Chapter 5

"Oh, that is a very pretty dress."

Georgiana turned when she heard her sister's voice, forcing a smile when she saw her. "Down from the bed, dear. Thank you very much. You are too sweet."

"She is right," Jean said as she took a step back. She rested her hands on her hips. "I wish you had agreed to the new blue one you just purchased. But this yellow one suits you very nicely all the same."

"I know it's not the most fashionable," Georgiana murmured when she touched the extra dainty lace on her small sleeves. "But it's my favorite. I thought I could… I could use her strength today."

Both of the girls nodded solemnly. They all knew this dress had been her mother's nearly twenty years ago, cut and styled to fit the fashions of the last Season. Georgiana had worked so hard on it herself. She'd nearly poked herself full of holes, but the effort had been worth it. She loved this dress dearly and couldn't bear the thought of marrying in something else.

Especially because I really do need her strength with me today.

It was finally her wedding day. In approximately two hours, she would be the Countess of Egerton, future Marchioness of Carlisle. A title she didn't want in a home that would take her away from Emma.

"Here you are," Jean murmured quietly while offering a handkerchief.

"Thank you." Georgiana offered a watery smile before dabbing at her eyes.

Hurrying over with a frown, Emma glanced between them. "You're not really going, are you?"

The words were near enough to break her sister's heart. "Oh, Emma, we've talked about this. You know I must. I'm marrying Lord Egerton today."

"Well, yes, but… who is going to ride with me this afternoon? I know Father won't. And he won't let me go with only a groom." Emma folded her arms, appearing cross. "You have to be here to ride with me."

"I can't ride with you, not today. But perhaps I can come back soon. I'll visit with you, a-and we'll go riding them."

"Tomorrow, then?"

Sharing a look with Jean, Georgiana bit her lip. "I don't know. It will be my husband who decides that."

The words slipped past her lips with great bitterness. She couldn't hold them back. For the last week, there had been little peace in the sudden preparations for the wedding. It was the father's choice to skip the usual three-week waiting period with the banns were read. They'd called it efficient. But now, everyone wanted to know the truth behind the matter. The rumors she'd heard about herself lately made her stomach clench and a lump form in her throat.

There had been no peace for her since her father had made the announcement. She'd had to cancel too many activities with her sister. The house had been in an uproar. Between readying her trousseau, managing the household, and then preparing everyone for her permanent departure, it had left her with little time to sleep.

Not that it helped I let Emma stay with me every night. I adore her to death, but goodness gracious, she snores like… oh, I don't even know. But it's a surprise that the house doesn't shake by dawn.

"Then I shall come with you," Emma announced.

"Oh, I wish you could." Georgiana hugged her before stepping back. "And look how nice you look."

"Not as nice as you. Maybe that will make your husband happy, and then I can come with you," her sister suggested. "If we ask him really nicely, he might."

Georgiana opened her mouth, but not a word came out. Already she had asked Benedict about Emma. Though her husband-to-be thought it dear how much she loved her sister, he'd looked at her funny before saying it would be best if there weren't children in their house. At least, not while his parents were there.

Too crowded, perhaps. Or maybe none of them like children. What about when we have children? Will they be shipped off elsewhere?

The thought sent a shudder down her spine. No, it couldn't be. Benedict had not appeared cruel. He'd been hesitant and a tad awkward, but she couldn't believe him to be a mean sort of gentleman. Still, something did seem off about the man she was marrying. He could hardly look her in the eye when he came for tea the other day.

That was most likely the rest of her life she had glimpsed that afternoon. The idea sat hollow in her empty stomach.

"Why don't we get you something to eat?" her maid spoke, reading her mind. "You look a tad pale."

"Isn't that what the gentlemen prefer? A lady who has never seen the sun?" Georgiana muttered, sighing before collapsing in her small chair. "If he even looks at me."

"How could he not? You're beautiful." Jean brought over the tray of breakfast foods that had been ignored for the past three hours.

"Oh!" Emma huffed when Jean lifted the tray higher so she couldn't swipe a biscuit. "I wanted that."

Sighing, Georgiana nodded to the tray. "You can so long as you don't get any crumbs on your dress. No, thank you, Jean. There is a wedding luncheon after the ceremony. I don't think I can eat until then."

"You aren't the first anxious bride. Just think positively, won't you? I'm sure it will all come together well," Jean promised.

As she played with the handkerchief, crumpling it into a tight ball, Georgiana sighed. Her eyes wandered over the room that was mostly all trunks right now, then her sister, who was shoveling a biscuit in her mouth, and then to her own hands again, and she slumped.

"What a dreary day this is."

"It's really sunny," Emma commented innocently with a glance toward the window.

Jean patted her on the head. "Your sister means in her heart, not outside. Do try to find some hope, My Lady. I'm sure Lord Egerton shall give you whatever your heart desires. I can always come and fetch Emma for you if he agrees. He must see how you care for her, and he shall dote on her as well."

