Georgina and the Viscount

In London 1848, Lady Georgina Blackstone meets Viscount Henry Davis on a walk one afternoon, sparking a friendship that eventually evolves into something that might not end well for either of them.

Chapter One: Land Over Mind

February 1848

With snow still on the ground, all of the women of the Ton were bare their furs draped across their long elegant dresses.

Though the trees were bare, it didn’t stop the members of the Ton from gathering every day at the gardens decorated for the public by monarchs before them or engaging in tea under the billows of umbrellas, there was something for everyone to enjoy outside.

London, England.

The sun was shining at the top of the sky and the air was clear.

Lady Georgina Blackstone, a noble and incredibly beautiful woman, walked gracefully on the cobblestones of the garden with her close friend Lady Josephine Smith. The two women, arm in arm traded small bits of gossip under the quietness of their fans. 

Four miles away in his rather large home that sat on top of the hill, Viscount Henry Davis was signing his money away to the bank for the purchase of some land. Only acquired half of what he originally wanted, unable to talk the buyers out of selling their half to him.

He handed the check to the clerk and shook his hand.

If there was one thing the Viscount loved spending his hard-earned money on, it was land. He hoped to build a house big enough to hide in.

The Viscount and the Lady do not know each other… yet.

“Thank you, good sir, Merrit, see to it that Mr. Harrow leaves safely,” Henry instructed his best and most trusted chamberman.

Merrit showed the banker the way out and returned to Viscount Davis’ office.

“That was your last meeting of the day sir, shall I leave you to your quiet time?” Merrit asked.

“Yes, Merrit, that will be all. I will be taking my dinner in my sitting room this evening and I am not to be disturbed.” Henry told him, waving his hand to signal his conclusion.

Merrit tipped his head at the man and exited the room, shutting the door behind him.

To know Viscount Henry was to love him but many did not know him.

He was a patient man, he figured life had to be painful first and then you get to the good part.

He was forever waiting for the good part.

Paying his dues, doing his part, smiling, and waving when he was supposed to so he could get to the finish line. The finish line was where there was everlasting happiness and true passion.

Where there was true love.

Something he so desperately wanted but never showed it even once. He desired a love that he could feel in his soul, a person who was just as passionate about art and creativity as he was. A person who wasn’t afraid of being true and honest.

A person he wished he could be on the inside.

He spent most of his days alone, even though he had a wife and three sons, he paid nothing more attention than his work and his personal time which he required as the man of the household.

Even his wife wasn’t allowed to question him.

Merrit was Henry’s best and most trusted associate. Merrit knew who Henry was on the inside and as the only male of 8 sisters, he had a very strict duty to attend as Viscount of his family and district. Merrit also knew what kinds of things Henry got into in his spare time. He kept all of Henry’s secrets and sent all of his mail personally.

He was as loyal as loyal could get.

A nightly ritual of Merrit’s was distracting Henry’s wife as she was known to bother him for nefarious purposes when she felt bored.

“Merrit, where is Henry? I need his help in my decision-making.” Viscountess Eleanor Davis was forever trying to bargain for her husband’s attention. She knew her duties and positions as a woman but she was also just a girl who loved a boy who wouldn’t give her the time of day.

She considered herself luckier than others but no one knew the real truth behind it so of course they were jealous. Henry is very easy on the eyes.

A beautiful bright blue-green, dilating when he makes eye contact with you. His hair is so dark you’d think it came from a bottle. Always perfectly combed and cut, only a couple hairs out of place but that was for effect. He was tall, standing at exactly six feet with broad shoulders.

When he smiled, he lit up a room, the dimples in his cheeks and the structure of his jaw made you think of statues of David. He was a very handsome man and Eleanor liked the effect he had on others. Knowing she got to take him home made her feel superior but the sinking feeling of them getting home and having the door slammed in her face was the stuff of nightmares. It kept her up at night thinking about if anyone knew the truth about their dead relationship. She valued her reputation more than she valued her own life. She’d sooner die then let anyone find out.

Merrit rolled his eyes at the sight of her. She was constantly bothering him.

He turned to her, giving her a stiff look up and down before speaking.

