by Abigail Agar
“But you did.”
The voice was bitter and calculated. It evoked such a deep disappointment, a true disgust. Georgiana knew of her mother’s anger because she, too, was angry. But Georgiana also understood how hard her father had tried. She had to give him credit for that.
She was also grateful for his sudden humility and the way he was being so diligent in attempting to restore their family through his honesty. That was not something she had grown accustomed to in her life.
“Yes, my dear. I did fail,” he responded to her mother.
“And now, our entire family, everything we have, everything we have worked hard for. It is gone,” she said, flatly.
“No. Not yet,” he said.
Georgiana noted the fact that her mother failed to express that it had been her father, alone, who had managed to work hard for all that they had.
“It is not gone yet. I am still tying. I am still working hard to recoup everything. I trust that, soon enough, I shall be able to do just that,” he said.
“Do you? Do you trust in your ability to get it all back? Thus far, I have seen only your failure to provide for your family,” she said, angrily.
“Mother, please. He is trying,” Georgiana said.
“That is enough. I shall not sit by and allow this idle man to prove that he is incapable of even the smallest task,” she said.
Wish a swishing of her skirts, Georgiana’s mother stood and rushed to the door.
“I ought to have found a better man than this to marry,” she grumbled to herself before exiting.
Silence descended upon the drawing room and Georgiana folded her hands together in an effort to remain calm and unaffected. She glanced at her brother who kept his eyes trained on the floor.
Hearing her father sigh, Georgiana glanced up at him quickly enough that he didn’t notice her. She saw tears in his eyes.
“Well, I suppose I ought to have known it would go like that. Regardless, I do promise you both that I am trying my best to pay the loan back. I will find success once more, no matter what,” he said.
“I trust you, Father,” Georgiana said.
Whether it was true or not, she could not say. But she would make every effort to trust him because she regretted terribly that her mother had treated him so poorly. It was sad and devastating to see him disrespected so openly.
She was crushed by her mother’s cruel last words.
“Thank you, my dear. Anyway, I suppose I had best get back to work if I am going to undo all of this,” he said, defeat playing like a trill in his voice.
Once he left the room, Georgiana and William finally looked at one another.
“That was…bracing,” he said.
“I cannot believe she would say that,” Georgiana said.
“Father made a mistake. She only expects him to do his duty as a husband and provider. It may have been a cruel thing to say, but he has truly done damage to our family through his actions,” William said.
“Yes, perhaps,” she said, thinking about William’s actions and whether or not he knew anything about Rachel’s departure from the home.
“What exactly did Father do? Was there anything criminal in it?” Georgiana asked.
William shrugged and leaned back in the chair.
“I know nothing about it. It is possible. After all, he has been hiding all of this for quite some time. Who is to say that he is not hiding more?” William asked.
“But there is no evidence to suggest he has made any legal errors,” Georgiana said.
William scoffed at her, unconvinced.
“And what do you know of the evidence? Are you his bookkeeper? Father took out loans, but you know not what else he may have done,” William said.
“Do you believe him capable of breaking the law for the sake of his business?” she asked.
“I believe nearly any man is capable of that. You would not understand. You are a woman and you cannot possibly grasp the responsibility that men have,” William said.
“Perhaps not, but I would like to think myself wise enough not to be in a situation where I must,” she said.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I mean that whatever responsibility Father has is his alone, but should his wife not be the one to support him? Should she not follow along, be aware of his intentions and his dealings?” she asked.
William looked at her in confusion.
“You mean he ought to share all the facts of his work with his wife? Have you ever heard of a man doing something like that?” William asked.
“Perhaps not, but I can only believe that it is the reason for which Mother and Father have such a poor marriage,” she said.
“They have a marriage just like any other,” William said.
She looked at him with all the suspicion she had been trying to ignore of late.
“Just like any other? Does that include mistresses and a lack of affection for one’s wife?” she asked.
William shot her a look and she knew that she was taking a risk by mentioning the idea of a mistress.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Nothing. I just know that such things are common enough. Anyway, let us move on. I believe I shall go and do some reading,” Georgiana said, knowing she would hardly be able to concentrate on a book.
“No, you are going to go to your room and prepare for the ball this evening,” William said.
Georgiana groaned.
“What? You? No interest in a ball? There must truly be something wrong with the world,” he said.
“That is hardly funny. I am just not interested in attending this evening,” she said.
“But why not? You love going to balls,” William said.
“When I am in a good mood, of course. But I am not in a good mood at the moment, as you can see,” she said.
“Nevertheless, you must attend. You are constantly spoken of as an eligible young lady and I know that Mother and Father would want you to attend,” he said.
“Are you trying to manipulate me? I am not a fool, you know. I know well that it is you who wished to attend,” she said.
William grinned at her, aware that he had been caught.
“See? I knew that you did not mean it. You only want me to attend so that you may accompany me. Why do you not just go for your own sake?” she asked.
“Because then I shall spend the evening answering the questions of men who want to know where you are at. If you are there, I shall have the opportunity to dance with lovely women and they shall ask all about me and me alone,” he said, flashing a devilish grin.
“I am so thankful for such a selfless brother,” Georgiana said, sarcastically.
“Regardless of how selfless I am or am not, I would love it if you join me this evening. And I am certain that the Baron of Ayre would love it as well,” he said.
“I care not about being on his arm this evening,” she said, waiving away the thought.
Her brother looked at her with his brows drawn together.
“Indeed? Has something happened? I rather thought that you were fond of the Baron of Ayre,” he said.
“Perhaps I was, in the past. But I must confess that I care very little for him. In fact, I don’t know that it was ever a genuine affection before. I was simply…swept up. I knew that I was expected to care for a man like him and so I convinced myself that I did,” Georgiana said, Inspector Brock’s face flashing before her eyes once more.
