On the walnut desk standing between two sets of windows was the schedule for the house party. They would not attend all of the events. Neither she nor her friend had any interest in archery contests. But tomorrow afternoon was a garden party. Frits had first kissed Adeline at a garden party. Georgie wondered if Turley would take the opportunity to kiss her when Johnson wasn’t around. She heaved a sigh. If only ladies were allowed to make the first move when it came to kissing. But they were not. It would be seen as horribly forward and even a gentleman who thought he was in love with a lady would be appalled at such forwardness. What she could do was suggest a walk in the woods. Although she had not had an opportunity to explore them, Mary Turner had been effusive about all the interesting sights they held. What would it be like to be able to learn about one’s future home before one was married? Both Adeline and Mary had been able to do just that. Come to think of it, Georgie did not even know where Turley’s main estate was. He never mentioned it. Now that she thought about it, she wondered what the reason could be. Most gentlemen were happy to describe their holdings in detail. Rivercrest was the name of his main estate, and she wondered if it actually had a river. Or it might be that he did not like his main estate and preferred to live on another one. She tried to recall what he had said during his proposal, but could not. Perhaps she would ask him about at least his main property. If he had told her and she had forgotten then it served him right for not being in love with her.
“My lady.” Smith came out of the dressing room. “Your bath is ready.”
“Thank you.” Georgie put down the glass. “And thank you for the wine. I appreciate it.”
For the first time since the maid had come to work for her, Smith blushed. “Thank you, miss.”
Georgie took her time bathing and then selecting a gown for the evening.
By the time she entered the drawing room, Frits and Turley were already there. “Where is Adeline? She is not overtired, is she?”
Turley handed Georgie a glass of claret. “No. There was a problem she had to see to. I expect—ah, here she is.” He bowed. “I hope everything is now in order.”
“It is.” Adeline smiled as she accepted a goblet of wine from her husband. “A question arose with one of the maids in training.”
“In training?” He appeared confused.
“Yes.” Georgie took pleasure in knowing something about Littlewood that he did not. “You are aware of all the follies?”
His blond brows drew together making his expression serious, and she could imagine him giving that look to a child with the same light blue eyes and blond curls. “I am.”
“They are being used to train maids and footmen.” She did not even try to hold in her grin as his brows shot up to his hair.
“How interesting. How often do they have to attend to the follies?”
“Every day from what I have seen.” Georgie raised a brow as if to challenge any complaint he might make.
“That is an excellent idea.” He turned from her to their friends. “I assume you help to place them after their training is completed.”
“We do,” Frits said. “We work closely with an employment agency that my family has used for years now.”
“Considering how difficult it is for young men and women in the country to find reliable and appropriate employment, I might just have to find a way to institute a program at Rivercrest.”
So Rivercrest was where Turley lived when not in Town. “You have never told me about your estates. Other than to say there were several of them.”
“Have I not?” He studied Georgie for a moment. “I suppose it’s because my sister told me how gentlemen drone on and on about them. What would you like to know?”
Well, that gave her a carte blanche.
“My ladies, my lords.” Creswell bowed. “Dinner is served.”
Turley held his arm out to her. “You may ask anything you like.”
She placed her hand on his arm, and in an attempt not to focus on the feelings touching him gave her actually paid attention to its strength. “Do you do some of the physical work? My father and brother do.”
“Yes, when I’m needed.” He started to amble in the direction of the small dining room. “All my tenants know they can call on me.”
“Did your father do the same?” Suddenly his face shuttered. What had happened? Was it her mention of his father? Oh, drat! It was. How could she have forgotten what his father had done when his mother had died?
Thankfully, he seemed to force the memory or reaction away. “When I was younger he did. However, in his later years he was not himself.”
She had to keep in mind his family problems as she delved into what she wished to know. After all, she did not want him to refuse to answer her questions. “But you followed the example and do the same.”
“I do.” His arm, which had become as hard as steel, relaxed. “It gives me a great deal of pleasure and a sense of accomplishment to work with my tenants.”
“I understand that.” She gave his arm a squeeze, and he smiled at her. “When we are home or on another of my family’s estates, my mother and I always make baskets and visit the tenants. It is good to know how they are doing and be able to help if we are can.”
“Who takes care of them when you are not there?”
“All my father’s stewards are married.” She reviewed what she knew about them. “I believe it is a requirement.”
“The steward’s wife makes the visits when your mother is not present.”
“Yes,” she said, confirming his statement. “Then when my mother visits, the steward’s wife goes over the list with her.” It had not occurred to her before how important that was to the estate and how it ran.
The corners of his lips twitched as he gazed down at her, making her heart flutter. “I’m learning a great deal this evening.”
Her heartbeat increased to a tattoo, and Georgie glanced away quickly at the door to the dining room, but then forced herself to meet his eyes. “I suspect there is always more to be learnt no matter the subject.”
Gavin searched her lapis blue eyes. “I have to believe you are right.” He helped Georgie take her seat and, as always sat next to her. “I look forward to having someone give me other opinions and challenging my thinking.”
“Are you?” A hint of doubt entered her eyes, and he knew that although they had spent time together, they had not spent the right time together.
“I am absolutely serious about it. One will become averse to change without it.” They were interrupted by a footman pouring wine and then by dishes being passed around. Dinner with the four of them was extremely informal. “Would you care for Brussels sprouts?”
“Yes, thank you. I adore the way Cook does them with bits of ham.”
He almost groaned, knowing that his friend would launch into the quality of his ham, but surprisingly, Littleton did not. Which made Gavin say perversely, “It is the way the pigs are raised.”
“So I have heard.” Her lips quivered as if she would burst into laughter at any moment.
How he would like to see that. He would especially like to see it at Rivercrest. Merriment had not filled the house in many years. And he was more certain than ever that he would like to see Georgie as its mistress.