“The Viscount wishes not to be disturbed ma’am, by any means. I’m sure your chambermaid can help you with your decision.” He turned on his heel and walked away without another word, retreating to his quarters. He had the rest of the day off.

Lady Georgina bid Lady Josephine goodbye as she walked up the stairs of her home and stood at the door.

She took a deep breath and closed herself back up before entering the house.

She was greeted in the foyer by her chambermaid, Irene, and surprisingly her husband, Lord Phillip Blackstone, who was reading the mail with his usual scowl.

She tipped him a short bow as she entered. “Good evening husband.” She said as plainly.

Phillip gave her a nod, not looking up from his mail. “Good evening wife. Where have you been?”

“A short walk with Lady Smith, I was feeling the need for fresh air and fresh company.”

“That man who purchased the other half of our land finally gave up on trying to buy our half. Good. Now he can enjoy his half in peace. Hopefully, he won’t build anything obscene there, I’d hate to have to fish next to a brothel.” Phillip ranted, it was as if he hadn’t heard her. Which was an everyday thing.

Lord Phillip was a military man. Born in Nigeria, raised in the Nigerian military, and has fought in war. And that was how he lived his life like he was still in the military. He was educated in Germany and preferred their customs to his own homeland, constantly praising the country for its rulings and way of life. Georgina was to walk, talk, eat, dress, and be a certain way around him. Like she was training in his platoon. He of course treated their three children the same but they flocked to him like birds on breadcrumbs.

Her primary colors to wear were gray, green, and orange. But her favorite color was red, the color dressed her chestnut-colored skin so beautifully and she never had the chance to wear it, not wanting to disobey a direct wish of her husbands.

She was only to address him as ‘My Lord’, ‘Husband’ or ‘Sir’, never his first name or he’d get upset. He was very easy to upset.

Now Lady Georgina Amahle is a classy, elegant woman by every means of the word. Her former home of Nigeria blessed her with the smoothest skin and the most angelic face. In a place where black people were few and far between, Georgina shined the brightest in the town and was one of the Queen’s favorites.

Georgina craved a life of expression and passion. She was often covered by her husband’s shadow and was made to feel like she had no light of her own.

She was a very well-educated woman. Her brothers spent their time teaching her English, French, and German. She was the only girl in their town to attend finishing school. She knew how to hunt, and fish and she was a master at writing.

The language of love was Georgina’s favorite, she studied Shakespeare and Austen in her school days and filled countless journals with her poems. She expressed herself and the things she had learned about life through her poetry.

Lord Phillip was taken with her beauty when he first met her and was committed to making her his wife. Georgina was influenced by her parents to marry such a well-off man who convinced her that love had to just come, it was not earned like in her poems but she knew they were lying. The love she craved was strong, it was hungry and it was passionate.

After ten years and three kids, Georgina knew love wouldn’t come.

Now all she knew was content but she didn’t give up easily. Love would come as free and pure as her poetry.

Georgina wandered upstairs to her chambers. Irene, her chambermaid and closest friend followed her closely and began to help her undress.

“What’s for dinner tonight Irene?” She asked solemnly.

“Lamb shanks, my lady, and some greens and I think some potatoes. I was not listening when the chef was announcing.”

“I believe I would like to go on a walk this evening. After dinner of course if the sun is still out. If not, I shall spend my evening in the garden”

“Sounds lovely ma’am, how was your day?” Irene and Georgina had been best friends since they were small. Their fathers were best of friends despite their ranks. Irene had left her family to join Georgina on her trip to Germany when she married and promised her family that she’d look after her. Irene had married the newspaper printer boy from the town shop and lived in a small house outside the mansion of the Blackstones. She was very well taken care of and kept all of Georgina’s deep secrets and fantasies hidden from the world. She let Georgina shine as brightly as she wanted to when they were together.

“It was alright. I had some rum on my walk with Josephine and boy was everyone the butt of our joke. I sobered up just in time to get home.” Irene just listened, that’s what she was there for.

“What land was Phillip going on about? What did he buy now?”