She didn’t know how to express this change to her brother, but Georgiana was finding that a hard-working detective was far more attractive than an inherited title.
Of course, no one in her family would understand that and she recognised the difference between the two and the frivolity of titles and wealth.
She hadn’t always. Perhaps it was deeply hypocritical that she only began to feel this way upon this new attraction that had swept her away.
“Anyway, are you coming?” William asked.
Georgiana purse
d her lips before answering.
“Oh… I suppose.”
Chapter 16
Hamish finished tucking his shirt into his trousers, feeling anxious about the evening ahead. He was quite certain that he would not fit in.
Earlier that day, he had learned of a ball taking place that evening. A friend of his, Mr. Pratt, was the distant cousin of the host and hostess. Believing that the Reid family would be in attendance, Hamish asked his friend whether or not he might be able to get an invitation.
The moment it had been secured, Hamish had found himself transformed into a bundle of nervous energy.
“What on earth have we here?” John asked, coming into the office.
“Oh! You startled me. Goodness, please do not look at me. I feel terribly foolish,” Hamish said, putting on his finest jacket and straightening it.
“You certainly do not appear foolish, however you feel. Honestly, I think you are going to draw any number of feminine eyes in your direction,” John said.
Hamish looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“Do you believe I want that?” he asked.
“Certainly not, but it does not change the fact that it is highly likely you shall receive such looks whether you want them or not,” John said.
“Well, I have nothing to say to that. I am attending this ball simply because I am going to ask questions of the Reid family. Particularly the brother, William Reid. I am trying to investigate,” he said.
“The case.”
John’s words were simple and brief, but his tone held so much meaning. It was disapproval and curiosity and a reminder all in one, trying to make it clear to Hamish that he still did not understand the reasoning for Hamish’s decision to continue on with looking into this matter.
“Yes, the case. It is a very important case, I believe. I know that it may not appear that way on the surface, but if you really look into the matter, there is something not right about it all,” Hamish said.
“Such as?” John asked.
“Such as the fact that a young woman was banished and still had no answer as to why,” Hamish replied.
John looked at him a moment longer before nodding in concession.
“All right, well, I hope you enjoy your evening,” he said.
“Thank you. I believe I shall,” Hamish replied, garnering his strength.
He told himself again that he was attending this ball purely for the sake of investigation. After all, the Reid family was highly likely to be in attendance.
If they were, he would be able to ask them questions. He would be able to try to get to know them better, in a social setting as opposed to having them on their guard at home.
He arrived at the ball shortly after it had begun and began looking around the room, trying to find any member of the Reid family.
Upon his arrival, he began to speak to Mr. Pratt.
“Good evening. Thank you for the invitation. I cannot tell you how much help it is going to be that I may speak with the family here this evening,” Hamish said.
“I fear that it will not be quite the help that you are expecting,” Mr. Pratt said, apologetically.
“What? Why not?” he asked.
“I have asked whether or not the family will be in attendance and—”
“They are not coming?” Hamish asked, cutting him off.
“Only the children. Miss Georgiana Reid and her brother, Mr. William Reid. They have come this evening and I have seen the both of them. But their mother and father are not here,” Mr. Pratt said.
Hamish winced, but he quickly recovered.
“That is a shame, but I believe all will be perfectly well. It is, in fact, the younger Mr. Reid that I must speak with most urgently,” he said.
“Very well. He was in the study when I saw him last, playing cards with a few gentlemen and a couple of ladies,” Mr. Pratt said.
“Thank you. I shall go and find him at once,” Hamish said.
Mr. Pratt gave his well wishes and Hamish went in search of Mr. Reid, trying to fight his way through the mass of people in the dance hall.
Although it was only Miss Reid and her brother who were in attendance, he still found it to be a good opportunity. He could still question William Reid about his interest in Miss Smithfield.
However, he first came upon Miss Georgiana Reid, bumping directly into her as he took a step backward in order to avoid a wayward dancer.
“Ouch!” she exclaimed as his foot landed atop hers.
Hamish bounced back from her, embarrassed and apologetic.
“Miss Reid, I am terribly sorry. Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes, I am. It just took me by surprise,” she said.
“Forgive me. I ought to have been paying better attention,” he said.
She looked at him for a moment, shyly, and her cheeks grew pink. But then, she looked away and, finally, to the floor.
She looked beautiful. Her hair, that dark blonde shade, was pinned neatly. Her blue eyes were shining under the light.
Her gown, white and endowed with lace, suited her quite exquisitely.
Hamish understood the risk of developing an interest in this young woman. She was far too close to the family that she was having him investigate. Not only that, but he recognised the need to question her motives.
Why would she want him feeling suspicious about them? Why would she want him to expose all of the family secrets?
Was it possible that she was truly a woman of such integrity that she put the truth higher than her family?
Whatever it was, he found her deeply intriguing. It was a dangerous way to feel, a dangerous interest to have. Nevertheless, he could not ignore it, he could not pretend as though it did not exist.
He also could not pretend that he didn’t want to dance with her.
“Are you having a nice evening, Miss Reid?” Hamish finally asked, trying to pull himself from his many thoughts.
“Yes, I am, thank you. And you?” she asked in reply.
“It is lovely thus far. I…I thought I might ask you for a dance,” he said, realising that she might refuse him.
She met his eyes once more, her clear, blue eyes wide and wondering.
“Yes. I should like that,” she said, much to his surprise.
“Truly?” he asked, not having expected that reply.
Miss Reid laughed.
“Yes. Truly. Would you prefer that I reject you?” she asked.
“No, no. Of course not,” Hamish said.
“Then I do believe we ought to go out for a dance,” she said.
He nodded and took her hand in his, leading her out to the dance floor in time for the next song to strike up.
