They passed the open gate. There was nothing he could do about it now, and he’d know soon. None of this would be an issue if he’d had a little more confidence in the ladies planning this party. But the last he’d seen them they both had more hair than wit.
The coach pulled to a stop. They waited until a footman opened the door and let down the steps. “Good evening, my lords and my ladies.”
For some reason Gavin couldn’t guess, Georgie grinned at Adeline. What would be amusing about a greeting?
Littleton climbed down and Gavin followed. Then they each claimed their lady’s hand as they stepped out of the carriage. Simply having Georgie on his arm improved Gavin’s mood.
They were escorted to a large drawing room, and he was pleased to see that he knew most of the gentlemen, and they were indeed younger. However, he could not place any of the ladies. Then again, the moment he’d seen Georgie, she had become his lodestone, and he’d failed to make a point of meeting other ladies. In fact, the only reason he knew the former Miss Tice and Miss Martindale was that he had been made to dance with one of them.
The ladies and their husbands came forward. “Good evening. We are only waiting for Lord Bottomley and Lord Lytton,” Lady Turner said. “Let us introduce you to the others.”
Gavin took in the bevy of ladies and gentlemen and realized, as he hadn’t upon first glance, that his chances of escorting Georgie to dinner had decreased dramatically. If he included Lytton and Bottomley, there were one marquis, three earls, and another viscount. Then he glanced at the ladies. He did not recognize any of them and was never going to remember all their names. Not that it mattered. He would do his best to stay out of their way and with Georgie.
He placed his hand over her fingers. “Do you know any of them?”
“Only Lady Aurelia Tapton,” Georgie whispered. “Do you know them?”
“Most of the gentlemen. A few of them are in the Lords, but I rarely socialize with them.”
Lady Turner took charge of Georgie and Turley while Mrs. Fitzwalter began to shepherd Frits and Adeline around the room. Soon they’d met everyone. Gavin took the opportunity to whisper to Georgie something about each of the gentlemen he knew, so that she would have an easier time remembering them. Although, he really needn’t have bothered. She was adept at asking each guest a question or two about themselves. Soon the ladies were tracing their family lines to determine if there was any relationships or friends of friends or families.
Lytton and Bottomley arrived several minutes later, and they went into dinner. Although Littleton escorted his wife, Gavin was pleased to see that the young Earl of St. Albans escorted Georgie. St. Albans was definitely not in the market for a wife. In fact, Gavin wondered how Turner had got the man to the party in the first place. On the other hand, Gavin’s dinner partner, Miss Lydia Codell, the youngest daughter of a viscount, had nothing on her mind but marriage.
“My sister has just got betrothed,” she said as she fluttered her lashes at him. “It took her three Seasons. I trust it will not take me so long to meet the gentleman I wish to wed.” The last part gave him the impression that the lady thought her sister was lacking in some way.
He’d definitely have to enlist Georgie’s help in keeping him safe from the young ladies. “Indeed. Who is the fortunate gentleman?”
Miss Lydia pushed some peas onto her fork. “The Marquis of Nuneaton,” she practically mumbled.
Miss Lydia’s sister had done very well for herself even if it had taken three Seasons. Gavin knew exactly who Nuneaton was but he still asked, “The Duke of Leicestershire’s eldest?”
“Yes.” This time Miss Lydia’s tone was softer and, he thought, a bit embarrassed.
It was one thing for an older sister to have been out three years and not have much to show for it. It was entirely another thing to be marrying a duke’s heir. She began applying herself to eating, leaving Gavin to allow his gaze to stray to Georgie just as she chuckled lightly. What the devil was St. Albans saying to her? He’d better be behaving himself or Gavin would have to speak to him.
As Miss Lydia had become quiet, he turned to the lady on his left, Miss Blomefield. “Are you taking a holiday from the Season as well?”
The lady’s large brown eyes regarded him seriously. “I find London is not to my taste. Once this week has ended I shall return home.”
Her voice had a determined tenor to it. “Why do I have the feeling that you did not wish for a Season at all?”
“You are very perceptive, my lord.” Her lips tipped up at the corners. “I did not. My father is a diplomat in Holland, and I have met the gentleman I wish to marry. However, my mother insisted I have at least one Season.”
“Ah.” He wondered how often that happened. He didn’t think he’d ever heard of a young lady not wishing for a Season. He wondered if in some way or another the gentleman had not found favor with the lady’s mother. However, to ask would be impertinent. “I wish you good luck.”
“Thank you. Although, I am certain I shall succeed.” Her smile broadened. “My aunt is quite unable to—to, oh how shall I say it—”
Gavin chuckled. “Stop an immovable force?”
“Something like that.” She glanced across the table. “I take it that you are interested in Miss Featherton.”
“Something like that.” He would not say more. No one else needed to know that he had a long road ahead of him when it came to courting Georgie.
“In that case, I wish you luck.” Bottomley, on the other side of Miss Blomefield, addressed her and Gavin went back to his food.
* * *
Georgie glanced at Turley, sitting directly across the table from her, as he grinned at Miss Blomefield and jealousy almost flooded her.
“She’s not interested in him,” Lord St. Albans said. “She has a beau in Holland.”
Part of Georgie wanted to deny she was looking at Turley, but her curiosity got the better of her. “How do you know?”
“Her aunt is a friend of my mother’s, and my mother always has an eye out for likely brides for me.” He chuckled. “She knows I’m not ready for the parson’s noose, but I suppose she wants to keep in practice.”
“Until you are ready?” Georgie had to grin at him.
“Indeed.” He nodded. “I can’t put the inevitable off forever. Nor do I wish to. I will have to marry at some point.”
She looked at the lady on Turley’s other side, who seemed to be studiously eating. She had a recollection of Miss Lydia Codell from Town, and in Georgie’s opinion the girl was much too green to be out. Yet she had been speaking with Turley earlier. What had he said to make her so quiet?
“Miss Lydia is not a threat.” St. Alban’s tone was a bored drawl. “She is barely out of the schoolroom. In fact, I believe she escaped from it and should be immediately returned.”
That was blunt speaking. Georgie tried to remember who the lady’s sister was and could not. “She has an older sister who is out?”
“Yes. She is to be married soon. I think her father thought he could get his second daughter off his hands as well.”
“Your mother again?” It seemed as if everyone but her had a mother who knew things about the unmarried members of the ton.