So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry...”
Georgie cast a surreptitious look at her sister and was chagrined to see tears in her eyes. Had Colin’s scheme had the opposite effect of the one he’d intended?
“...And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.”
When he’d finished, Sarah joined in the applause, then abruptly excused herself to replenish the trays of black bun and shortbread, although they were already quite full.
After that, people rose and refilled their teacups or moved chairs to speak with someone new. Georgie ate a piece of black bun, and then talked to Claire for a time, asking after Mira, who would be in bed by now with Sonali and Armaan watching over her.
She then played a game of dominoes with Cora, until Mamma noticed the girl yawn for the third time in as many minutes and put her to bed in her own room.
Georgiana soon grew restless. She wanted to play another game of whist or perhaps charades. She looked around for Colin, hoping he would second the notion and help her rouse enough players from among the well-fed, relaxed crowd. Where had he gone? Up to the water closet? She waited a few minutes, but the only person to descend was his father.
“Mr. Hutton, do you know where Colin is?”
“I believe he left, oh, some twenty minutes ago.”
Her stomach sank. “He left? Did he say why?”
“I thought he mumbled something about running to Westmount for something. Though he should have been back by now, if that was the case. Perhaps he’s gone to Temple Cottage. That pretty Miss Marriott invited him to join their small celebration there. I did not think he intended to go, but I suppose he might have changed his mind.”
Disappointment coursed through her like ice water. Had Colin merely fulfilled his obligation at Sea View and then left as soon as he could to go where he really wished to spend New Year’s Eve? Most likely. Georgie’s shoulders slumped.
She returned to the drawing room and sat heavily in an armchair, her interest in games dissipating. Her enjoyment of the evening too.
As midnight approached, those remaining rearranged their chairs in a large circle.
When the hands of the clock approached the hour, Mamma, as the head of the family, went to the door and opened it wide to usher out the old year and bring in the new. In the distance the church bells pealed, ringing in the New Year. When the last stroke of midnight died away, she shut the door quietly and returned to the others. Yet she had barely crossed the threshold when someone knocked on the door.
Effie looked up eagerly. “I wonder who that is? Who will be our first footer?” She rose and dashed into the hall to find out, and curious, Georgie followed.
Effie herself opened the door before Mr. Gwilt could do so.
There was indeed a tall, well-dressed, and prosperous-looking young man on their doorstep.
She could tell nothing about the shape of his foot, but what showed of his hair from beneath a fashionable beaver hat was decidedly dark. In fact, his forehead bore a dark streak as well.
Georgie burst out laughing. Colin Hutton stood there, his hair blackened with soot or lampblack or some such.
Hands on her hips, she proclaimed, “Colin Hutton, you are incorrigible.”
Effie narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t think he counts.”
“I was not in the house at midnight,” Colin defended. “And I come well supplied.” He lifted the sack slung over his shoulder.
Sarah stepped out from the drawing room doorway. “Who is it?”
