CHAPTER 16

Philip knew that he should be focusing on escorting Georgina and Lord Darlington around the art exhibition, but it was terribly hard for him to focus on the paintings in front of him when Lady Verity wasn't too far from him. When all he really wanted to do was steal another moment with her.

He loved the way that her eyes lit up when she talked about art. It was clear that she had a true passion for painting which truly lured him in. She had such fascinating things to say and an extremely interesting way of looking at things which he found truly inspiring. He could have spent the entire afternoon talking to her.

"Are you quite alright, Philip?" Georgina asked as she examined him curiously. "You seem… I am not sure, preoccupied maybe."

Philip smiled at his sister, trying not to burden her with his own worries. She was here to focus on her courtship with Lord Darlington, she did not need to be thinking about him.

"I am quite fine, Georgina. Simply enjoying the art pieces. Some of them are quite fascinating, do you not think? Very emotional."

"It's the art making you feel this way?"

Philip nodded.

He wasn't sure if he was convincing anyone, least of all himself, but there was no way that he would say anything else right now.

Georgina forced a smile on her face. She clearly did not seem to believe what Philp was saying, so all he could hope was that she would leave things for now. If they had to have a conversation about this, then that was something they could do later on at home.

"Come on," Philip reminded her. "Let us continue to see the whole exhibit. I am sure there is a lot more for us to look at."

"And to get emotional over."

Luckily, Georgina was having such a lovely time with Lord Darlington, that she seemed very keen to get back to him. Philip observed their interaction closely for a moment to see if there was a spark there of any kind.

Lord Darlington was a respectable man with a good reputation, and he seemed genuinely interested in Georgina which was wonderful. Philip hoped that this courtship would blossom into something meaningful for his sister. He knew that would mean the world to her. But much as he knew that he had to keep an eye on Georgina, that wasn't the easiest thing for him to do.

As they continued to walk around the exhibit, Philip was grateful that no one wanted comment from him on the artwork because his eyes were somewhere else. On Lady Verity at all times. He could not seem to help himself. All he wanted to do was bask in her presence once more. What a shame she had Lord Ambrose by her side at all times. Especially when it was very obvious that Verity wasn't enjoying herself.

She had a strained smile on her face, and her shoulders tensed up every single time Ambrose leaned into whisper something to her. How could Ambrose not see the terrible effect that he was having on poor Verity? And in a place that she loved as well. It was heartbreaking to see it ruined for her.

Verity's discomfort stirred a protective side of him that he did not even knew he had. All he wanted to do was rescue her. To whisk her away from Ambrose, but of course he could not do that. Not without causing an even bigger scandal than before. He had to keep his hands to himself, whether he wanted to or not.

The black cloud of a bad mood followed Philip all the way to the carriage. He could not shake off thoughts of Lady Verity even as they drove back home. It was hard for him not to grapple with the guilt that still clung to him, the fear that came with betraying Juliana's memory by allowing himself to open his heart to another.

But then he was also struck by everyone's words, urging him to move on, telling him that he deserved a second chance at love. He most certainly did not want a second chance at marriage, for it to be with a woman such as Lady Rosalind who he would never have anything in common with, but love… true love… the sort of love that lifted his spirits and made him feel like he could soar…

Now that was a very different story.

"Philip," Georgina declared, interrupting his musings, her face etched with concern. "There is a turmoil that plagues you, I can see it. Please, share your burdens with me so I can help you."

"Oh, no I don't wish to burden you after your day with Lord Darlington…"

"Is it Lady Sinclair? Is she the one who is on your mind?"

Philip swallowed hard. He did not know that it was so obvious.

"She… I think she is a very interesting woman, which is all."

But Georgina was too clever for that. She wasn't going to allow him to sidestep the truth.

"She is also rather beautiful," she said with a knowing, cocked eyebrow. "You must have noticed that."

Philip felt his cheeks burning. "Yes, I suppose she could be considered beautiful."

"And you seemed to have a lot to say to one another."

"Hmm, yes, like I said she is very interesting."

Georgina let out a little laugh. "If you are attracted to her, Philip, you know that you can tell me."

"But Julianna…"

"Julianna wanted you to move on and be happy. She told you that, remember? I was there when she spoke those words." Georgina reached out to hold Philip's hands as he listened intently to her. "She would want you to find love again. The last thing she ever wanted was for you to live in the shadows like you have been doing, keeping away from everyone and everything. You know she wasn't like that."

Philip sighed heavily. "Those words are easy to say, but not too easy to act upon."

Georgina nodded understandingly. "Yes, I know, Philip, but denying yourself a chance at love would be a disservice to both your late wife's memory and your own heart. That is not how you want to live your life, is it? You don't wish to waste the years that you have left."

A thick ball of emotion lodged itself in Philip's throat. He could not speak, even if he wanted to. Even if he knew what to say, which of course, he did not. When did his younger sister become so wise?

Georgina gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Promise me you will think about it, at least. Promise me you will not close your heart completely."

