“She is.” Georgie chuckled lightly. “But she is also interested in most of the things we all are. I do wonder how Lord Phineas changed her mind about marrying. She was determined not to until she had finished her studies.”
Gavin would like to know that too. “Maybe you should ask her.”
“I think I shall. It should make for an interesting story.” She took bread and cheese from a tray that was being pushed along the table.
He wondered how long it took for a letter and the response to get to Padua and back to England again. Probably much too long. Gavin helped himself to some ham and bread from the platter. He needed advice, and the sooner he could get back to The Lilacs, the sooner he could ask for it. Fortunately, Adeline looked to be fading. Littleton caught Gavin’s eye and he nodded. “Adeline is ready to go home.”
Georgie immediately took out a handkerchief and wrapped her sandwich in it. “I am ready.”
Gavin finished his sandwich on the way to the coach. By the time they arrived at Littlewood it was time for tea. He took Littleton aside. “I shall leave you and return to your mother’s if you don’t mind.”
He frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want to spend more time with Georgie?”
“I need to ask the ladies for help. Am I invited to dinner?”
Littleton gave a knowing nod. “Naturally. I’ll see you then.”
Gavin attempted to use the time to formulate a series of questions to pose, but it all came down to one: How did he get her to agree to marry him?
Fortunately, he arrived as tea was being served. He bowed to the ladies, and Lady Littleton ordered something more substantial to be brought.
He’d no sooner taken a sip of tea when the duchess asked, “Have you kissed her yet?”
Gavin swallowed in a hurry. “No. I mean, of course not. We aren’t betrothed.”
“Slow top,” her grace mumbled into her cup.
That wasn’t at all fair, and he had almost kissed her. “But what if she doesn’t want to kiss me?”
“In that case, my boy,” Lady Featherton said, “you had better look elsewhere for a wife.”
Good Lord. Nothing he’d done was right. “You think she wants to kiss me?” Three pairs of eyes, brows raised, stared at him. “I—I did not think she would kiss me if we were not betrothed.”
“Gavin, my dear boy,” Lady Littleton said. “I shall tell you about the first time Adeline considered that Littleton might want to marry her. Naturally, this is between the four of us.” Gavin nodded encouragingly. “They were at some garden party and somehow she and my son were alone. He brushed his lips against hers. She told him that he should not kiss her, and he said he knew.”
Why hadn’t he heard that story? Not that a gentleman should tell anyone about kissing a lady. “You think I should kiss her lightly?”
Her ladyship gave him an exasperated look. “I think that you should begin the kiss, and see where it leads.”
He glanced at her grace and Lady Featherton. Both of them nodded.
“I’m dining there tonight.” He offered the information hoping they would give him more of an idea when he should kiss Georgie.
“No, not in the house.” Lady Featherton held her cup out for more tea. “Pick a place where it does not look as if you have to hide.”
“We will most likely go riding tomorrow.”
“Without a groom?” the duchess asked.
“No. Johnson is always with us.” And there was no way that Littleton would let Gavin go off with Georgie without a groom.
“Is there not a garden party at the Turners’?” Lady Littleton asked.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “I have no idea.”
“Lord help me,” the duchess groaned. “Cristabel, do you not have the schedule?”
“I do.” She went over to a desk tucked in the corner of the room. “And I made a copy in the event we required it.” She took out a piece of foolscap and handed it to him. “It is always a good thing to know what is being planned.”
