Adeline raised her chin. “And how do you know it is not a son?”
Frits appeared offended on behalf of the entire male species. “If it is, I’ll be sure to teach him the proper way to treat his mother.”
Georgie brought her hand up to hide her laughter, and Turley caught her eyes, his pale blue ones dancing with mirth. “You do realize that this little one is not due to make an appearance until March?”
“It’s going to be a very long five months at this rate,” Turley added.
“I am sure he or she will calm down or you will learn to sleep through the movement,” Georgie said. “My sister did. She said the only reason it kept her awake at first was because the feeling was new and strange.”
“It is that.” Adeline took a sip of tea. “At first it felt as if fish were swimming around, now it feels more substantial.”
Frits leaned down and spoke firmly to her stomach. “You must allow your mother to rest.”
Georgie could hold her laughter in no longer, nor could Adeline and Turley as they all went into whoops.
Fanning her face with her hand, Georgie tried to get herself under control. “I am s-s-sure that will have the desired effect.”
Between bouts of laughter, they finally finished eating, and Frits carried Adeline up the stairs.
“We had better be going.” Turley stood and helped Georgie rise. “At some point they will remember that they left us alone.”
“I suppose you are correct. Give me a moment to don my hat and fetch my gloves. I shall meet you in the hall.”
Turley walked with her to the main staircase. “I’ll be here waiting.”
She made herself ascend the stairs calmly as if she had all the composure in the world when her heart was racing, urging her to hurry back to him. Drat it all! She had not wanted that reaction. When she turned into the corridor, she raced to her chambers. “Smith—”
“Here you are, Miss Georgie.” Her maid pinned the small cap with a long feather that curled on her cheek to her hair and handed her the heavier gloves she used for riding. “Have a good time, and be careful.”
Georgie returned to the hall with as much grace as she could. She would not allow herself to betray her feelings for him. That would not do at all. “My lord.” She placed her hand in his palm. “Shall we?”
Turley tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “Do you know we have never ridden together?”
“I am aware of that. There was no reason to bring Lilly to Town. She would have been miserable having to keep to a sedate walk, and my mother would not allow early morning rides.”
“A pity, that.” He angled them toward the stables. “You must have missed riding.”
“More than you know.” Turley probably had not even known she liked to ride. “Lilly is a very special horse. I was there when she was born.”
“You saw the birth?” His head snapped back as if he was aghast as well he should be. Even Georgie did not know any gently born young ladies who attended a horse birth.
“Not that, but I saw her shortly after the event.” She recalled how amazed they all were at the little white filly with matching black socks, ears, and nose. “I knew immediately she would be mine.”
“I look forward to seeing her,” Turley said. “And riding with you.”
Now that she thought of it, she had never seen him ride either. Unlike Frits, he had always taken his carriage. “And I with you.”
When they reached the stable, a large bay stood next to Lilly. Both horses were saddled and Johnson was waiting for them. Georgie felt like giggling. She was not sure she had been this well chaperoned at home.
Chapter Ten
Gavin had been admiring the way the green habit fit over Georgie’s upper curves and regretted that the fashions didn’t allow him to see her other curves as well. When the older groom led out his horse, he stifled the curse rising to his lips. For whatever reason, he’d got it into his head that he and Georgie would be alone this morning. But naturally, Frits would have a groom, and Johnson of all people, accompany them. He’d been the same groom who had accompanied Littleton and Gavin when they were children. The man never missed a thing. Not that Gavin planned on trying anything inappropriate with Georgie. He simply did not like having his every movement watched. He blew out a breath. They might have a chaperone, but he would still be able to help her onto the mare. His hands tingled in anticipation of circling her waist and tossing her up onto the saddle. Gavin moved closer to Georgie’s mare. When she came around the horse, he stepped forward, but before he could act, the mare knelt, enabling her to mount without his assistance.
Hell and damnation!
This ride was not going at all how he’d expected it to, and they had not even started yet.
Gavin’s frustration rose with the mare, but he managed to maintain an outward calm. “I’ve never seen a horse do that before.” Outside of Astley’s Amphitheatre, that was. “Who taught her?”