“Oh no, the first half acre he bought before you moved into this home, he was going to have a home built for you. But he got lazy I guess, the land has just been sitting ever since. A man offered to buy the other half of the acre but Phillip just refuses for his own prideful-”

“-Stupid, you mean.” Georgina cut in, correcting her.

Irene chuckled. “Yes stupid reasons, won’t give the poor man the satisfaction even though he offered him twice the price.”

“Oh! Was it Prince Albert?”

“Of course not, the land isn’t that glamorous, it’s up on a shady hill, surrounded by ugly, dying trees, a dirty little swimming hole, and an old mill. The mill actually separates the two half acres, it sits right in the middle.”

“Mm, sounds like a good place to walk in the afternoons,” Georgina said, smiling to herself.

Georgina usually spent her afternoons walking around the town alone. She visited creeks, pathways, river walks, and the occasional empty field where she could be seen writing in a small notebook under a tree. Her favorite spot was the abandoned water fountain. There was a statue that stood in front of it and it was surrounded by a path of tall leafy trees. She preferred to spend most of her time alone and it was anything to get away from her underwhelming weight of a husband and overly kiss-ass kids.

Chapter Two: The Day We Met

The next morning when Georgina woke up, she thought of what she could do to make her day interesting.

As she dressed, ate breakfast, and sent her kids to school, she thought about the land that her husband never mentioned he owned. How she could finally find a spot where she could be totally alone with her thoughts.

Without the feeling that someone was going to creep up on her and order her home.

She thought about this all morning until her husband dismissed her from the table.

“If you find yourself needing me husband, I shall be walking my usual path.”

“Alone?” Phillip asked without even looking up from his notes.

“Yes.”

Phillip waved his hand to dismiss her and she closed the door to his quarters.

“If I am needed today Irene, I will be on our land, hopefully under a tree but try not to need me. I do not know when I’ll return.” Georgina applied her gloves, and opened her umbrella as Irene finished tying her boot.

“Do you have your good ink, My Lady?” Irene asked in reference to Georgina having her poetry book in her hand.

“Yes, it is tucked on the side of my shoe. Though I do wish I had pockets.” She told Irene, making her chuckle.

With the sizes of the dresses the women wore, you’d think they had pockets.

“Have a great day ma’am.” Irene shut the door behind Georgina as she started her walk down the stairs of her home and out into the world.

4 miles away. Henry was helping his son tie his tie for school.

“Good on you son, now you can try it next time,” Henry told his oldest son Louis.

“Thanks, Father.” Louis walked away without another word and Henry put on his jacket.

“Where are you off to?” Eleanor asked, running hastily down the stairs after Henry.

“I am going to look at the land I just purchased, and size it up. See what I could possibly do with it.” Henry told her. Merrit assisted in putting on his Lord’s gloves.

“Shall I join you? It is quite breezy but the sun is shining so beautifully.” Eleanor asked, snapping at the maid to grab her coat.

“Surely you have other duties to attend to. I shall cover these grounds alone.” Henry told her, giving her a quick nod and heading out the door.

Eleanor watched him walk down the cobblestone path. It was almost as if he were skipping.

She scowled, trotting back up the stairs to her library and slamming the door.

Georgina found the grounds very quickly with the map Irene had given her.

She walked around slowly, taking in the scent of the trees, the whistling of the birds, the hum of the wind.

She could feel herself relax. The tense air over her shoulders lightened and she let out a deep breath.

Irene had been half right about the land. The swimming hole was small, most of the trees had dead leaves and the grass needed serious trimming but the acres themselves were beautiful.

She climbed the hill steadily and began approaching the old mill.

There sat a man on the outside bench, flipping through what looked like pages in a very large book.

Georgina had seen this man before but only in passing. She did not know his name or what he did but she knew he was a regular attendee of the Queen’s balls.

Georgina smiled slightly as she approached. He was a very handsome and well-dressed man and she figured she knew exactly who he was.

“So,” She cleared her throat. The man looked up suddenly as if he’d heard a ghost.

His facial expression softened almost instantly when he laid eyes on her.

Henry suddenly felt as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. She was gorgeous. He felt like he couldn’t breathe properly for a second.

