He still wanted to find a way to give her the ability to purchase some of the other things she had seen. The town of Littleton had a market. Would they have the same wares? If it was not mentioned on the way back, he’d have to ask Littleton. Or would Georgie know? “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a market with so many different items for sale.”
“I know what you mean. I always seem to miss the one at home. I wonder what the Littleton market is like.”
Gavin was glad he’d been thinking about the same thing. Otherwise he’d probably not have said what he should have. Shopping had never before mattered to him. Well, shopping that didn’t include plows, cattle, seed, horses, or what he needed to buy for the Season. “We should ask.”
“That is a good idea.” They approached the inn and several of the other guests were mingling in front of the building. “I do not know which market is superior and do not wish to make either Lady Turner or Mrs. Fitzwalter feel badly if theirs is not.”
“Of course, you are right.” Georgie grinned at Gavin, and his chest seemed to puff out. All sorts of strange things were happening to his chest when he was around her. The puffing out he understood, but not the birds.
Still, courting her here was infinitely superior to doing it in Town. On the other hand, they might be getting to know each other better, but he didn’t feel as though he was coming closer to convincing her to marry him. He’d not wanted to, but he was going to have to ask Lady Littleton and the other ladies for suggestions to make Georgie want to be his wife.
“Here we are.” The others were showing off items they had found at the market, and there was a great deal of giggling. The other ladies might be the same age as Adeline and Georgie, but they did not have the same level of maturity. He felt as if he was in the midst of a bunch of schoolroom girls. “Do you wish to find Littleton and Adeline?”
“In a moment.” She led him toward Lytton and Lady Aurelia. “Did you find anything worth taking home with you?”
Lady Aurelia smiled and pointed to several packages Lytton was holding. “I did indeed. Did you see the lace at the one booth? It was all from Belgium.”
“I bought several lengths to share with my mother and sister. After that, the only other present I could afford was a rattle for my nephew.”
“Oh, you poor thing!” Lady Aurelia gave Georgie a rueful smile. “We were told after tea last night to be prepared to spend more than we might normally do in a country market town.”
“I am sorry I missed the advice,” she said, her tone wistful. “Then again, I am very pleased with my purchase.”
She turned to Lytton. “And you, my lord. Did anything catch your fancy?”
“It made me wish I had family to buy things for.” He shifted the packages. “We should go in.”
“Yes, of course.” Lady Aurelia turned toward the door. “Those must be getting heavy.”
As they entered the inn, Georgie held Gavin back. “I think his statement about not having anyone to give presents to was sad.”
It was, actually. Still, he had trouble separating his animosity for his lordship and feeling sorry for the man. Maybe Georgie was right, and he had not had much sense when he was younger. Nevertheless, he would say what she wanted to hear, and give it more thought later. “I agree.”
She walked through the door he held open for her. “I think he and Lady Aurelia make a good pair.”
“Yes, indeed.” If his lordship was concentrating on her ladyship, Gavin would not have to worry about Lytton attempting to capture Georgie’s attention. “Are you planning to matchmake?”
“Me? No. I was making an observation.” She waited for him to close the door. “I leave matchmaking to my sister and grandmother. They have become very good at it.”
He hoped that meant that Lady Featherton would take an active part in matching Georgie and him. “My aunt used to like matchmaking. But now her daughters and my sister are all married, and the children are too young.”
They reached the parlor that had been reserved for the house party. “Do you see your cousins much?”
“Hardly at all. They are all a fair distance from me and never come to Town. I suppose I would see them more if my sister were not in Paris. I seem to spend a great deal of time sailing to France and back.”
Georgie heaved a sigh. “If my sister was in Paris I would do the same thing.”
He wished he could tell her he’d take her there. “Perhaps you’ll visit someday. Didn’t Lady Augusta go to Paris?”
“Yes.” Georgie nodded. “They traveled on from there. Did you know that she and Lord Phineas married?”
“No.” But Gavin hadn’t known the man well enough to keep up a correspondence. “In Paris?”
She worried her lip. “No, at a castle in Slovenia. They are in Padua at the moment. Augusta was told she would be accepted for a course of study at the university.”
They were now in the parlor and it was all he could do to maintain a calm countenance. Ladies did not attend university. Then again, the lady’s family was extremely forward thinking. Still, he did not think they would like that getting around. Then again . . . Damn, he was babbling to himself. “I suppose they will not return for a while.”
“Yes,” she said slowly. “I should be receiving a letter from her soon. She writes often.”
Once he’d got over his shock, he could actually say something that made more sense. “I will be interested to hear how she is doing. Padua is considered one of the best universities there is.”
“So my brother told me.” Georgie removed her hand from his arm, and he felt as if he’d lost part of himself.
He quickly held out a chair for her and sat in the one next to her. “I would appreciate hearing what she thinks of it.”
That earned him a grateful smile. “Thank you for not thinking she is some sort of anomaly.”
“She must be an extraordinarily intelligent lady.” As he’d hoped, her smile widened.
“She is.” Georgie chuckled lightly. “But she is also interested in most of the things we all are. I do wonder how Lord Phineas changed her mind about marrying. She was determined not to until she had finished her studies.”
Gavin would like to know that too. “Maybe you should ask her.”
“I think I shall. It should make for an interesting story.” She took bread and cheese from a tray that was being pushed along the table.
He wondered how long it took for a letter and the response to get to Padua and back to England again. Probably much too long. Gavin helped himself to some ham and bread from the platter. He needed advice, and the sooner he could get back to The Lilacs, the sooner he could ask for it. Fortunately, Adeline looked to be fading. Littleton caught Gavin’s eye and he nodded. “Adeline is ready to go home.”
Georgie immediately took out a handkerchief and wrapped her sandwich in it. “I am ready.”
Gavin finished his sandwich on the way to the coach. By the time they arrived at Littlewood it was time for tea. He took Littleton aside. “I shall leave you and return to your mother’s if you don’t mind.”
He frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want to spend more time with Georgie?”