“I trust you had a pleasant evening, my lord.” The valet removed his jacket, frowned at the way he toed his shoes off, and began picking up the items of clothing Gavin tossed to him.
“It was pleasant.” But that was about all it was. He’d have to find a way to sit next to Georgie at dinner. When was the next dinner? Damn. He had no idea of the events they were scheduled to attend. “Don’t wake me in the morning. I feel as if I’ve attended an event in Town.”
“Very well.” Ardley took the discarded clothing to the dressing room.
Gavin stretched before walking over to the bed. He knew he’d dream about Georgie tonight and did not want any of it interrupted. Throwing back the sheets, he climbed into bed and shivered for a moment. One day, he’d learn to wait until his valet had run the warming pan between the sheets. On the other hand, it was just as well they were cold. He’d walked around half the evening with the beginnings of an erection. How much more time did he have to give her before he could start showing her that how he felt was as good as being in love? It was even better. He’d seen couples fall out of love and that created major problems. If a man and woman were already friends, and they had passion, then they had everything they needed, and wouldn’t have to worry about falling out of love.
I am an idiot.
That was exactly the argument to use with her. The only problem was how soon he could make it. Perhaps the ladies would know. They had seemed receptive to his decision not to fall in love. Surely they’d help him.
The cold sheets had not worked after all. He dreamed she was in his bed, under him, over him, kissing him everywhere, and awoke with a massive erection. He’d have to do something soon.
Chapter Fifteen
Georgie trudged up the steps to her rooms. It had been all she could do not to lean against Turley as Adeline had done with Frits. Yet that would not have helped her cause. If Turley wanted to marry her, he had to love her or admit he loved her. Georgie really could not accept anything else.
She entered her chamber and stood as Smith undressed her and put Georgie into her nightgown.
It was all very confusing. He was doing everything she had seen her brother and his friends do with their wives. He’d kept glancing at her during dinner. Of course she had sneaked looks at him, but she made sure that he hadn’t seen her. He had come and stood next to her as soon as the gentlemen entered the drawing room, acting as if he dared any other man to approach—none of them did. And at the end of the evening, he had handed her into and out of the coach.
She sat and could have moaned with pleasure when her maid released her hair from its elaborate design and began to brush it. She had been so excited when she was first allowed to put it up. Now she wished she could wear it down at times. Ah, well. People often sought what they could not have. Children wished to grow up. Older people wished for youth. The poor wanted wealth, and the wealthy . . . She frowned. They still wanted wealth, but many of them did not want the responsibility and duties that came with it. If only she could be happy with a gentleman who would care for her and give her the life she wanted. But she could not. She wanted more, and one way or another she’d have it. Georgie felt as if she was going in circles.
One of the house party entertainments was to visit a local village fair. Perhaps a fortune-teller would be there, and she could have that woman tell her what her future held.
“Come along, Miss Georgie.” Smith stepped back. “I’ve just finished running the bed warmer between the sheets and it’s time for you to go to sleep.”
Georgie glanced at the clock as she covered her mouth and yawned, again. It was not even eleven o’clock. “It’s been a long day.”
“And tomorrow won’t be any better.” Her maid started putting away hairpins, ribbons, and the combs that had held her hair. “I understand there is to be a gypsy hunt, whatever that is, you will be attending.”
That almost woke her up. “A gypsy hunt? Why would we do that?”
“I’m sure I don’t know.” Smith plucked up Georgie’s gown from the back of a chair. “All I was told is to have you ready by ten so that you can make the drive over to Lady Turner’s house.”
But Georgie was supposed to ride with Turley in the morning. Had he even been informed about the entertainment? There was nothing she could do about it now, but when she saw Frits at breakfast, she’d ask him to send a note to Turley.
“In that event, I’d better go to sleep.” She climbed into bed and her maid drew the covers up over her. “Good night, Smith.”
“Good night, Miss Georgie.”
In her dreams, Turley held her close to him, and she snuggled into his warmth. She lifted her head and stared at his well-formed lips.
She woke to something landing on the bed, and loud purring. “Sebastian.” The ginger and cream cat nudged her hand to be stroked.
What would it be like to feel Turley’s lips on hers? Yet, as she tried to imagine the kiss, it occurred to her that he had only once attempted to kiss her. At least that’s what she thought he was doing. She turned onto her back. Not for the first time, she remembered that he had never been anything but perfectly polite. Yes, his touch burned through the layers of clothing to her skin, sending pleasurable shivers through her body, but other than that—and she truly hoped he did not know how he affected her—he’d done nothing to show her he wanted her. Was that because he did not love her? But surely passion was important in a marriage, even one without love.
Sebastian settled next to her, and she turned her pillow over and rolled onto her side. She would give Turley this week. If he had not managed to at least attempt—again?—to kiss her, she’d give him up as a forlorn hope. She had almost slipped into sleep when another thought occurred to her. Had Mary and Amanda already paired their guests for the gypsy hunt or would she be able to be with Turley? If Adeline were not already asleep, Georgie would be strongly tempted to go ask her friend. Instead, she rolled over again. Answers, one way or the other, would come in the morning. But why wait for someone else’s answer? If they arrived early, Adeline could ask either Mary or Amanda if Georgie could be paired with Turley. It would be seen as an attempt at matchmaking. With her mind now settled, she closed her eyes again. Tomorrow could prove to be interesting.
* * *
The next morning, she came upon Adeline in the corridor. “May I speak with you for a moment?”
Adeline’s stomach growled as she glanced longingly at the door to the breakfast room, but nodded. “Will this take much time?”
“It will not take long at all.” Georgie pulled her friend into a rarely used parlor and closed the door. “If this game is not actually hunting gypsies—in which case I hope you will join with me to stop it—and it has teams, will you ask either Mary or Amanda to put me on the same team as Turley?”
Adeline nodded again. “Of course.” Then she pinned Georgie with a look. “What is this about?”
There was no reason not to relate what she had been thinking. “You remember when Frits first kissed you?”
“Yes,” Adeline said slowly.
“And how after that you became much more interested in him?” Georgie wondered if she was going to have to walk her friend through everything she had considered.