my adventure, and a secret I need to keep to myself,” she whispered as she climbed the fence at the end of the garden and began to march across the field.

She had no idea where she was going but it was nice to be able to savour the crisp air and brilliant sunshine on her face. It was so pleasurable that at first she completely forgot about why she was out walking, until she stumbled across a small group of trees. Beside it was a hedgerow laden with blackberry bushes, but what captured her attention was two large apple trees nestled beside the woods.

“Perfect,” she whispered.

The only problem she foresaw was that both apple trees and woods were located directly beside the main road leading into the village. Anybody who passed by would be able to see her.

“I can’t let that put me off,” she sighed.

Before wisdom prevented her, Georgiana lifted her skirts and stepped toward the tree closest to her. Minutes later, she hung several feet off the ground, her feet dangling uselessly beneath her as she struggled to find a way to get down from the tree without breaking her neck. She tried to swing her feet onto a lower branch so she was able to stand up and ease the aching in her arms. Unfortunately, her legs were nowhere near long enough to reach the branch she needed to use to reach safety.

“Heaven help me,” she muttered in dismay when she realised she was going to fall. “As a lady of one and twenty years, I most definitely should not be climbing trees.”

Still, an inner core of strength she never realised she possessed refused to allow her to concede defeat and drop to the floor in an undignified heap. Instead, she gritted her teeth and began to swing her body harder. Wriggling and squirming, and shuffling along the branch awkwardly with her hands, Georgiana eventually managed to place her feet on a nearby branch and, with one last surge of energy, propelled her body forward and grabbed hold of a higher branch.

Seconds later, she was sitting high in the leaves of the tree munching on an apple.

While she ate the sweet reward of success she contemplated the enormity of what she had just done. It was horrible to admit it but this was her one and only major accomplishment in life. She couldn’t remember ever having an occasion where she had set out to do something so wayward, or physically demanding, and had succeeded. It was rejuvenating; invigorating even, more so than skinny dipping had been. Although it was only climbing a tree, she had just conquered something major. She had certainly proved to herself that she had more physical strength than she had realised. She had also become aware of mental determination she hadn’t recognised before and knew now that she was inclined to see her problems through to the bitter end no matter how dire her situation. Not only that, but she was also competitive. Anything her brothers had done she was able to do as well. She was no weaker sex. She was Georgiana, a woman who was capable of succeeding at whatever she wanted to turn her mind to–she just had to be interested in it and have faith in herself.

Unfortunately, her joy was swiftly dampened by the appearance of someone far below her.

“Georgiana, just what in the world are you are doing?”

Georgiana closed her eyes and silently prayed she had just imagined Will’s voice, but suspected that God wasn’t listening today. She opened her eyes and sighed deeply. Her prayers hadn’t been answered because the ground had neither swallowed her up nor spirited him away.

“What do you want, Will?” she asked in disinterested tones.

In spite of the wild flurry of emotions churning deep inside, Georgiana kept her face impassive, if a little bored, and glared down at him.

“What are you doing up there?” he demanded, craning his neck up to see her through the branches.

“Eating.” As if to prove her point she crunched loudly on the crisp sweetness of the apple and began to munch.

“Can you come down for a minute so we can talk?”

“Nope,” she replied unconcernedly.

Determined not to give up, Will tried again, hoping to instil common sense into her.

“What do you intend to do if the magistrate sees you?”

Georgiana shrugged. “There is no reason why he should see me. If he does, what is he going to see, someone in a tree munching an apple? It is not illegal. Of course, he would see you talking to a tree. It is hardly the crime of the century either way so I am sure he won’t pay all that much attention.”

“It depends on whose tree it is,” Will sighed. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look up here? You are a grown woman for Heaven’s sake.”

“Do you realise how ridiculous you look talking to a tree?” Georgiana retorted without missing a beat.

Will mentally cursed and had to concede that she had a point. He struggled to contain his disbelief that she was truly up a tree.

“Are you going to come down?”

“No.”

Georgiana continued to munch on her apple and tried to ignore just how handsome he looked standing amongst the long grass. He was an incredibly tall, with dark brown hair and sea green eyes which were simply mesmerising. Together with his powerfully muscled thighs and broad shoulders, he was the epitome of masculinity. He was a man who was aware of his position in the world and wasn’t afraid to use it to his advantage whenever he needed to. Most of the women of his acquaintance usually swooned and simpered whenever they were in his company, especially when he smiled at them, especially Georgiana. Aware of this, Will tried one of those devastating smiles on her now-it failed miserably.

Georgiana was beyond all of that now, and made no attempt to smile back. Instead, she glared down at him and bit down into her delicious fruit with a loud and very unladylike crunch.

“Go away,” she ordered flatly.

“I am not going anywhere,” Will announced, and folded his arms as if to prove it.

Georgiana shrugged unconcernedly while valiantly ignoring the fluttering in her stomach. She stared blankly down at the apple core while she tried to decide what to do now. She might be able to wait for him to leave, but the rough bark of the tree was already digging into the tender flesh of her bottom and was darned uncomfortable, and her toes had gone numb. She had to get down.

