Aunt snorted. “Trust a man to think that.”
“I don’t understand.” His brows lowered as he speared her with a look. “They danced together and he joined us for supper. What more do you want?”
“Two dances, my boy.” Aunt rapped his arm with her fan. “And an invitation to drive out with your sister.” When Gavin didn’t appear to understand her meaning, she heaved a sigh. “Any gentleman seriously pursuing a lady in hopes of marrying her should be spending much more time with the object of his desire.”
After a few seconds, a light appeared in his blue eyes. “I hadn’t thought about it, but you are absolutely correct.” He helped them into their coach. “I won’t be back until late this evening, and tomorrow I am going out of Town for a day or two. I will see you when I return.”
Aunt Bristow’s already massive chest puffed out with indignation. “You promised to assist Elizabeth.”
“And so I shall.” Gavin’s eyes twinkled wickedly. “Trust me.”
“I suppose we must.” Elizabeth waved as the coach left. She hoped he would return soon. What could he be up to?
Chapter Six
Geoff said farewell to Miss Turley before making his way back to his grandmother and Cousin Apollonia.
He had been quite pleased with the progress he’d made with Miss Turley this evening. He was certain that if he’d held her closer during their waltz, she would have allowed it. Perhaps the next time they danced a waltz he would test his theory. The idea of her body closer to his made his cock harden. Still, even if he did not choose to skirt propriety, in a few days he should be able to speak with her father and arrange their marriage.
His two older relatives were in close conversation when he arrived at the sofa they occupied.
He waited until Apollonia had paused for a breath before saying, “Shall I escort you home now?”
Grandmamma’s thin, silver brows drew together as she gazed up at him. “The question is are you ready to leave? The night is still young and you have danced with only one of the ladies on your list and that just the once.”
“It turns out that Miss Turley is the lady I wish to wed.” He wasn’t about to tell his grandmother about the snub Lady Mary gave him. Aside from that, he was happy with his choice. “She has granted me a set for each of this week’s entertainments.”
“Only one?” Cousin Apollonia’s brows now resembled Grandmamma’s. “That does not sound promising. If the lady was interested in you, she would have granted you two sets.”
“I only requested one,” he said, trying to keep the indignation from his voice. Both his cousin and his grandmother cast glances to the ceiling. What the devil was the matter with them? And how irritating it was that they reacted in the exact manner. “What else would you have me do?”
Grandmamma rose, and Apollonia followed less than a second behind her. “We are ready to depart.”
Geoff escorted them to the hall and they waited while their carriage was brought around. His two relatives shared the gossip they had heard until he helped them into his grandmother’s coach. “I shall walk from here.”
“You will accompany us,” Grandmamma commanded as if she was speaking to a recalcitrant child.
For a moment he thought of denying her, but that would accomplish nothing. He climbed into the carriage, taking the backward-facing seat. The inner lights had been lit, enabling him to see their expressions clearly. “I take it you wish to speak with me?”
“Indeed I do.” She sighed and shook her head. “However, I require a glass of sherry for this discussion.”
Perdition! Geoff detested waiting. Whatever he’d done to upset her, he wanted to have it out sooner rather than later. But by the look on their countenances, he was not going to get his way.
Several minutes later, his grandmother was sitting on a small sofa next to the drawing room fireplace that had been lit. Cousin Apollonia sank onto a chair next to the sofa, farther away from the heat.
Geoff had poured both ladies glasses of sherry. He stood, his elbow braced along one edge of the mantel. “Apparently, I have done something to upset you.”
“Apollonia, dear, please pour Harrington a brandy, unless you would prefer wine?”
“Brandy is fine, but—”
“And take a seat,” Grandmother said acerbically. “I don’t like to have to look up at you. It makes my neck hurt.”
He moved from the fireplace to the sofa across from her as his cousin handed him a goblet of brandy. “I very much wish you will tell me what all this is about. Quite frankly, I’m all at sea.”
“I imagine you are.” Grandmamma’s tone had dried considerably. “Have you or have you not decided to court Miss Turley?”
“I have. Indeed, I am in the process of doing so.” Hadn’t he already told them that? Why else would he have made a point of making sure his name was on her dance cards for the next week?