“You must be the man who tried to buy the other half of my husband’s land,” Georgina finished her sentence.

Henry hadn’t even heard her. His spirit was crushed upon hearing the word ‘husband’ as he was picturing taking this woman’s hand and running as far away from the town as he could. Sailing across the oceans living together on uncharted land with her and raising a dozen kids.

His entire life flashed before his eyes.

“I will say, it is a lovely piece of land, I too would want it in its entirety,” Georgina continued, overlooking the fact that he had not responded to her earlier statement.

“Since the water is on our side, I want to redecorate that swimming hole, make it something appealing for the town, maybe cut some of these trees. What do you think?”

Henry could not snap out of it. The sound of her voice rang like bells in his ears. She was still talking and all that he could manage was;

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He finally muttered, interrupting her exterior decor speech.

Georgina turned back to him, a smile growing on her face.

Henry finally caught himself, snapping out of it and realizing what he’d just said.

“I am- I-I am so sorry I said that.”

“Why be sorry if it is what you feel?” She smirked at him in a way to which he was unfamiliar.

The smile was pressing, as if to say ‘please continue’.

Henry suddenly felt less of a need to hide behind the wall he’d spent so much time building.

“This half of the land is yours you say? You have better trees on your side than I do mine.”

Georgina scanned the property and smiled. “But you have that big beautiful oak tree right over there on your side. I am envious.”

“You are more than free to join my side. You do not even have to ask.” Henry told her, not taking his eyes off her for even a second.

She turned to him, meeting his everlasting gaze. She tipped her head to him and held out her lace-covered hand for him to shake.

“Lady Georgina Blackstone.”

“Tell me your given name.” Henry took her extended hand and kissed it, never breaking their eye contact.

Georgina snorted, people rarely asked her that.

“Amahle Usha. Georgina is my European name.”

“You are from Africa?” He assumed correctly.

“Nigeria.”

He kissed her hand again, not letting it go.

“Viscount Henry Alexander Edward Davis the 3rd. It is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Georgina.”

“I’ve always liked the name Henry. It is quite sophisticated.”

“It is indeed.” Henry had never looked at someone for so long. He wished he could take a mental picture of her face for him to paint later in the night.

Georgina smiled at him and he smiled back at her.

“I came here thinking I’d be alone,” Georgina told him, their hands finally letting go.

“I’m sorry to have ruined your afternoon.”

“No, please. You seem like no trouble and I am not asking you to go,” Georgina told him.

Henry moved his papers and urged her to sit down.

“What is it that you’ve got there?” Georgina asked, eyeballing the numerous papers he had.

“These uh- these are just some private works of mine.”

“Ah. All men do nowadays is work.”

“Well, not that kind of work. It’s art.”

Georgina turned to him. She was not expecting him to say that.

“As in drawings?” She asked, her eyebrows raised with interest.

He nodded. Hesitation was dripping from his pores.

“May I see?” Georgina asked timidly. She did not want to scare him.

Henry handed her the one he’d been working on.

“It is a woman. Who is she? Your wife?”

“She is what I pictured Shakespeare’s wife to look like. From the way he writes about her, she’s bound to be beautiful and I just paint what I believe he felt like when he was writing about her.”

Georgina studied the drawing. It was only drawn in pencil but the details were incredible. Her face had compassion and sweetness, her eyes were bright and loving. This looked like a real person.

“My Lord, this is wonderful. You are quite an artist. Shakespeare is my favorite.”

“Is he really? My wife despises him,”

“So does my husband.” They look at each other again.

He scanned her body once again, his eyes landing on the book she was clutching.

“What is it you have there?”

Georgina hesitated before revealing it. “It is my book of poems.”

“You read poetry?”

“Oh it is my poetry, things I have written myself.”

“About what?” Henry leans over to look at the leather cover.

“Things I believe to be beautiful in the world. My feelings. My desires. Things I cannot say aloud,”

Henry watched her mouth move as if he were counting her words.

“May I?”

Georgina was visibly hesitant. “Anything I read, I will keep between you and I. I know what it is like to feel as though you have no one to tell your feelings to,” He told her in a safe and hushed tone, their faces so close, he could feel how heavy she was breathing.

