They were almost halfway back to the house and both of them had been quieter than usual. “I don’t know. He’s rarely here. It’s not his main estate.”
“Hmm.” She became quiet again for several seconds. “Perhaps I shall suggest that Frits put up a sign. I cannot think it would be comfortable to—to know that anyone could mistake their way.”
Especially if someone such as Adeline, Georgie, or a future child could be harmed. “I think that is an excellent idea.”
A small smile tugged at her lips, but she was clearly concerned about the matter. “Perhaps you could mention it as well.”
“I’ll be happy to do so.” After that unexpected meeting, Gavin trusted that Lytton understood in no uncertain terms that Georgie was not for him. Soon Gavin would have to have the conversation with her that he’d hoped to avoid. Telling her that he could not marry for love. But he would wait until after the ball.
“It might be a good idea to put up a gate across that road,” Johnson said. “Doesn’t happen often as far as I know, but I agree with Miss Georgie. Twice is too many times. It ain’t safe.”
“A gate would be the perfect solution,” she agreed. “Thank you for the suggestion.”
“Don’t you worry none. Ain’t nothing going to happen to you when I’m around.” The groom nodded emphatically as if to make his point. “I kept their lordships from coming to harm, and they were a lot more trouble.”
At that, Georgie started to chuckle. “I imagine they were.”
Gavin found himself grinning as well. “We were adventurous.”
Johnson’s eyes widened. “Is that what ye called it?”
Georgie’s laughter became louder and deeper. “I wish I could have seen the two of you.”
“Ah, but would you have tried to join in, or were you the little girl who kept clean and sewed her samplers?”
She cast him a coy look as she and Lilly moved as if one into a gallop. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” she called back over her shoulder.
“Minx,” he shouted at her, urging his horse to catch up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Georgie slowed Lilly to a walk before they reached the stable yard. Turley and the groom were close behind. She had been having so much fun with him over the past few days, and it still amazed her that she had known so little about him before now. After they took care of their horses, he went back to The Lilacs, and she ascended the stairs to her apartments aware that she smelled as if she was bringing Lilly into the house with her. A bath was definitely in order. Fortunately, her maid had everything but the hot water prepared, and with the pump that brought the water to this floor that was easily obtained.
“You are very organized,” Georgie praised her maid as she stood to be undressed.
“I knew you had to return soon for luncheon before departing for the entertainment.”
Was she that late? She turned her head and looked at the clock. Good Lord! She’d had no idea how long they had been out. It certainly hadn’t seemed that long. Well, there was no point in drawing attention to Turley’s and her failure to note the time.
Soon she lowered herself into the tub and wished she had time to linger. After a quick scrub, she stood for water to be poured over her shoulders, and took the warmed towel from her maid. The sound of running in the corridor could be heard in the room. “What is that?”
“Maximus and the puppy have been playing.” Smith sounded unconcerned. “If I may say so, they are very sweet together. Maximus takes great care not to harm little Jeremy.”
Aside from hunting dogs, the only dogs in the Featherton household had been much smaller than a Great Dane. Since coming to know the breed, Georgie had been entertaining the idea of getting one as well. “I hope they will still be running around when I am ready to go down for luncheon.”
“I predict”—Smith’s lips tilted up—“that this will be a fairly common occurrence. All the breakables have been removed from this area of the house.”
Georgie had quickly dried herself and handed the towel to her maid. “That will be fun. I have hardly seen the dogs lately.”
“Mr. Creswell said that there was a new calf that has interested Maximus.”
She did not want to even imagine how foul the Dane had smelled if he’d spent most of his time with the cows. “I see. Or I think I do.”
“I understand that he takes great delight in . . . acquiring a suitable scent for the calf.”
“He probably thinks he is related somehow.” Frits had told her about the dog actually pretending to graze on grass in order to interest the cows in him. “They are interesting animals.”
“That they are, miss.” Smith held up Georgie’s chemise, and she lifted her arms.
In less time than she had thought possible she was ready to go down to eat. Although why they were dining, when they had been told there would be food at the garden party, she had no idea. Then again, her friends did as they wished. Which, all things considered, was not a bad way to live one’s life. Perhaps that was the reason they did not enjoy being in Town that much with all the rules of Polite Society.
Unfortunately, by the time she strolled into the corridor the dogs were gone. That was a shame. When she reached the breakfast room Turley was already in conversation with Frits and Adeline. But the footmen were still setting out the meal. At least she was not too terribly late.
When Georgie entered, he smiled brightly at her and rose, holding out the chair next to his. “Thank you.”
His eyes warmed as he seated her. “I was just asking why, if we are being provided with delicacies at the Turners’, we are eating now.”
“And I was about to explain,” Frits said, “that I require more than delicacies. Not only that, but my beloved must have nourishing meals before she can gorge on cakes and biscuits, or whatever is there.”
Adeline wrinkled her nose at him. “I had much rather not be hungry than eat things that will make me feel ill. I am just now beginning to enjoy food again.” Her hand went to her stomach and she grinned at Frits. “He is moving much more vigorously.” She glanced at Georgie. “This morning was the first time Frits could feel him.”
“How exciting for you.” Even though Georgie was genuinely happy for her friends, she could not but wish that she too would have a child soon.
She followed Frits’s stare to Turley and the wistful look on his face. It had never occurred to her that a man could want a child as much or in the same way a woman did. Had her father and brother been like that? It warmed her heart that Turley was. Could he love a child and not the mother? She almost wished that she had not been told about his fear he would be like his father. On the other hand, what would her lack of knowledge change?
Creswell served the soup, a broth with chicken with large pieces of vegetables, as well as bread she had never seen before. Cut into slices, it was brown with large holes as if it had not been kneaded enough and a thick crust. “What is this?”
“It is a recipe from Frits’s great-grandmother,” Adeline said. “In German, the soup is called an Eintopf and the bread is Bauernbrot. It is really just a soup with large pieces of chicken and vegetables and farmer’s bread.”