The others nodded their assent. As they strolled around the side of the house to the front, his frustration grew. First Barfleur and now his friends. Georgie wasn’t helping either. She had wanted, expected him to kiss her under the tree, but since then, she acted like nothing had happened or almost happened, and he didn’t know what to do about it.
On the journey back, the ladies discussed the recipes they trusted Cook would discover, and Littleton’s arm lay across his wife’s shoulders as he regarded his wife with a besottedness that was becoming damned irritating. Especially when Gavin had to mind his p’s and q’s with Georgie. There had to be a way to get her alone again where no one would interrupt them. The problem was where? If he even asked to take her for a walk a maid or, more likely, a footman would accompany them. This whole thing would have been much easier if they were actually staying at the Turners’ house. But there was no point in wishing for something that would not occur.
“That would be wonderful. Do you not agree, my lord?” Georgie said.
For a moment he thought she was speaking to Littleton, but he was Frits. Gavin was the only one she called “my lord.” Another thing he wanted to change. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t listening. What would be wonderful?”
“If Cook could discover the ingredients for the seed cake by tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” He smiled at her. At least he’d done something right today.
They’d drawn up in front of Littlewood, and he helped her down from the coach. “I shall say a prayer that the secret ingredient is found.”
She gave him what he thought of as her beatific smile. “I do not believe I thanked you for allowing me to handle the matter with Mr. Barfleur. Most gentlemen would not have permitted a lady to take the lead.”
He held her lapis gaze and took her other hand in his. “In that case, most gentlemen are idiots.”
“You might be right.” The corners of her lush deep-pink lips rose. “But not you.”
“No,” he agreed. “I do not consider myself so.” Except that he had yet to work out how to kiss her. “Have a good evening. Would you like to ride tomorrow?”
“I would. Thank you for asking.”
He brought her gloved fingers to his lips. “Until tomorrow.”
“Until then.” As he stepped back, he saw the butler waiting at the door. No. They would definitely not be allowed to be alone together here. It was time to ask the ladies for ideas again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Georgie entered the hall to find Adeline waiting for her. “Shall we take the cake and biscuits to Cook?”
“We shall,” Adeline said slowly as she searched Georgie’s face. “But first I want to know if Turley finally kissed you.”
“No.” Georgie heaved a sigh. Her one goal for the day, and she had been unable to bring it about. “Although, it was not for lack of trying. I found a grand old weeping willow by the river and insisted on seeing the inside. He was about to kiss me. I know he was when Mr. Barfleur had an altercation with a local boy. Suffice it to say we felt compelled to intervene.”
“Well, drat.” Adeline opened the green baize door and held it for Georgie. “There are only two more days of the house party left. I had so hoped that you and he would be settled by then.”
“As you say, there are still two days.” And two nights. “If only we could ride the horses by ourselves.”
“Hmm.” Adeline stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “When are you riding next?”
“In the morning.” Georgie wondered what her friend had in mind.
“I cannot arrange it that quickly, but the day after I can come up with an errand for Johnson to do at the last minute.”
“Before he knows we are riding.” None of the other grooms had gone out with them, and they would probably not think of offering to go with them. “That might work.”
“I will not be able to tell Frits until much later.” Adeline grimaced. “He will not be pleased.”
Turley had become much more attentive than he had in Town. Georgie prayed it was because despite his fears he was coming to love her. “If it all goes as I hope it will, he will be pleased.”
“You are right about that.” They walked down the flagstone corridor to the kitchen. “For now, let’s see what Cook makes of the cake and biscuits.”
Georgie touched Adeline’s arm. “You do realize that you will never be able to serve the seed cake to either Mary or Amanda.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but, of course, I could not.” She reached the entrance to the kitchen, and flashed Georgie a grin. “The good thing is that we do not have regular visiting hours here.” She stepped inside the kitchen, which was much more orderly than the one at the Turners’ house. Then again, there were not the number of guests. “Mrs. Fanner.”
“My lady.” The cook bobbed a curtsey. “What do you require of me?”
Georgie pulled the napkins from her reticule. “We would like to know if you can replicate the seed cake and biscuits.”
“The lady who served them was unwilling to share her recipe. Of course your seed cake is excellent, but there is something about this one.”
The older servant smiled. “My recipe is from his lordship’s great-great-grandmother. It will not hurt my feelings at all to try to discover the mystery of this one.”
Adeline grinned. “I knew I could depend upon you.”
“As you always may, my lady. Just leave it to me.” The cook took the handkerchiefs from Georgie.
They turned to leave when she thought of something else with which the cook might be able to assist. “You have been at Littlewood for a long time, have you not?”
“Yes, miss, I have.”
“Do you know if Lord Turley has a favorite dish or food?”
“Most of the time he and his lordship ate everything in sight. But let me give that some thought.”
“Thank you.” With any luck at all, Mrs. Fanner would remember something.
“What was that about?” Adeline asked as they went back to the hall.
“While we were sampling the different offerings, I had a lemon ice and told him that it was my favorite food.” Georgie pulled a face. “Well, almost anything with lemon in it tastes good to me. In any event, I asked him what his favorite food was, and he could not think of a thing.”
“Interesting.” Adeline paused on the way to the morning room. “Frits and I both have favorite foods. Well, favorite ices.”
“According to Turley, he does not even have a favorite ice.”
“Now that I find odd.” She linked her arm with Georgie’s. “I am certain our cook will know. Or perhaps, my mother-in-law.”
Georgie did not know why she had not thought of Lady Littleton. She glanced out the window of the morning room. “Do you mind if I take a short ride? There is something I wish to work on with Lilly.”
“No, not at all.” Adeline added a pillow to the one on the daybed. “In fact, I shall take a bit of a nap. I am not quite as tired as I have been, but it’s been a busy day.”
Georgie wondered if she would be so tired when she was with child. She turned and hurried to her rooms. There was only one way to find out. But first she had to get Turley to admit he loved her. In the meantime, she would practice starts with her mare. He and Lochinvar were not going to win the next race.