She handed him the book. He flipped lightly through the pages, carefully skimming over some of the poems.

“Georgina, these are lovely. Truly lovely. Where did you get such an imagination?”

Georgina felt proud of herself. “I spent a lot of time in solitude my Lord, it is easier to write this way.”

“Though someone must enjoy reading these as much as you enjoy writing them?”

“I keep them to myself. You are the first person who has even asked if they could look.”

“Do not worry, your secrets and desires are safe with me.” He winked at her. She blushed and looked down.

“Your journal is almost out of pages.” Henry pointed out, continuing to thumb through it, looking up to meet her lingering eyes.

“Yes. My chambermaid is married to the paper boy, I shall have him print me another few pages for me to add.” Georgina told him.

Henry nodded for his response, his eyes never leaving hers.

“If you feel there is no one who can read your poetry, perhaps I can be a listening ear? I spend a great deal of my time in solitude as well and I’d be most grateful for the chance of having such admirable company.”

“That would be most pleasant, My Lord,” Georgina said bashfully.

“Please,” Henry stood up, their gaze never breaking. He took her hand, helping her to her feet.

“Call me Henry. If we are to be friends, such pleasantries should be allowed. And if I must admit, I get tired of being called Lord every day, I almost forget my real name.”

“Henry…” Georgina whispered, the name dancing across her lips.

Music to Henry’s ears.

“Will you be here tomorrow, Henry?” Georgina asked, their hands still locked.

“Yes Georgina, I will, around this same time. Will you be joining me?”

“I would quite like to.” She smiled brightly at him.

He nodded his head to her, kissing her fingertips lightly before releasing her and letting her walk away.

He could finally breathe. He let out a deep sigh and sank onto the bench.

He was feeling something he could not describe, it was only a feeling. A feeling he’d been waiting on.

Georgina’s smile was plastered to his brain and he never wanted to forget it.

He gathered his things quickly and headed back for his home.

Bursting through the door, he ran right into Merrit.

“Good evening sir, how was your walk?”

“Merrit, go down to the market and pick up the finest leather book cover you can find then have it dressed in the most expensive writing paper there is and deliver it to Lady Georgina Blackstone at the Blackstone residence. Do not say who it is from, deliver it before nightfall to her chambermaid. Return to me when it is complete.”

“Yes sir, right away.”

Georgina closed the door quietly behind her and leaned up against it.

Her fingertips ghosted over her hand, remembering how soft the Viscount’s hand was when it held hers.

What she was feeling could only be written so she sat on the floor of her back corridor, almost spilling her ink with eagerness to describe how Henry had made her feel.

So seen. So heard. So thought of. He called her poetry lovely. She felt alive, awake, brand new.

The look he’d given her when he first saw her could be described as struck. Men had spent her entire life telling her she was beautiful but she never felt it, only took it as a surface compliment but Henry made her feel it when he said it.

He was so sure, so assertive in his tone that it almost frightened her.

Georgina heard the bustling of her staff. It was late in the afternoon which meant the kids were to return, dinner was being prepared and her husband would be looking for her to return soon but she couldn’t move from her spot.

The feeling was still so overwhelming.

She sat there for several minutes and thought about Henry. How she’d seen him before but he never had much to say, not to her, not to anyone. She’d never heard him speak. He seemed to be an alright dancer, he was well-liked and educated of course, and handsome. So very handsome. His wife was a lucky woman.

Georgina tried not to think impurely, she was a married woman and he was a married man but a girl can dream can’t she?

After a few more stolen minutes, she got up and gathered herself before walking around to the front of the house and entering as though it were her first time today.

“My Lady, the sunshine does wonders for your skin. How was your walk?” Irene met her at the door, smiling, ready to take her coat and hear of her adventures.

Georgina decided to keep her meeting with the Viscount a secret. For her thoughts and feelings only. She and Irene talked about what she wanted to do with the land now that she knew where it was.

Georgina, however, spent the rest of the evening thinking of Henry and the enchanting way he looked at her.