Philip managed a small nod, his throat too tight to allow words to escape.

He appreciated Georgina's concern, but the conflicting emotions within him felt insurmountable. As they continued their journey home, Philip's thoughts once again drifted to Lady Verity. He could not help but recall the light in her eyes, the subtle way she tilted her head when discussing art, the enthusiasm in her voice. These memories made his heart ache with longing.

Yet he still knew he had to tread carefully, for the sake of his own heart and for Verity's wellbeing. The scandals would only make life so much harder for the both of them.

The carriage finally came to a halt outside their home, and Philip offered a hand to Georgina as she descended. Philip's mind was still in turmoil as he assisted Georgina out of the carriage. He was grateful for her presence, for the understanding and care she always showed him, but his thoughts were stubbornly stuck on Lady Verity.

"Thank you, Philip," Georgina said, her smile gentle but her eyes still filled with concern. "You know, if you ever need to talk, I am always here."

"I know, Georgina. I appreciate it," Philip replied, trying to sound reassuring.

As they stepped in to the hallway, the familiar scent of home greeted them. However, before they could find a moment to themselves, their mother approached with a bright smile.

"How was the exhibition?" Adelaide asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Did you enjoy your time with Lord Darlington, Georgina?"

Georgina smiled warmly, glancing briefly at Philip before turning back to their mother.

"Yes, Mother, it was wonderful. Lord Darlington has a deep appreciation for art, and we had some lovely conversations about the pieces we saw."

Adelaide nodded approvingly. "I am glad to hear that. He seems like a fine gentleman. Did you get a chance to discuss any personal matters?"

Georgina blushed slightly. "We spoke about various topics, Mother. He is very charming and attentive. I believe he is genuinely interested in getting to know me."

"Perfect, that is good news. I am sure things will continue to progress beautifully, and Philip…" She turned to face him, putting him in the spotlight far before he was ready for it. "We must discuss the garden tea party tomorrow at Lady Maria's. It's going to be quite the event, and I am particularly thrilled about Lady Rosalind's expected attendance."

Philip's heart sank slightly at the mention of Lady Rosalind.

"Mother," Philip began, trying to keep his tone neutral, "I am sure the tea party will be delightful."

"Yes, and it will be a wonderful opportunity for you to spend more time with Lady Rosalind," she continued, her eyes twinkling with hope. "People have noticed what a wonderful couple you make."

Philip forced a smile, though inwardly he cringed at the thought of spending more time with Lady Rosalind. Her forced conversations and artificial mannerisms were the last thing he wanted to endure, especially with Verity occupying his thoughts so completely.

"Of course, Mother," he replied, his voice tight. "I will do my best to be a gracious guest."

His mother beamed at his apparent compliance, but Georgina caught the tension in his posture and shot him a sympathetic look. She understood the pressure he was under, even if their mother remained blissfully unaware.

"Actually, Mother," Georgina interjected, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and mischief, "there is more to the tea party than Lady Rosalind. Lord Darlington mentioned he would be attending as well."

Adelaide's eyes widened with delight. "Oh, that is splendid news! It seems the event will be even more delightful than I anticipated. Philip, perhaps you could spend some time with Lord Darlington. It would be good to get to know the man who might become part of our family."

Philip managed a more genuine smile at this news. Lord Darlington's presence would make the tea party more bearable, perhaps even enjoyable.

"Of course, Mother. I look forward to it."

"Oh, Philip, Georgina," their mother continued with a gleam of excitement, "we must talk about what you will wear tomorrow. Impressions are everything, and we must ensure you both look your best."

Philip suppressed a sigh. He was well aware of his mother's obsession with appearances and social standings. He just hoped she would not make too much of a fuss.

"Georgina, my dear," Adelaide said, turning her attention to her daughter, "I was thinking of that lovely lavender gown we had made for you. It's absolutely perfect for a garden party."

Georgina smiled politely. "Yes, Mother, that sounds wonderful."

"And Philip," Adelaide continued, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed him, "you must wear your best suit. The dark blue one with the silver embroidery. It complements your eyes and gives you such a distinguished air."

Philip nodded, trying to act like he was interested. "Of course, Mother. I will make sure it's ready."

Adelaide clasped her hands together, visibly pleased. "Excellent! Now, remember, both of you, this is not just any gathering. It's an opportunity to make significant connections. Georgina, your continued courtship with Lord Darlington is of utmost importance, and Philip, spending time with Lady Rosalind could be very beneficial for our family."

Philip's jaw tightened, but he kept his expression neutral. "Understood, Mother."

Adelaide's face softened as she looked at her children. "I know I push you both, but it's because I want the best for you. These social events are our way of securing a stable and prosperous future. You both understand that."

Georgina nodded. "Yes, Mother, we understand."

Philip could not escape the conversation quick enough. He could not wait to get to his study so he could instead lose himself in his thoughts of Lady Verity.

Who knew, maybe she would be at the garden party as well…