“I knew you had a sister,” Georgie said. “But I did not know you helped raise her.”
Damn, he really didn’t want to go into this. Still, if she was to know him better, if she was to be made to understand he could not fall in love with his wife, he had to tell her. “I already mentioned that my father was not himself in his later years. The fact of the matter is that after my mother died, he became another person. He let the estates go, he insisted my sister act as the mistress of the house when she was still in the schoolroom, and he became very difficult. I decided there was nothing to do but to take over the role of master and father, but he fought me. He did not want the responsibility, but would not allow anyone else to have it.”
Her eyes seemed to be riveted to him. Strangely, there was no pity, which he could not have borne. “But you did what you had to do to care for your sister and for your lands.”
“Yes.” They were the hardest years of his life. And he still regretted his estrangement from his father. “I kept the estates going, and protected my sister from some truly horrible matches he had in mind for her. I had to enlist my aunt—my mother’s sister—to help.”
“But she would have needed to have been sponsored by a lady in any event.” Her voice was soft and firm at the same time. “No gentleman can sponsor a lady no matter his rank.”
And thank God for that strange rule of theton. “Yes. That made it easier for my aunt to take my sister under her wing and difficult for our father to disagree.”
“In that case, I’d say that you did an excellent job of caring for her and your estates.” How she could be so certain, he didn’t know. “Almost everyone knows Lady Harrington and admires her. You did what you had to do and succeeded.”
Intellectually, he supposed he knew that, but deep inside, he was terrified that presented with the same tragedy as his father had suffered, he would behave in the same manner. “Thank you for your confidence.”
“You are welcome.” Her words were spoken quietly, but firmly. As if she might have the faith in him that he did not.
The table fell silent as the second course was set out. Even though it was the four of them for dinner, each course still had five removes. He supposed that was to reward the servants. Littleton carved the roast and the footmen brought it around. “I don’t know if this is beef or lamb?”
“Beef.” Georgie smiled softly at him. “I saw the menu.”
“It amazes me how much a lady must learn before she comes out.” It had shocked him how much his sister had known when their mother died.
Georgie closed her eyes for a moment. “If only all gentlemen understood how much instruction we are required to take. Granted, we do not learn Greek and Latin”—she paused and frowned—“but we must master a number of other subjects including estate management. After all, someone must know what to do when a peer is attending sessions of Parliament.”
“I do not think that that has changed very much,” Adeline added. “Back when we had all those wars, the ladies always had to manage and even defend the castles.”
“You have got them started now,” Littleton said with a grin. “The only politics in which my wife is interested is when it comes to women and children.”
“And why not?” Georgie challenged him. “Who else is going to be vocal on that subject if not for ladies?”
Littleton rolled his eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile from his face. “You have a point. Obviously we gentlemen have not been sufficiently involved.”
“Or in the right way,” Georgie said.
Gavin wondered if he agreed with her. That was another thing he’d have to consider.
“I must say that I agree with Henrietta Stern,” Adeline said. “Ladies should be able to vote if they meet the same qualifications as men.”
“As peeresses in their own names they should be able to have a seat in the Lords,” Georgie pronounced.
Gavin had no idea he’d landed into such a hotbed of radicalism, and addressed his friend, “Did you know this about your wife before you married her?”
“Well, I did know that her friends had radical tendencies.” Littleton took a piece of fish. “Therefore, I was not surprised. I am simply happy that she handles it the same way I do.”
“Don’t tell me.” Gavin took one slice of lamb and one of fish. “She asks to have the bill or whatever it is sent so that she can make notes.”
“Exactly.” Adeline looked very pleased with herself. “Georgie, however, would rather be in the thick of it.”
Georgie’s blue eyes sparkled with excitement. “I would indeed.”
And that was another thing he wanted in a wife. Not simply a woman who would support him, but one who would make a great political hostess. With her as his wife, life would never be dull.
Chapter Twenty-One
Georgie had gone to bed more hopeful about Turley and the prospect of marriage to him than she had been in a long time. Instead of singing, they had remained up discussing the most pressing issues of the day, as they saw them. She had known that he was interested in politics but not to what extent. She had also felt free to express all of her opinions. That was the first time she had done that with any gentleman other than the ones in her family and Frits. And the other thing she discovered was that she was more interested than she had been before in marrying Turley. During the course of the evening he showed himself to be open about the role ladies should play, and she had fallen more deeply in love with him. Georgie could only pray she was not setting herself up for a long, hard fall. She still wanted a love match, and he had yet to give her any indication that he was falling in love with her. But they had made plans to meet after breakfast for a ride, and riding was always fun.
The next morning she woke and immediately dashed to the window, and opened the curtains and the window. It was colder than it had been, but the air was crisp, and the sun shone brightly on the horizon. If the weather remained like this, it would be an excellent day for not only riding but the garden party as well. She was about to tug on the bell-pull when Smith entered the room from the dressing room.