She’d barely heard what her kids and husband spent the day doing and dinner seemed to go by a lot quicker than usual.

She lay in bed that night, alone. Thinking of what Henry would say to her the next day. What would she wear? How would she wear her hair?

Why was she thinking of all this, she was married.

Irene sat outside the doorway, smoking a cigarette before making the 200-foot walk to her house.

Her husband hated the smell.

She could hear the distant sound of music from the nearby club. She hummed softly, letting the cool breeze relax her.

Her relaxed state was suddenly broken by the approach of an unfamiliar horse with a man riding it.

She covered herself and stood as the man approached.

They nodded at each other.

“Good evening my Lady, I am Merrit. I have a delivery here.”

Irene frowned. It was the middle of the night and mail stopped delivering at sunset.

“A delivery for who?”

“For Lady Georgina Blackstone. It is to go directly to her.”

“Oh, really Merrit and who am I to say it is from?” Irene questioned.

“I am not at liberty to say although I figure you will know soon enough and you and I will be seeing quite a bit of each other in the forthcoming days.” Merrit insinuated, winking at Irene and returning to his horse.

Irene looked down at the package. It wasn’t wrapped tight so she unraveled it and revealed a journal. The leather cover was very nice and the pages were fresh rag, very pricey in their town.

There was an ‘A’ freshly engraved on the cover and a small note on the inside page.

Irene dared not read it and invade her Lady’s privacy. She wrapped the book back up and went to her house. She would deliver it in the morning.

Chapter Three: Too Sweet

Henry woke up earlier than usual. He dared not bother anyone this early so he got himself washed, dressed and started a fresh shave.

He hummed quietly to himself and waited for the rest of his house to wake up so the day could begin.

He was eager to start his work so noon would come faster.

Georgina was also awake quite early but she never beat Irene, who’d already done the ironing, set the bath and laid out her Lady’s clothes for the day.

“Good morning my Lady.” Irene draped Georgina’s robe over her as she exited her chambers. A wide smile spread across her face.

“Good morning Irene, it is a beautiful day.”

“My lady, you received a package late in the evening, the gentleman who delivered it would not say who it was from.”

Georgina turned quickly to see the package in Irene’s hand. She took it carefully and ripped the packaging open, revealing the journal.

Her eyes widened as she ran her hands over the cover, feeling the skin under her hands.

“This is spectacular, the finest of leathers.” Georgina mumbled to herself.

She opened the cover and the note fell out.

“If you do not continue writing, how are we to continue living?” -VH

Georgina smiled even brighter, she held the note to her heart.

“What a wonderful way to start the morning.” Georgina turned back in her chair and waited for Irene to start her hair.

Irene would not press her but she would know when Georgina was ready for her to know.

The morning seemed to pass rather quickly for the two. Breakfast going as usual, Henry beginning his day’s work and Georgina spent her morning checking in on the pregnant Queen of their nation.

Queen Victoria was pregnant with her 6th child and had dismissed all 5 of her ladies in waiting until the birth.

With Prince Albert away, the Queen was lonely and requested the presence of her two close companions; Lady Georgina and Lady Josephine.

They spent the morning laughing, drinking various teas and poking fun at the fact that Lady Josephine was still without children.

When it reached noon, Georgina dismissed herself and tried to leave but of course, her friend was not without question.

“Where are you off to? Surely you are not going home early to be around Phillip?”

“Of course not, I am going to check on a piece of land he bought, there are some changes I want to make.” Georgina told her friend.

Josephine let her go, she only half believed her but let her walk away anyway.

Henry was already waiting as Georgina approached from the bottom of the hill.

He smiled when he spotted her, rushing from his seat to assist her in the walk up to the tree where he’d been sitting.

“My Lord, how are you?”

“Georgina, I have told you when it is just you and I, you must call me Henry.”

Georgina chuckled. “Right, Henry. How are you?”

“I am well now. I hope you do not mind this spot. I brought this blanket here and figured it would be much better on our backs than sitting on an old bench.”

Georgina smiled at the considerate gesture.

“You think of everything. Like this wonderful journal, I don’t know how to thank you. You did not have to do this.”

