Page 10 of The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere
Dash it, how did that dark note keep creeping into her voice? Shedidmiss her friends, but she had more than enough work to keep her occupied. Lady Clifford had asked for her help with some ambitious plans she had for the school, and Georgiana had a pack of mischievous little girlsto look after.
“How are you, dearest?” Cecilia reached across the carriage to squeeze Georgiana’s hand. “You seem a bit glum today.”
“Nonsense. I’m never glum.” She wouldn’t permit such a thing. “I’m as content as I’ve ever been.”
Her friends exchanged skeptical looks, but she pretended not to notice. They’d only worry, and she really was perfectly well. If she missed them, and occasionally wished things might have remained as they were forever, well…she’d simply make up her mind not to indulge in such melodramatic nonsense.
She’d grow accustomed to the silence at home soon enough. Who’d ever heard of such a thing as too much quiet? Privacy was a luxury at a school packed to the rafters with unruly schoolgirls, so it was delightful, really, to have some peace for a change.
At least, it hadbeen at first.
Lately the silence had taken on an oppressive quality, and it was about to become even quieter still. Sophia and Lord Gray were off tomorrow to spend a month in Oxfordshire, Cecilia and Lord Darlington were leaving for Kent at the end of this week, and Emma was going off to stay in Lady Crosby’s townhouse in Mayfair on some mysterious business of Lady Clifford’s.
The evenings, when the four of them used to read horrid novels aloud to each other, were especially quiet now that Georgiana was the only remaining member of the Swooning Virgins Society. Could it even properly be called a society, with only a single swooning virgin left?
“Very well, Georgiana. If you won’t say it,Iwill.” Sophia pulled her feet out of Cecilia’s lap and heaved herself into a sitting position. “I miss our cozy evenings together. But Tristan and I will be back in London soon, and we’ll get ices together every day then, Georgiana.”
“Yes, of course we will.” Georgiana knew her friendsdidmiss her. It was just that they were so busy now, with new and exciting lives to live, whereas she, well…she’d never done well with being left behind.
Still, there was no sense pouting over it. Georgiana straightened her shoulders, impatient with herself. “There’s no need to fret about me, though I do confess it’s not as amusing to read horrid novels to oneself. It’s far more entertaining when Cecilia does the voices.”
“Well, you’re in luck, then.” A sly smile lit Emma’s face as she drew out a book she’d tucked between the seat and the carriage door and held it up triumphantly. “Mrs. Parsons’sThe Castle of Wolfenbach. A wicked count and an impoverished orphan, and even pirates anda kidnapping!”
Georgiana seized the book from Emma’s hand. “I’ve wanted to readthis for ages!”
Emma winked. “I thought Cecilia might read it to us this afternoon.”
“Indeed, she will, but not here. This carriage is too cramped, and I’m dying for a proper sprawl.” Sophia stuck her head out the window. “Tristan, my love, we’re ready to return to Great Marlborough Street now. Will you and Lord Darlington be perfect angels, and take our glasses back to Gunter’s?”
* * * *
It was well past dusk by the time Georgiana returned to Maddox Street and settled down to work in Lady Clifford’s tiny study.
She, Sophia, Cecilia, and Emma had spent the day at Sophia’s townhouse in Great Marlborough Street, lounging in the library. They’d whiled away the hours, laughing and gasping over Mrs. Parsons’s story and overindulging in warm biscuits slathered with Sophia’s housekeeper’s delicious quince preserves. Georgiana had sworn her fealty to Mrs. Beeson the first time those heavenly preserves had melted on her tongue. She was so stuffed she’d had to waddle home, but it had been a delightful afternoon.
If shehadfelt just a twinge of melancholy when they all parted, she’d scolded herself back to equilibrium quickly enough. The time would fly by, and if she did grow restless, she’d simply turn to Mrs. Parsons or Mrs. Radcliffe for adventures. She didn’t need more excitement in her life than that. She preferred things calm, quiet, and in their proper order. In any case, she had enough to keep her occupied without wishing for distraction.
She turned up the lamp sitting on the desk beside her and bent over the school’s account book, ignoring the cramp in her neck. She’d been poring over the book for too long already, but the blasted numbers refused to cooperate.
They’d never done such a thing before. Never, since Georgiana’s love affair with numbers began, had they ever disappointed her. They’d been her constant companions for as long as she could remember. Now, all these years later, her lover hadforsaken her.
That is, herlovers. Yes, that was more appropriate, given the ruleof infinites.
It had all started innocently enough, but what began with simple figures in single digits soon grew into sums. From there it was a quick progression to multiplication and division, and then…well, once a lady succumbed to algebraic and geometrical delights, there was no turning back.
After twenty-five years, surely it wouldn’tend like this?
She dragged the account book closer and arranged its bottom edge so it was perfectly in line with the edge of the desk, as if right angles could somehow change the figures swimming in front of her.
Savings per annum were listed in a neat row on the left side of the page, and savings to date in her precise script on the other…she squeezed her eyes closed as her finger landed on the number at the bottom right side of the page.
Was it too much to hope she’d misread it?
She popped her eyes open, and her shoulders sagged. Itwastoo much to hope.
She passed a hand over her aching eyes, hunched once again over the accounts, and focused on the long columns of numbers. They were burned into her brain already, but she ran her finger down the rows once again, quickly adding up the pence, crowns, guineas, and pounds in her head as she went.
Again, and then again, until the figures blurred on the page and she shoved the book aside with a groan. It was no use. No matter how she calculated it, there wasn’tenough money.
