“I wonder if we will slip back into the schedule we had before Dorie and I married,” Adeline mused.
“Only if you intend to add three gentlemen to our usual route.” Georgie had no doubt that Gavin would want to spend as much time with her as possible. But the thought of him and the other men joining them at the shops and the Pantheon Bazaar made her smile.
“I had not considered that, but I daresay you’re right. Frits and I have never been in Town as a married couple.” Adeline’s lips curved up. “This ought to be interesting.”
Especially considering that he did not attend the Lords, and did not have estate matters with which to busy himself. “Do you think he will be bored?”
“That is an excellent question.” Adeline tilted her head first to one side then to the other. “I have no idea. I do think he will expect to spend much of his time with me.”
Oh, dear. Neither of them had thought of that when they conceived the idea of Georgie staying at Littleton House. “Well, we will simply have to make do with what we have.”
Adeline wrinkled her nose. “I suppose you’re right. Although, I imagine Turley will haunt the house. Especially if we cannot think of a way for you to get in and out of Turley House unseen.”
This was becoming much more complicated than Georgie had expected. There was definitely something to be said for marrying outside of Town. “I’m beginning to wish I was having the ceremony at Rivercrest.”
They had passed over Kew Bridge and were now going through Hammersmith. It would not be long before they reached Mayfair. It was not until they turned into Grosvenor Square that it occurred to her that she had no idea where Turley House was located. The coach came to a stop.
Adeline peered out the window. “Do you know I have never been here?”
At first that surprised Georgie, but it was true. “Shall we refurbish your house as well?”
Her friend laughed, but then a rare sly expression dawned on Adeline’s face. “We may well be able to use that to our advantage.”
“I do not understand how.” Wherever Turley House was it was not in Grosvenor Square.
“If there are constantly workers and others going in and out of my house and the same going in and out of Turley House, it will be easier to slip in and out undetected.”
“I would simply have to use a town coach to go between the two residences.” But only if the carriage was unmarked. She could easily use the one her father owned. “You’re brilliant!”
Adeline grinned. “I do have my moments.”
The coach door opened, and Frits was there to assist her down. “We must discuss it with Frits and Turley.”
“Discuss what with us?” Gavin said, taking Frits’s place in front of the door.
“Adeline had an idea that might enable us to skirt my grandmother’s mandate.” Georgie placed her hand in Gavin’s.
“Let’s discuss it after you get settled.” He escorted her into the hall. “I’ll be back after I’ve bathed.”
Reaching up, she kissed his cheek. “I look forward to it.”
“Miss.” Crothers bowed. “The housekeeper has taken the liberty of putting you in the blue bedroom at the back of the house. If you would follow me?”
She glanced around for Adeline, but saw the back of her skirt disappearing into the corridor. They would have to speak later. “Lead on, Crothers. I am certain the bedchamber will be suitable.”
“The last person to occupy the rooms was the older dowager Lady Littleton,” he said as he led Georgie up the main staircase, heading left when he came to the split in the stairs. “She especially enjoyed the view over the back garden.”
As at Littlewood, the rooms consisted of a dressing room, bedchamber, and parlor. “Where is Smith?”
“She took two footmen and went to Featherton House in order to gather some things you will require now that you are back in Town.”
That made sense. They had dressed much more simply in the country. “Thank you.”
“I have ordered a tray to be sent up.”
“Thank you, Crothers. I could use a cup of tea.”
A footman she hadn’t seen before brought in a tea tray as the butler left and put the tray on an old-fashioned tea table. After she had poured a cup, she ambled around the rooms. From the parlor, there was not only an excellent view of the garden, but a small balcony as well. Georgie grabbed a shawl and opened the door. This would be a lovely place to sit if the weather was warmer. But ever since the day she became betrothed, it had become colder.
“Georgie?” Adeline called.
“I’m out here. Have you seen your rooms yet? Do they have a balcony as well?”
“I have not had time.” She walked out and shivered. “Brrr. Let’s go back in. I expect we will have company soon. I had completely forgotten that Dorie and Henrietta live on Grosvenor Square as well.”
“That’s right. I hadn’t thought about it either.” Georgie went to the teapot. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you. I am going to look at my chamber. I will meet you in the morning room. There is a footman positioned in the corridor if you need help finding it.”
“Thank you.” Getting to her rooms had been simple enough. She could ask for directions to the morning room once she was in the hall.
Georgie finished her tea and was on her way to the hall when the front door opened and Crothers said, “I shall tell Miss Featherton you are here.”
She quickened her step to the stairs and down to the landing. “Gavin.”
“Georgie.” He stared up at her as if they had not seen each other in months.
And he did not even wait for her to descend, but took the steps two at a time, and took both her hands when he reached her. “I can’t bear to be without you.”
“I missed you too.” If only there was a way to marry sooner, but there was not. This was going to be a very long two weeks.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Gavin wanted to carry Georgie down the stairs and back to his house. He could do it without being seen if he went through the mews. He could probably even borrow one of the town coaches and have it back before anyone knew what he’d done. The only thing keeping him from acting on his impulse was knowing that she would be harmed by it.
He took her hand and walked down the steps with her. “Where is everyone else?”
“Adeline is looking at her chamber. I do not know where Frits or his mother are.” She frowned for a moment. “I am not even sure Lady Littleton is here. We are to meet in the morning room.”
Gavin had been in and out of this house for years and knew most of it. “Where did they put you?”
“I have a lovely set of rooms in the back on the left. There is a small balcony.”
He knew exactly where she was. The balcony might be useful if the master’s rooms were not a few feet away. “The ones old Lady Littleton used to use?”
“So I was told.” He led her to the other side of the hall and down the corridor. “I saw a similar balcony several feet away.”
“The master’s rooms.” If no one else heard him trying to get to the room, Max would sound the alarm.