She studied the branches below her and mentally plotted. Without giving much thought to what she was doing she began to clamber down the tree in much the same way she had climbed it.

Will stared at her in disbelief, mesmerised by her wanton display of lithe grace as she clambered effortlessly from one branch to another. Once or twice he had the briefest flash of the bare skin of her thighs and was swamped with the memories of her foray into skinny dipping. He began to wonder if she was intentionally trying to drive him out of his mind but refused to turn his back–he daren’t risk it this time either in case she fell.

“Good God, you are going to break your neck,” he grumbled as he eyed the distance she intended to drop. When Georgiana let go of the branch anyway he lunged forward to try to catch her before she slammed painfully into the ground.

Georgiana had the sensation of falling. To her horror, she realised that the ground was further away than she had anticipated but it was too late to stop her fall. Her instinctive cry of alarm was stifled when she found herself caught firmly in Will’s strong grip.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, trying to ignore the fact that she was clinging desperately to his shoulders.

“Saving you from breaking your foolish neck,” he snapped dryly as he lowered her to the floor.

Georgiana stared up at him. In spite of her best effort, she was drawn into the depths of his wonderful sea-green eyes. Something shifted between them–was it the air? Was it anything to do with the tight knot of nervous tension that started to form deep within the pit of her belly? Or the wild flurry of awareness that shimmered through her and drew forth the bittersweet memories of the last time she had been this close to him? Whatever it was, she tried desperately to blank it out because it made her thoughts all muddled.

Will stared at her. She had only been in the village for a matter of a few weeks yet already the changes her time away had wrought upon her were visible. Her cheeks were flushed a dainty pink that emphasised the brilliant sparkle of her wonderful eyes. As if to emphasise her beauty, her once gaunt frame had filled out into womanly curves that brought about maturity that was simply enthralling. Because of this he couldn’t remove his hands from her waist and put some distance between them. He should, but was lost to everything but the sensation of having her near to him again.

It was stunning to have the same invisible connection to her slam into him with shocking force, in just the same way as he had experienced in the field in Cranbury. He realised then that he had wanted–needed-to experience it again just to make sure it hadn’t been a figment of his wayward imagination.

Unfortunately, now that it was there, he had no idea what on earth he should do about it.

He wasn’t usually a tactile person, especially with the women he usually bedded. He would consider himself more a love them and leave them type of person. The other, more marriageable women of his acquaintance were kept at a very firm, very polite distance. He had never had this particular need to be around any other woman and certainly never been driven to hold any before in the way he did Georgiana. The way he felt when she was before him, next to him, or with him, had nothing to do with comfort or support. Most of the time he just enjoyed being in her company. Now, though, the feelings surging through him were considerably sharper, and purely sexual.

He wanted her. It was as simple as that.

Inevitably, the longer they stood together the more the invisible cord of tension wound around them making it impossible for either of them to step away from temptation. It was impossible to release her. She couldn’t force herself to step backward, out of his embrace. So they remained where they were, frozen in time and place, lost to the rest of the world around them.

“Will,” she whispered hesitantly.

She had no idea what she was asking him for; to kiss her again maybe? To release her and remember who they were; where they were? To show her in some way–any way–that he felt the same way toward her as she still did about him?

“Georgiana,” he murmured huskily as he fell into the depths of her lambent gaze.

Will slowly lowered his head. At the same time, his arms tightened, tugging her infinitesimally closer. His lips hovered tantalisingly against hers for a moment before something suddenly made him stop. Rather than kiss her as she quite evidently wanted, he froze. His eyes widened as he stared at her and watched that flickering flame of desire slowly die in the depths of her horrified gaze.

Georgiana looked up at him and saw regret, concern, and something else she was unable to identify staring down at her.

Will sucked in a fortifying breath and dropped his arms at the same time that he took several steps way. He glanced around them in disgust, but was angry at himself for having forgotten who he was, who she was, and why they were there.

“I can’t do this,” Will whispered, mindful of the mess he had left his parents to try to resolve at home. “I am supposed to marry Penelope Smedgrove.”

“I must go,” Georgiana replied, trying hard to make her voice as devoid of life as possible. 

She didn’t bother to wait to see if he intended to accompany her. She picked her shawl off the floor and retraced her steps to Ruth’s house. When she glanced back, she saw the same cold, arrogantly polite disinterest on his handsome features that she had seen before in her father’s study, and cursed herself for her own foolishness.

“Hello, my dear,” Mr Parker suddenly said jovially.

Georgiana jerked when he appeared beside her. She looked at him apologetically and willed herself to calm down.

“I am sorry, I didn’t see you,” she whispered hollowly.

Mr Parker frowned when he looked into her face. “What on earth is wrong?” he asked, glancing around them for the cause of her distress. The only person out on this fine morning was a young man stalking toward them with an equally dark scowl on his face.

