While she was speaking, the gentlemen had jumped up and brought sufficient chairs to the table. Georgie poured three more glasses of wine. This should prove interesting.
Once the ladies were seated, Lord Lytton said, “You are correct. I know nothing of any such schemes.”
Before Lady Aurelia could respond, the duchess said, “You should know that my niece has had many offers for her hand, but by no one she wished to marry. Naturally, I stood by her when she rejected them.”
Lord Lytton’s hand tightened on his glass, but he had the sense not to comment.
“Thank you, Aunt.” Lady Aurelia turned to his lordship. “I was convinced to come here to meet you and ascertain if you would suit me.”
“And do I?” The poor man sounded as if he had swallowed a frog.
Gavin, who was still standing behind Georgie, coughed.
“You do.” For a moment, she thought the lady would propose. Then a slight blush painted Lady Aurelia’s neck and cheeks.
“In that case”—he glanced around the table—“and in the presence of witnesses, I am asking you to be my wife. I will be the best husband I can be to you. That I promise.”
The color in her face deepened. “And I shall be the best wife I can be to you. I accept.”
“Very prettily done,” the duchess said.
“I agree.” Grandmamma rose. “Just think how thrilled Lady Turner and Mrs. Fitzwalter will be to have two betrothals announced at their very first ball. They will set a fashion.”
Gavin groaned again and the duchess slid him a look. “What do you have to worry about? You will be married.”
Georgie twisted around and tried to see his face, but couldn’t.
“Your grace, you are absolutely correct. In fact, I shall be so happy wed to Georgie that I will wish the same happiness on my fellow man.”
She had never heard such fustian from him. “That is doing it a bit too brown.”
“Not at all, my love.” He bent down and kissed her cheek. “Look at how Littleton worked to get us together.”
“Come along.” The duchess headed toward the door. “We need to find at least one of our hostesses.”
They dutifully followed the duchess and Grandmamma out the door.
“I do not have to ask if she is really going to do this,” Lady Aurelia commented. “My aunt is equal to anything.”
Georgie wondered if the lady knew about how the two grand dames got Kit and Mary together or helped Meg and Hawksworth. “Truer words were never spoken.”
One footman was sent running to find Lady Turner and Mrs. Fitzwalter, another was sent to bring up more champagne, and a third was to find Lord Montagu, Lady Aurelia’s brother.
Gavin held Georgie’s hand. “If I had had any idea how formidable your grandmother and the duchess were I would have been more terrified of them than I was.”
As she had barely seen either lady the whole time they were here she had to ask, “What did they say to you?”
He gave her a sheepish look. “I asked for their help, along with Lady Littleton’s, in convincing you to marry me. Naturally, they questioned me in order to make sure I was serious about you.”
“Naturally.” The image of him being subjected to an inquisition made her want to laugh. “What did you tell them?”
“That I liked you a great deal as a friend and that we had a good many things in common. I also explained why I could not fall in love.” He grimaced. “I was an idiot not to realize that I was already in love with you and had been for months.” Gavin raised her hand to his lips. “Then the duchess asked if I had passion for you.”
Georgie held her breath. “And you said?”
“I told her I did.” He grinned down at her, his love shining in his eyes. “That I had a great deal of passion for you, and they said they would help me.”
“I am very glad that they did.” The others had walked ahead when they’d stopped to talk. It was the first time they had been alone since this afternoon. Georgie was astounded how quickly her world had changed in the space of a day. Less than a day. “I do wonder how much longer it would have taken you had I not been abducted.”
A shudder ran down his arm. “I don’t even want to think about it.” He glanced up and down the corridor before drawing her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers. “I might have lost you forever.”
“My lord, Miss Featherton.” A footman came running to them. “Her grace wants you at once.”
“Of course she does,” Gavin grumbled.
Georgie held back a chuckle. “We are coming straightaway.”
“Why do I have the feeling that I will not be able to be alone with you again until our wedding night?” She had never heard him sound more morose.
She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “Never fear. I am positive that we will find a way. After all, we are now betrothed and will not be closely chaperoned.”
“Thank God for that.” Gavin had never been so happy. It was amazing how good being in love felt as opposed to being determined that he wasn’t in love. If only it hadn’t taken almost losing her. “That means that I can have all your dances now.”
Her lilting laughter cheered him even more. “Yes, it does.”
By the time they returned to the ballroom, the duchess, Lady Featherton, and Lady Littleton were in close conversation with Lady Turner and Mrs. Fitzwalter. Next to the ladies, Littleton hailed Gavin and Georgie and they strolled toward the group.
“They’re going to have it all arranged by the time we reach them.” Not that he expected anything less.
“They are indeed,” Georgie agreed. “I will be lucky if I am allowed to have anything to do with the arranging of our wedding breakfast.”
He recalled that his sister was happy to let his aunt and her future mother-in-law take care of the details. But if Georgie wanted to have the responsibility, he’d do everything in his power to make it happen. “Do you want to be in charge of it?”
She glanced at him, her bottom lip pulled between small white teeth. “Not really. But I must do something other than shop for clothing. After all, I already know exactly what I want in the way of gowns.”
He knew one way he could get her alone before the wedding. “You could redecorate my—our town house.”
“Hmm.” She gave him a considering look. “Now that is an excellent idea. Would I have free rein?”
“Absolutely.” He could already see her in his bed in the middle of the afternoon. “I will even accompany you anywhere you wish to go to look at furniture or fabrics, or anything else you might require. Naturally, you will have all the accounts sent to me.”
She gave him a wide grin. “You either trust me a great deal or you like to live dangerously.”
They had just about reached her grandmother and the others, but he stopped. “I trust you with my life. What are a few rugs and wall coverings compared to that?”
“Nothing at all.” Their eyes met, and Georgie reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. It was all he could do not to drag her into his arms and kiss her. “We had better join my grandmother and the duchess.”
“I suppose you are right.” While the ladies were talking, he’d try to convince Littleton to allow him to stay at Littlewood tonight.