“My reasoning was plain and simple. How are any of us to carry on without your words? I have not been the same since reading some of your work.”

“Would you like to hear something?” Georgina settled on the blanket next to Henry.

He smelled nice to her, fresh, she let the scent of him wash over her.

He turned to her, making eye contact and giving her his full attention.

“What of the world If I cannot be useful?

What of the sun if not to give light?

What of the trees if not to give shade?

What of the children if not made with love?

Is there no care, no kindness, no compassion?

Is there no doubt that I must remain a woman forever, trapped in a world with no sun, no trees, no love?

What of the world if not to love?”

Henry was taken aback. None of the women he knew were this educated. Not even his mother.

“Georgina, I have chills. That was magnificent. Where did you discover such passion?”

“Passion lives in me. Deep down in a dark little corner, she thrives.” Georgina told him, her eyes wandering away from him.

“Even when you speak, it is poetry.”

She turned back to him to smile.

“So, what are you drawing?”

“I am finishing a painting of one of my sisters and her family. She had another child and wanted something updated.”

“It is beautiful, you seem almost finished with it.”

“I am. I like the light the outside brings when I paint. As well as the moon. My sitting room has these big gorgeous windows, you can see straight up into the sky.” Henry told her, his words painted a picture of what it looked like.

“You know, there is not a single portrait of me alone. All the portraits I have are with my family back home or with my husband and children. When I die, all evidence will die with me.”

“You will let me paint you.” Henry declared to her.

“Will I?” She joked, making him smile.

“I must. With a face like yours, you must be remembered.”

Georgina smiled, she’d never felt like this before.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon talking about their families and duties and even looked at clouds as they floated by in the sky.

Henry had never relaxed this much in the presence of a woman. He felt the way he’d always wanted to.

He painted a small flower on her arm, and she wrote his name in calligraphy on his art.

Before either of them knew it, the sun was reaching the low point in the sky and they both had to be home.

“It’s been so long since I felt this content with someone,” Henry told her as she was helping her roll down her sleeve.

“I believe you and I are beginning a wonderful friendship, Henry.” Georgina gazed at him.

His fingertips lightly grazed over her skin as he touched her, almost as if she were a delicate flower.

He met her gaze, his blue-green eyes softening instantly and wondering at her face.

“May I see you the rest of this week, in this very spot?”

“The only thing that will stop me is rain.” Georgina stuck out her hand and he kissed it several times, making her giggle.

Georgina reached home just in time for her husband to finish his work.

She greeted him in passing and he stopped her with his hand.

“I am expecting maritals tonight after dinner. You shall sleep in my room.”

“Yes sir.” Oh God. Maritals were his way of saying sex. Four times a month, Georgina had to lie on her back while her husband stroked her with the enthusiasm of a pencil.

She did get a lot of planning done during the 5 minutes that it usually lasted.

She signaled for Irene to run her an extra hot bath after dinner as she changed and entered her husband’s room.

“I could not find you at lunchtime, where were you?” Phillip asked as he unbuttoned his pants and turned her around.

“With the queen. She called upon Lady JosePHINE-” It was perhaps even dryer than the last time but he for some reason didn’t seem to mind.

“-and I today for some company.” Georgina gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes, beginning to plan out the gift she was going to get the Queen for her new baby and the outfit she was going to wear to Josephine’s birthday brunch that next morning.

When it was over, Phillip rolled over and went right to sleep.

Georgina rushed to her chambers to bathe and get into her bed.

She couldn’t help but think that maybe their marriage could be saved if he were just a little bit better at the sex part. He never listened to what she wanted, how she liked to be touched and teased, he didn’t know anything. All he knew was what Phillip wanted and what Phillip liked. She wondered if Henry listened as well in the bedroom as he did when they were outside. She wondered how his strong hands would touch her small frame. How delicately he’d touch her, just enough to bring her to the edge she needed. How his pink lips would feel against her neck and her- she rolled over and sighed.

Frustration is the most irritating emotion to pin-up.

4 miles away, Henry’s every thought was consumed with Georgina even with himself shoved down his wife’s throat, he was not present.

