“No.” He frowned for a moment. “I can’t either. Aren’t those menus planned well in advance?”
That was a good point. “They are. So many items must be ordered.” She could not imagine either Amanda or Mary taking the changing of the menus well. “Perhaps we should tell Lady Turner and Mrs. Fitzwalter about the wager. I have a feeling that Mr. Barfleur will be successful even if no one else is.”
Turley’s eyes widened in something like fear when he glanced at Georgie. “I shall leave that to you. Even though you and Adeline have assured me that marriage has improved the ladies, I do not wish to be there when they discover that their meal plans might be upset.”
Georgie had to laugh. She never supposed that he would be wary of a woman’s anger. But that spoke well for him. If it meant he cared what a lady thought. “Very well, I will do it. You may go hide with the other gentlemen.”
“I will.” They turned into the drive. “Do you remember if there is something planned for the house party this evening?”
Mentally, she reviewed the list. “Whatever it is we did not plan to be there for it. There is a dinner and an informal dance tomorrow evening that we will attend.”
He winged out his arm again and she took it. “May I have two waltzes?”
Goodness. That was the first time he had asked for two dances. “If there are two waltzes, I would be delighted.”
“Thank you.” He pulled out his pocket watch. “Shall we go around to some of the tables? You did wish to take one of the lemon biscuits home.”
Georgie could not believe he had actually remembered that. “Thank you. I would. But first I must find either Lady Turner or Mrs. Fitzwalter.” If she did not do it now, it might not get done. “And tell them about the fish.”
“Very well. Lead on.”
He and Georgie went first to the morning room where the ladies had been earlier, but they were not there. “They must be outside.”
“There is no reason we cannot taste the offerings while we look for them.”
“I suppose not.” Was he hungry already? He found a table with various cakes, and they began sampling them. She took a bite of the most fabulous seed cake she’d ever had. “This must be the famous seed cake.”
“The one Adeline couldn’t get her recipe for?” Georgie nodded, and Turley took out his handkerchief and picked up two slices. “We shall see what Littleton’s cook makes of these.”
“I hope that the ingredients aren’t too difficult to discover. I would like the recipe as well.”
“I agree.” Gavin led her to another table that held fruit and custard tartlets, and found one made with pears. “I won’t be able to eat dinner at all after this. And I don’t normally like sweets.”
Georgie selected a custard tartlet and bit into it. “Mmm. This is good. I do not think I care if I can eat dinner. There are so few opportunities to truly indulge. I wonder if Adeline has even planned dinner this evening.”
He popped a brambleberry tartlet into his mouth. “I think what I like about these is that they are not overly sweet.”
“Indeed. The fruit is allowed to shine, I suppose one could say.” Georgie scanned the area. “They must be here somewhere.”
He thought the advantage of his height might help, but they were not in this area of the garden. “We’ll find them eventually.”
When they entered another area of the garden they came across Littleton and Adeline. Small plates of ice were lined up on the table at which they were sitting, and her countenance held a beatific expression. “I had no idea ices could be so good.”
Georgie gave a light laugh. “Frits introduced ices to her, and she loves them.”
“That is easy to see.” Gavin wondered if Georgie liked anything half as much. “Do you have any favorites?”
“Ices?” Her eyes were wide.
“Any food.”
Her head tilted in one direction then the other. “I used to love lobster patties, but that was because we rarely had them. Now, since they are so prevalent at suppers, I still like them, but I cannot say that I love them anymore.” She shrugged. “I suppose once the Season is over, and they are no longer so available, I shall return to adoring them.”
As she spoke he’d maneuvered them to the table set with ices. “Which ones would you like?”
“The lemon. That is my favorite.”
He selected lemon for her and chocolate for himself, and instead of sitting with their friends, he found a bench under an ornamental tree. “What about other foods?”
She had a contemplative look as she ate her ice. “Roasted lamb. My father does not like it, therefore we rarely have it.” Fortunately, he liked lamb as well. “What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes.” She set the ice cup down. “What is your favorite food?”
“I don’t have one, yet.” Although, his favorite taste might very well be her lips, her neck, her—God! He had to stop this. “I shall tell you when I do.”
“Hmm.” She stared at him for a few moments, then rose. “Let us look around a bit more. We still must find our hostesses.”
“Ah, yes. The fish.” Even though he was more than happy to have her hand on his arm as they ambled through the gardens, he tried to think of a way he could get her back into the woods in order to kiss her. The Fates, however, were not on his side. By the time they managed to hunt down either Lady Turner or Mrs. Fitzwalter, Littleton and Adeline joined them. “I take it that you wish to go home?”
“The fish,” Georgie said.
“What is wrong with the fish?” Adeline asked, clearly confused.
“Some of the gentlemen made a wager that they could provide enough fish for one of the meals without informing either Mary or Amanda,” Georgie explained. “We must tell one of them.”
“I believe they already know,” Frits said. “At least I know that Turner is aware of the wager.”
“Well, then.” Georgie shrugged. “That relieves us of any responsibility.”
“Would you like to remain here?” Adeline asked. “We can send the curricle for you.”
Gavin said a brief prayer that she would agree.
“No. I am ready to leave.” She gave a wicked grin. “Aside from that, we took samples of the seed cake and some of the other sweets. I am hoping that your cook will be able to figure out what is in them.”
“The seed cake?” Adeline’s eyes widened. “I would dearly love to have that recipe.”
All Gavin’s hopes of getting Georgie alone again sank. “We still must find one of the ladies and tell them we are departing.”
“We already did,” Adeline said. “And Frits called for the carriage. It should be in the drive by the time we gain the front door.”
Hell and damnation!
So much for that. Once they arrived at Littlewood, he’d have no reason to remain. Unless . . . “Do you plan to dine this evening?”
Littleton shook his head. “We will only have a cold collation. If you want more, you’ll have to dine at m’mother’s.”
That was exactly what Gavin would have to do. Despite all he had eaten, he knew he’d be hungry in a few hours. “I suppose I will.” He glanced at Georgie in the hope that he would see some sort of reaction, but her countenance didn’t reflect her feelings. If he wasn’t going to be able to be alone with her, there was no point in staying. “Shall we go?”