“You’re up earlier.” She placed a day dress over one of the chairs.
“It might be better if I wear my riding habit. I am going out straight after breakfast.”
“As you wish.” Her maid picked up the gown and went back into the dressing room.
Georgie performed her ablutions, donned her stockings and riding boots. By the time she was finished her maid was ready to dress her and put her hair up in the simple knot she usually wore when riding. “It is a beautiful day. You should take some time and enjoy it.”
“Thank you. I shall. The gardens here are delightful.”
They were. But she had not spent much time exploring them. “You must tell me which areas you like best.”
“I will. Have a good ride.” Smith began straightening up the table as Georgie picked up her gloves and bonnet.
“I shall see you before luncheon.” But probably not much before then. The only other time she had been riding with Turley, they had been out for several hours.
When Georgie arrived in the breakfast room, the staff was just setting out the chafing dishes under Creswell’s watchful eye. “Good morning, miss.” He nodded at one of the footmen who rushed out. “Lord Turley asked that he be informed when you came down to break your fast.”
“Thank you for telling me.” She was glad he had made a point of knowing when she was ready for breakfast. That meant he would be here soon, and she wouldn’t have to wait for him. After all,shecouldn’t send a message tohim.
Just as she had finished her first baked egg, he strode in bringing the cold fresh air with him. “Good morning.” He grinned and went straight to the side table. “Are you ready to be trounced?”
She narrowed her eyes at his broad back covered in a dark blue hacking jacket. If he won today, she would make a point of practicing her starts. Lilly didn’t like to lose any more than Georgie did. “We shall see what happens.”
He set his plate next her hers as he usually did and lowered himself into the chair. “Have you been outside yet? The air is invigorating.”
She finished chewing a piece of toast and swallowed. “I stuck my head out of my window. It is perfect weather.”
He dug into his plate of kippers and eggs. “We’ve been lucky it hasn’t rained.”
“Do not jinx us.” They had been fortunate. October could be a very wet month. “I hope this weather lasts for a few more weeks.”
He gave her a dubious look. “At least until the end of this week.”
“Yes.” Neither Frits nor Adeline would want to travel to the house party in the rain. “You never said where Rivercrest was located.”
“It’s not far from Gloucester on the River Severn. The climate is a bit cooler than it is here, but the countryside is still beautiful. I would argue even more so than here”—his eyes lit with merriment—“but never within Littleton’s hearing.”
“No. Never that.” He was convinced that Littlewood was Heaven on earth. “Nor in Adeline’s. She has quite come to love it here.” She finished her toast and pulled over her other small dish of baked egg. “What about your other properties?”
“All over the country. I have five of them.” He picked up his cup of tea, drank the last of it, and handed the cup out to be refilled. “I even have one with a small section that borders Littlewood.”
It was a good thing Georgie had already poured the tea or she would have spilt it all over him and the table. “If you have a house so close, why are you staying at The Lilacs?”
“I didn’t say it was a large estate.” He was prevaricating and she did not like it.
“What is it then?” She could not believe he would take advantage of Lady Littleton’s generosity if he had a perfectly good abode close by.
“It houses my uncle and his family. The property still belongs to the viscountcy, but it is in the manner of a dower property and usually given to the second son for his lifetime if he requires it. In this case, my uncle was seriously wounded in the Navy and had need of it.”
That made sense. “I see. Do you visit him often?”
Unable to answer with food in his mouth, Turley shook his head. When he was finished, he said, “No. He doesn’t like to be reminded that it doesn’t belong to him.” Turley grimaced. “He’s also not that fond of my side of the family.” He put his fork on the plate. “He was always Army mad, but in our family, the second son went into the Navy. After he was injured, he convinced himself that had he been able to go into the Army, he would not have become so debilitated.”
“What happened?”
“He got caught in a battle and lost his leg and arm on one side. It could have occurred in the Army as well, but it’s not worth arguing over.”
Again a sensible answer as far as it went. “That does not explain why he doesn’t like you.”