Mr Parker glanced at Georgiana warily.

“It’s Will, Mr Parker,” Georgiana whispered when she read the question in Mr Parker’s eyes.

“Call me Henry,” he suggested kindly.

“Henry,” she repeated after a moment’s hesitation.

Henry nodded to the man behind them. “The Will?”

Georgiana nodded. “There is only one.”

Henry studied Will and held his elbow out. “Let me escort you home so you don’t get bothered again. Is Ruth at home?”

“She should be back by now, yes,” Georgiana replied gratefully as she took his elbow. At least she hoped Ruth was back at the house.

“Then let us get you back there,” Henry suggested. “I didn’t realise he had arrived.”

Georgiana nodded. “Just this morning, I suspect. He must have spoken to my friend in Cranbury, Theresa. I told her of my plans the afternoon before I left.”

“Well, it was going to happen,” he sighed.

“I suppose.” 

“Calm down,” Henry advised as he patted the back of her hand where it rested on his arm. “He is keeping his distance behind us but not attempting to catch up.”

“Good. I hope he goes to Hades,” she whispered tearfully.

“I am sure you don’t mean that,” Henry replied.

“I do. I really, really do.” But she didn’t. Of course, she didn’t.

“Good morning,” a deep voice suddenly boomed at them.

“Good morning, my Lord. How are you today?” Henry called to a tall, resplendent gentleman seated high atop a very modern, and extremely expensive, curricle.

“I am enjoying this sunshine, Mr Parker. I see your day is bright and beautiful,” he declared with a nod toward Georgiana.

Before Henry could reply, the man on the curricle jumped down and joined them on the pavement. He bowed politely at Georgiana who bobbed a curtsey.

“Good morning,” the stranger murmured softly, looking deeply into her eyes. “I have to say that I wasn’t informed we had such delectable beauty in the village, Mr Parker.”

“Have you not been informed that Miss Bentley’s niece has come to stay with her? It is all about the village at the moment. Of course, I am sure that most people are merely arrested by the beauty.” There was a slight hint of teasing in his voice that made Georgiana blush.

She laughingly tapped his arm. “You are such a tease,” she chastised.

“Please allow me to introduce Lord Appledore,” Henry murmured obligingly.

“Simeon Frazeley-Jones, at your service,” Simeon declared. “Please call me Simeon.”

“Oh, I can’t do that,” Georgiana replied, arrested by the openness in the man’s demeanour, and the teasing smile.

“I insist upon it. Everyone of my acquaintance does,” he assured her.

“Then please call me Georgiana.”

“Miss Georgiana,” Henry corrected.

Georgiana nodded and watched Simeon smile at Henry. Henry looked a bit startled for a moment, as though this wasn’t a commonplace occurrence, but Georgiana didn’t think to question it.

“Miss Georgiana it is then,” Simeon murmured. He bowed low again, his eyes still holding hers. “I hope it won’t be too long before I see you again.”

“I am here for a while so I am sure our paths will cross at some point,” Georgiana murmured politely.

“Well, I shall look forward to it. Meantime, I have to take my horse to the farriers so I will take my leave of you and bid you both a very good day.” With that, he climbed aboard his curricle and doffed his imaginary cap at them before he rumbled away.

“What a pleasant gentleman,” Georgiana murmured as she watched him turn the corner at the end of the street and disappear from sight.

“Yes, he is,” Henry murmured thoughtfully. “He is indeed.”

Georgiana threw him a sharp glance. There was something in his voice that warned her that his meaning was far different to his words.

“Isn’t he?”

Henry considered how to answer for a moment. “You need to consider a few facts about our local Lord, my dear. He is four and thirty yet never wed. He hasn’t earned his reputation for being a rogue without reason. While he has never done anything against any of the locals to cause anybody any alarm, his intentions towards women can only be considered as questionable.” He looked at her meaningfully. “There is gossip, you understand, and it is reported to be more than idle speculation.”

Georgiana nodded but hadn’t got a clue what he was talking about. There was clearly rumour about the local Lord, but nothing had been proven–but what on earth could such a charming gentleman have done? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but she didn’t. She had just been warned about the Lord that is all. She needed to heed that warning until she had learned a little more about him.

“Thank you,” she murmured quietly.

“You are welcome, my dear,” Henry said, and allowed a companionable silence to settle between them for the rest of their walk.

Georgiana knew Henry was right to warn her. The last thing she needed was another problematic gentleman on her hands. Will was bad enough. Still, she couldn’t shake off the lingering disquiet that she had missed something only had no idea what it might be, and didn’t know how to ask for further details without appearing to be nosy and gossipy. Alive with curiosity, she made a mental note to ask her aunt about it the first chance she got. For now, she had bigger, and more important, problems on her hands.

As she passed through the gate into Ruth’s front garden she glanced down the road behind them. It was more worrying than reassuring to note that Will had simply vanished.

Where had he gone? More importantly, when would he reappear?