"I suppose." Returning the handkerchief, Georgiana smoothed out her dress. "All right. I just need a moment, and then I shall be ready to go. Can you please take Emma down to the hall, Jean?"

"Of course. We'll meet you there, so the two of you can ride together."

Jean and Emma offered hopeful smiles before disappearing out the door. Once they were gone, Georgiana sucked in a heavy breath that she held for a moment before releasing. She rested her hands over her stomach and glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

Thick ringlets of light blonde hair framed her face, both short and long, so she had some hanging down her shoulders. They accentuated the soft yellow of her dress and the white lace. A string of pearls dotted her throat, a shade of white that matched her long gloves, which reached up past her elbows.

A tall woman stared back at her in the mirror, her green eyes wide in fear and her pink lips pressed tightly in a thin line between her thin cheeks. Georgiana wasn't the prettiest woman. She knew that. But today, she hardly knew what she looked like.

"I wish you were here, Mama," she whispered.

It would give her such courage if her mother were here. What would she have said? To give in and do as her husband asked? To fight back?

She would tell me to do everything I could for Emma. That is what she would say.

Then she would keep trying.

Straightening her shoulders, Georgiana thought not of herself but of the man she was about to marry.

"My Lord, I must request a change of your mind over the matter of my sister. Emma is very dear to me. I cannot imagine living without her. There must surely be a way to… No, no. If you would only give her a chance, then you would see she must be with me. That is, I want her to. She needs me. I must…"

She paced back and forth in her room for several minutes while trying to pull her thoughts together. The sooner she convinced her new husband to change his mind about Emma, the better. All she had to do was prepare a strong argument.

But she was running out of time.

It wasn't long before they were leaving the house to attend the wedding. Already two trunks had come along with them to the church; the rest would be delivered by tomorrow. Her father had ridden to the church on his own, so she rode with Emma and Jean. Her sister and her maid weren't allowed to attend, but all three of them wanted to be close for today.

"I shall watch from out here," Emma promised.

"And I'll keep an eye on her," Jean chimed in while Georgiana climbed out of the carriage. She offered an encouraging smile. "Then I'll come with some of the trunks this evening. I promise."

"Thank you, kindly, Jean. And you, Emma… You are my favorite person," Georgiana promised. "You always will be. Thank you for being strong."

"I don't want to be. I want you."

The lump formed in her throat again. Nodding, Georgiana took a second to steady her voice. "I know. I promise we won't be parted for long. You'll behave yourself in my absence, won't you?"

After glancing at Jean, her little sister sighed. "Fine. But only because I love you."

"And I love you." Georgiana winced when her voice broke.

"Georgiana?"

She shook her head at Jean's anxious tone. They all knew how little she cried. There wasn't ever a time for her to sit around in her misery. But this was at least the third time she almost burst into tears since last week. What was happening to her?

"I'll be well. Thank you, ladies." She managed a smile before taking her leave. She inhaled deeply before moving up to the church doors.

Her father appeared there. "You're nearly late, my child. I expected you sooner. Right this way."

"Is everyone waiting for me?" she asked, not certain she cared either way.

Letting out a small huff to show his annoyance, he said, "Not anymore. We're also missing your groom. He and his family have yet to arrive here. So why don't you get up there and be ready for him?"

There were already a few people in attendance. She glimpsed them as her father led her down the side aisle beside the pews. Unable to meet anyone's gaze, she hesitated when her father let go of her arm. Then he took his seat again, which left her to make her way to the vicar on her own.

Wasn't this what she did? Everything on her own? Steeling her spine, Georgiana inhaled deeply before continuing on the path set out before her.

It was a lady's responsibility to marry. Though she wasn't particularly pretty or clever or flirtatious, she knew that much. She had been raised with the understanding she would marry to have children and raise them properly in London. But even after a lifetime of knowing this, she was filled with trepidation.

"Oh," Georgiana gasped when she stumbled on the step leading up to the vicar.

"Allow me," came a deep voice she recognized too quickly for having only heard it once.

Looking up as a hand closed around her wrist, Georgiana felt her heart flutter at the sight of the Duke of Winchester. His chilly gaze bored right into her. She ignored the lurching of her stomach while he helped her move forward. It was a short distance, but she needed aid that no one else had offered.

So why did he do it? She didn't trust the closed expression on his face. He couldn't be helping her to be kind. He probably just didn't want her to embarrass his cousin.

"Thank you," she managed to say when he let go.

The bow he offered was too deep to be sincere, she decided. He waited until he had straightened. "It was my pleasure, My Lady."

That was a lie. She forced a smile and then glanced around the room. She spotted a few familiar faces in the pews, but she wasn't particularly close to anyone there. Her father had been right, none of her groom's family was yet in attendance. Where could they be?

Perhaps this was a sign?

Lord Egerton didn't want to be here anymore than she did. Turning away from the front doors, Georgiana tried to put her mind off the wedding to prepare herself for a future of loneliness.