He thought of Georgina’s smile, her ferociously high-pitched laugh, and the way her cheeks almost touched her eyelids when she smiled at him.

He was eager to start painting her portrait, which meant she had to spend more time with him and he wanted that.

“Henry, are you alright?” Eleanor asked from her position on her knees.

Henry snapped out of it. “Yes I am alright, are you finished?” He zipped himself and got up, leaving Eleanor on her knees.

She followed him into his restroom and crossed her arms.

“Was that not up to your standards?”

“It was fine darling, quite fine.” Henry began undressing, changing into his evening wear, unphased by his wife watching him.

“May I speak freely?” Eleanor asked.

“Has that ever stopped you before?” Henry muttered.

“You seem distracted Henry. As though your mind is not here.”

“My mind is on my work if that is what you mean. I have a lot of work that needs to be done and it is consuming me, I will admit.” Henry lied. He always lied to her about how he truly felt because she didn’t understand.

“Are you sure?” Eleanor stepped closer to him.

“Yes,” He kissed her forehead. “I am sure, there is no need to worry.” He gestured to her to leave.

“I shall see you in the morning. I have work to attend to and it is late.” He closed the door and she left without another word.

The next day, the pair sat under the same tree, Georgina was posing for the outline of her painting and Henry was staring at her.

He could barely concentrate on his drawing from looking at her face.

But she was uncomfortable. Sitting on the big skirt of her dress was bad enough but her stockings were scratching up against her thighs, making her itchy and uncomfortable.

Henry could see this and he stopped sketching, helping her get up to relieve the discomfort.

“What is the matter?” He asked as she went behind the large tree to lift and relieve herself of the awful itching under her garment.

“It is nothing, womanly woes. I’m sure you wouldn’t be concerned.” She called to him.

“Surely I would. You can share anything with me, perhaps I can be of some assistance.” Henry tried.

Georgina gathered herself and emerged from behind the tree.

“I am fine, I assure you, chafing is completely normal after maritals,” She said, instantly regretting it from the look that ran across his face.

“I assure you it is not. I believe chafing comes from a lack of pleasure does it not?” He asked after a few seconds.

Georgina frowned, almost shocked by his knowledge.

“You are correct. It always surprises me when a man takes an interest in the works of a woman.”

Henry smirked down at his drawing. “I know a lot about women,” he looked up at her while putting emphasis on the word.

Georgina blushed slightly, swatting away at any dirty thoughts that threatened to creep inside her mind.

“Your wife is very lucky,” She muttered, clearing her throat.

“No she isn’t.” He replied firmly.

“Oh?”

“Not as lucky as she could be,”

“You’ve studied women’s anatomy?”

“No, I just know that if a woman is chafing after maritals that means she is not being touched in a way that is pleasurable to her. Which is not fair to you.”

“To me?”

“Yes. It is obvious that your husband is not touching you in a way that is pleasurable to you, hence the chafing.”

Georgina decided she wanted to be offended by that.

“How my husband touches me should not be of any concern to you.”

Henry scoffed. “It is not but if you are uncomfortable, I am concerned about it.”

“You do not know me enough to be concerned sir.” Georgina huffed.

Henry blinked. “Which is the point of us meeting is it not, to know each other better?”

“I do not wish to know someone who speaks ill of someone you do know.” Georgina’s frown deepened.

“It seems I know everything I need to know about your husband.” Henry said, unaware of how much of his foot was in his own mouth.

“You know nothing and now you will not know me. I shall bid you goodbye.” Georgina gathered her book and started the walk back to her house.

Henry jumped up, tripping over his own shoe as he ran after her.

“Georgina please, I did not intend to offend, I am sorry.”

Georgina snatched her arm away from his grasp. “Goodbye My Lord.” She turned back and practically ran to her house, running inside and slamming the door behind her.

She had no idea why that made her so mad because he was right. Her husband had no interest in improving the way he touched his wife and he had made that very clear so why did Henry’s words sting her so?

No one had ever spoken to her like that and maybe that was the problem.

The other problem she was having was that she already missed him. Damn her and her short temper ruining a good thing.