Now Georgie and Adeline just needed to get rid of Lady Aurelia.
“Lady Aurelia,” the duchess said from the chairs behind them. “Please attend me. I have something about which I wish to speak with you.”
She glanced at Adeline, who nodded. “Certainly, your grace.”
Adeline took Georgie’s arm. “That was good timing.”
“That was the duchess being helpful.” Georgie led her friend in the direction of the library. Fortunately, she had been there before.
* * *
“Your grace, ladies.” Young Lady Aurelia—well not that most people would call her young, but Lucinda and Constance did—curtsied. “I have not seen you for a long time, Aunt Bridgewater.”
“That, my girl,” Constance said, “is because you no longer come to Town.”
A light pink stained Lady Aurelia’s cheeks. “Aunt, you know that I was not very successful during my Seasons.”
“The ton is full of numbskulls.” Constance’s voice was firm and reassuring.
“Yes, it is.” Lucinda was pleased to see how self-assured the girl had become.
“Well then, what do you think of Lytton?” When she had agreed to let Constance do the talking, Lucinda had not expected her to shoot a broadside.
This time the lady did not blush at all. “I think he will do nicely.”
“We’ve been receiving reports, and Lady Featherton and I agree.”
Lady Aurelia narrowed her eyes the tiniest bit at Constance. “Aunt Bridgewater, do you know why Lord Littleton and Lord Turley took Lord Lytton to the library?”
“Of course we do.” Constance rose from her chair. “And it’s about time we joined them.”
“Only if you are certain you wish to marry Lord Lytton.” Lucinda watched the girl’s countenance for any sign of distress.
Lady Aurelia was silent for several seconds. “I would like to wed him. We have found many mutual areas of interest this week. I think it would be a good match.”
“Excellent.” Lucinda took the young lady’s arm. “We should not waste any more time.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Georgie and Adeline arrived on the heels of the gentlemen. Gavin opened the door and ushered everyone into the room. A fire burned in the marble-trimmed fireplace and, although the curtains were drawn, wall sconces and candelabras had been lit. Clearly the room had been made ready for their use.
He poured the wine and brandy that was on a long table. Georgie made a note to ask him when he had notified Lord Turner that they needed to use the room.
Everyone but Gavin had taken seats at the table, but he stood behind her with his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. But despite his apparent calm, she could feel the tension radiating from him.
“Lytton, there was an incident that occurred today that you might wish to know about.”
His lordship inclined his head, but he was clearly at a loss as to why they had called him here.
“Three men in your coach attempted to abduct Miss Featherton.”
His lordship’s face drained of color, and Frits quickly pressed a glass of brandy into Lytton’s hand. “Drink.”
He drank almost half the glass, and his voice was still not steady. “How?”
“We were racing.” Gavin squeezed one of her shoulders. “It’s something we do a lot. Miss Featherton got to the end first.” She was impressed that the fact did not even embarrass him. “The coach was there, and two men grabbed her. Fortunately, her horse kicked one of the men. We do not know his condition. They shoved her into the coach and took off. What they did not know is that Miss Featherton’s brother-in-law had taught her how to fall. She took it upon herself to jump out of the coach.”
Lord Lytton covered his face with his hands. “Dear God.”
“We got away, and she, as you can see, did not suffer. I sent servants back for the man who had been kicked, but he was no longer there.”
Lord Lytton leaned his head back over the chair as if he could no longer hold it up. A few seconds later, he glanced at her, and she could see his distress in the lines that deepened around his mouth. “I thank God you were not injured, Miss Featherton.”
She reached up and covered Gavin’s hand with hers. “When we arrived this evening we quickly realized that you had no knowledge of what had happened. One of the men said that you would be happy now. Do you have any idea why he would say or think that?”
Lord Lytton dragged a hand over his face. “I came to this house party with the intention of courting you. But, it soon became crystal clear when I came upon you riding that day that Turley here had the advantage. I had mentioned the possibility of making you my wife to my coachman and groom, and probably said something about wishing that you were interested in me. The day I returned from the ride, I told them that I had been mistaken. At the time I’d already met Lady Aurelia and decided to see where that would lead. Please forgive me. I had absolutely no idea that those sap-skulls would do anything so ill-advised and—”
“Dastardly?” Gavin supplied.
“Yes, dastardly and whatever other description I can think of.” Lord Lytton took another drink of the brandy. “I cannot apologize to you enough.” He looked at her with abject regret in his eyes. “What do you want me to do to them? How can I make it up to you?”
She curled her fingers around Gavin’s hand. He was not going to be happy with what she had to say. “If you must know, the whole situation worked out to our advantage. We are now betrothed.”
Behind her, he growled. “Only due to Miss Featherton’s skill and bravery. If she had been any other lady, the situation would have been disastrous.”
“Turley.” She kept her tone soft, but it was still a rebuke.
“No, no, Miss Featherton. Lord Turley is absolutely correct. My servants must be punished. If you wish to call the magistrate, I will not make excuses for them.”
He did have a point. Things could have turned out very badly indeed. “I suggest you talk to them when you return. If you wish me to give information, I shall.” Still, she could not understand why servants would go to such lengths. “I have noticed”—Georgie wanted to ask this question carefully—“you have proposed marriage to a number of ladies since last Season. Is there a particular reason?”
“There is.” A flush rose into his face. “My aunt has complete control over all the property that is not entailed, including most of the convertible assets.”
What a horrible situation. “In effect, you have the title and land but little money.”
“Yes.” He nodded and started to pick up his glass of brandy then stopped. “She has given me notice that she will pick a lady for me if I do not select one for myself. The problem is that she is quite particular about the qualifications the lady in question must have.” He drummed his fingers on the table as if trying to make a decision. “My servants are concerned about the type of lady she would demand I marry.” He grimaced slightly. “My aunt is not well liked in my household.”
The door opened and Lady Aurelia followed by Georgie’s grandmother and the duchess strode into the room.
“I believe that is where I come in,” Lady Aurelia inclined her head at the group before addressing Lord Lytton. “You are not aware of the negotiations, for I can call them nothing else, between my mother and your aunt.”