Part of Georgie wanted to deny she was looking at Turley, but her curiosity got the better of her. “How do you know?”
“Her aunt is a friend of my mother’s, and my mother always has an eye out for likely brides for me.” He chuckled. “She knows I’m not ready for the parson’s noose, but I suppose she wants to keep in practice.”
“Until you are ready?” Georgie had to grin at him.
“Indeed.” He nodded. “I can’t put the inevitable off forever. Nor do I wish to. I will have to marry at some point.”
She looked at the lady on Turley’s other side, who seemed to be studiously eating. She had a recollection of Miss Lydia Codell from Town, and in Georgie’s opinion the girl was much too green to be out. Yet she had been speaking with Turley earlier. What had he said to make her so quiet?
“Miss Lydia is not a threat.” St. Alban’s tone was a bored drawl. “She is barely out of the schoolroom. In fact, I believe she escaped from it and should be immediately returned.”
That was blunt speaking. Georgie tried to remember who the lady’s sister was and could not. “She has an older sister who is out?”
“Yes. She is to be married soon. I think her father thought he could get his second daughter off his hands as well.”
“Your mother again?” It seemed as if everyone but her had a mother who knew things about the unmarried members of theton.
He gave Georgie a rueful look and she laughed. “I have been told that part of finding a daughter-in-law is knowing who would not suit.”
“Where are the mothers?” She knew that some were attending the house party, but she had not seen any of them.
“They are in dowager Lady Turner’s wing. My understanding is that they are leaving the new Lady Turner and Mrs. Fitzwalter to handle the guests but will step in if needed.”
“That is an interesting idea.” It would certainly force Mary and Amanda to remain alert. Neither of them would wish to be embarrassed by an older lady being called to manage the events.
“That is not precisely how I would put it. I find young ladies to be far too interested in getting to the church and not for the Sunday sermon.”
“If you think that, why did you agree to come?” She tasted the fish and found it to be extremely fresh.
He shrugged. “I couldn’t say no to Turner. He’s been a friend for a long time. Why are you here?”
“I am visiting Lady Littleton. Lady Turner and Mrs. Fitzwalter are neighbors. Ergo, we agreed to come to the major entertainments.” Georgie smiled to herself. “I suppose we will assist with the younger ladies.”
“The good thing is that there are no truly older gentlemen. Or no one over five and thirty. Most of the rest of them are like me and not interested in marriage. I expect it will be entertaining for a week.”
Georgie recalled how at least two ladies had attempted to trap Frits into marriage last Season. “I would suggest that you gentlemen could be more at risk than the ladies. You might want to make sure you do not stroll around alone.”
Suddenly alert, Lord St. Albans straightened. “That is an excellent idea. I shall tell the others.”
Deciding she had done her civic duty, Georgie applied herself to the third course that had been set out, and chatted with the gentleman on her other side for a few minutes.
She had just finished an excellent piece of an apple dish when Mary Turner rose. “I believe it is time to leave the gentlemen to their port. Ladies?”
Once the ladies had repaired to the drawing room, and glasses of wine and lemonade had been handed out, the talk turned to the single gentlemen.
Adeline came to stand by Georgie just as Miss Lydia said, “I think Lord Turley is very handsome, even if he is too old.”
Georgie was just about to take a sip of claret and was very glad she had not. Whathadhe said to the girl? In fact she might not be able to drink it at all because the next thing she knew Adeline retorted, “He is not older than my husband who is one and thirty.”
Miss Lydia glanced at Adeline. “That is what my sister says about her betrothed, but she is older than I am. That is most likely the difference.”
“Said with the certainty of the very young,” Georgie whispered, and tried not to laugh. “She sounds almost exactly like my younger sister. I would wager she is not above sixteen.”
“I think you are probably right.” Adeline took a sip of claret. “When I have a daughter, remind me that she may not be presented to Polite Society until she is at least eighteen.”
“I don’t think Frits would let her come out until then.” Georgie was finally able to control her urge to laugh, and finally got to taste the wine which turned out to be very good.
Adeline grinned. “He might not want her to come out at all.”
