"Speak your piece," she advised her aunt, "and be quick about it."

"You have to leave."

"Why?"

"You know why."

"No, I don't."

"You have engaged in immorality with Mr. Drummond. You have disgraced yourself, and you can't continue to reside among decent people. It's the price you have to pay. You've sinned, and now you must be cast out."

"You told me to ingratiate myself to Mr. Drummond. Miles told me too. You both insisted on it."

"Yes, well, we hardly benefited."

"Meaning what?"

"We received no advantage from your efforts. Miles had to rectify the situation himself, and Mr. Drummond didn't give an inch."

"You told me to do it, Augusta."

"You shouldn't have," was Augusta's reply.

It was the strangest and most heartless remark her aunt could have uttered.

Georgina had begun her flirtation with Mr. Drummond at Augusta's behest. She'd enticed him in the hopes of gaining boons for her family that they couldn't arrange themselves.

To have those actions discounted! To be scolded for attempting to save them! It was so outrageous that little red dots swarmed in her eyes, and she was afraid she might faint from indignation.

Struggling for calm, she took several deep breaths. "All right, Augusta, I shouldn't have, but I did. I did it for you and Sophia. I did it to help. It didn't work, but at least I tried."

"Yes, and there has to be consequences."

"Why? Because you say so?"

"Yes, because I say so. And Miles says so too."

Georgina's spirits flagged. "You already discussed it with him?"

"Yes."

"How about Sophia? What is her opinion?"

"I haven't mentioned it to Sophia. She is still a maiden, and it's not fit for her ears to hear about your illicit behavior."

"Heaven forbid that Sophia hear something horrid."

"Yes, heaven forbid. I won't have you telling her either."

"I never would!" Georgina huffed. "Has it ever occurred to you that I'm shamed to the core of my being?"

"No. You are your mother's daughter. I'm sure you enjoyed every minute of your dissolute...fling."

It was old ground they'd raked over many times, and Georgina didn't have the energy to rake over it again.

"What now, Aunt Augusta? What is it you want from me?"

"It's not appropriate for you to stay here after Portia marries Miles."

"According to Portia, I suppose, but I don't give two figs about her."

"I do. She's been like a second daughter to me."

As Augusta voiced the comment, Georgina was incensed. She should have been the second daughter. She should have been the girl Augusta cherished and favored after Sophia. But Augusta had never liked her, and it was too late to mourn the fact that even the neighbor down the road had taken precedence over Georgina.

"You always hated me," Georgina said, "and I never understood why."

"I don't hate you," Augusta claimed. "You're naught to me but a burden your mother left on my doorstep."

"I've never been a bother. I don't care how often you repeat it. It's not true."

"Be that as it may, you have to leave."

Georgina studied her aunt, and for a fleeting moment she nearly argued again that she was a Marshall and Augusta wasn't. How dare Augusta force her out! Yet Georgina was gradually realizing she simply couldn't bear to remain in her aunt's presence another instant. Nor did she wish to see Miles ever again.

She adored Sophia, but the sad possibility was that-should Georgina disappear-Sophia probably wouldn't even notice. Georgina was that inconsequential to her.

"I'm happy to depart, Aunt Augusta, but to where? And how am I to get there? Will you kick me out on the road to live in a ditch? Shall I speak to the vicar and have him find me a bed in the poor house? Is that the ending you'd like for me? I'm so sick of all of you that I'd likely consent to any humiliating conclusion-if only I can be away from you forever."

"I thought you might go to your father's relatives."

Georgina was startled by the suggestion. Over the years, she'd occasionally asked Augusta about her father, where he was from, what sort of people his family had been. Augusta had insisted she had no information about them.

Now...Georgina could go to her other kin?

If Augusta had suddenly told her she could sprout wings and fly to the moon, she couldn't have been any more surprised.

"You know where they are?"

"Of course."

"You've always known?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Edward felt there was no reason for you to be apprised."

"Why?"

"Because of all the trouble your father caused with the elopement. Edward refused to give you to them."

"They...they...wanted me?"

"I wouldn't say they wanted you precisely, but they wrote several times to inquire. Edward put short shrift to that nonsense."

"Who wrote? My grandparents?"

"Yes, I believe that's who it was. Or it might have been your father's brother. I don't recall."

"I have an uncle and grandparents?"

Tears flooded her eyes. She couldn't help it. The news was astonishing and disturbing. She could escape Kirkwood where she'd never been welcome, where she was so despised. Most particularly, she would never have to see Mr. Drummond again. For despite what Miles, Augusta, and Portia assumed, Georgina was certain Mr. Drummond would return, and there would be hell to pay.

She didn't care to witness any of it.

Without pondering her decision, without considering the consequences, she said, "I would like to go to my father's family. I would like that very much. How can I accomplish it? Are they in England?"

"Yes."

"I don't have money for coach fare."

"I have some for you."

Augusta rose and went to her desk. She removed an envelope and a small purse from the drawer. "You may have their address and other pertinent information, as well as the funds to travel, but there are two conditions."

"Whatever they are, I agree."

"You aren't interested in learning my terms?"

"Demand what you will. It matters not to me."

Augusta mentioned her stipulations anyway. "You must depart immediately-before the wedding is held."

A bubble of outrage tried to surface. She wanted the opportunity to say goodbye to acquaintances. It was all happening too fast! Too soon! But she realized she could breathe deeply for the first time in ages. Why not leave at once? What reason was there to stay?

"I'd be delighted to."

"The mail coach will pass through the village around four. I'd like you to be on it."

"I will be."

"And...you are never to come back to Kirkwood."

"I won't. You have my word."

"You say that now-"

"And I'll say it tomorrow and next week and next year. You've always hated having me here, Augusta, but guess what?"

"What?"

"I've always hated being here."

That wasn't really true. Mostly she'd been content and grateful, but it was an awful existence being poverty-stricken and reviled.

"Well!" August sniffed, it never having occurred to her that Georgina didn't like her or Kirkwood.

"I've disliked you most of all," Georgina added, merely to be spiteful. She extended her hand. "Give me what you promised, and I'll be on my way."

Augusta dithered as if-with her being insulted-she might change her mind. In the end, she provided what Georgina was dying to have. She pointed to the corner where Georgina's battered portmanteau was on the floor.

"Since you were supposed to be evicted today," Augusta said, "you'd already packed. I had the servants carry your belongings over from the cottage. I believe everything is in it."

"Thank you."

"I had the carriage prepared. A footman will drive you into the village."

"I can walk."

"I insist on you taking it."

Georgina scoffed. In all the time Georgina had resided at Kirkwood, Augusta had never offered her the carriage. With Augusta being shed of her so easily, she was feeling generous.

"If it's so important to you," Georgina said, "I'll ride."

"You are to talk to no one."

"I don't see how you can stop me."

"There has been enough upheaval, Georgina. We don't need more, and I especially can't have you quarreling with Portia."

"Poor Portia. We shouldn't upset her."

Augusta ignored the sarcastic remark. "There's money for the coach fare, and I've included a bit extra to tide you over for a few months. It's not much, but it should be sufficient to get you established with your family."

With my family...

Georgina had considered Augusta and Miles to be her family, and she was thrilled that she no longer had to claim them. She stood and went over to her bag. Her pelisse and bonnet were there too. She put them on, grabbed the portmanteau, and started out.

As she stepped into the hall, Augusta snapped, "Georgina!"

"What?"

"Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

"No."