She gave him what he thought of as her beatific smile. “I do not believe I thanked you for allowing me to handle the matter with Mr. Barfleur. Most gentlemen would not have permitted a lady to take the lead.”
He held her lapis gaze and took her other hand in his. “In that case, most gentlemen are idiots.”
“You might be right.” The corners of her lush deep-pink lips rose. “But not you.”
“No,” he agreed. “I do not consider myself so.” Except that he had yet to work out how to kiss her. “Have a good evening. Would you like to ride tomorrow?”
“I would. Thank you for asking.”
He brought her gloved fingers to his lips. “Until tomorrow.”
“Until then.” As he stepped back, he saw the butler waiting at the door. No. They would definitely not be allowed to be alone together here. It was time to ask the ladies for ideas again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Georgie entered the hall to find Adeline waiting for her. “Shall we take the cake and biscuits to Cook?”
“We shall,” Adeline said slowly as she searched Georgie’s face. “But first I want to know if Turley finally kissed you.”
“No.” Georgie heaved a sigh. Her one goal for the day, and she had been unable to bring it about. “Although, it was not for lack of trying. I found a grand old weeping willow by the river and insisted on seeing the inside. He was about to kiss me. I know he was when Mr. Barfleur had an altercation with a local boy. Suffice it to say we felt compelled to intervene.”
“Well, drat.” Adeline opened the green baize door and held it for Georgie. “There are only two more days of the house party left. I had so hoped that you and he would be settled by then.”
“As you say, there are still two days.” And two nights. “If only we could ride the horses by ourselves.”
“Hmm.” Adeline stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “When are you riding next?”
“In the morning.” Georgie wondered what her friend had in mind.
“I cannot arrange it that quickly, but the day after I can come up with an errand for Johnson to do at the last minute.”
“Before he knows we are riding.” None of the other grooms had gone out with them, and they would probably not think of offering to go with them. “That might work.”
“I will not be able to tell Frits until much later.” Adeline grimaced. “He will not be pleased.”
Turley had become much more attentive than he had in Town. Georgie prayed it was because despite his fears he was coming to love her. “If it all goes as I hope it will, he will be pleased.”
“You are right about that.” They walked down the flagstone corridor to the kitchen. “For now, let’s see what Cook makes of the cake and biscuits.”
Georgie touched Adeline’s arm. “You do realize that you will never be able to serve the seed cake to either Mary or Amanda.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but, of course, I could not.” She reached the entrance to the kitchen, and flashed Georgie a grin. “The good thing is that we do not have regular visiting hours here.” She stepped inside the kitchen, which was much more orderly than the one at the Turners’ house. Then again, there were not the number of guests. “Mrs. Fanner.”
“My lady.” The cook bobbed a curtsey. “What do you require of me?”
Georgie pulled the napkins from her reticule. “We would like to know if you can replicate the seed cake and biscuits.”
“The lady who served them was unwilling to share her recipe. Of course your seed cake is excellent, but there is something about this one.”
The older servant smiled. “My recipe is from his lordship’s great-great-grandmother. It will not hurt my feelings at all to try to discover the mystery of this one.”
Adeline grinned. “I knew I could depend upon you.”
“As you always may, my lady. Just leave it to me.” The cook took the handkerchiefs from Georgie.
They turned to leave when she thought of something else with which the cook might be able to assist. “You have been at Littlewood for a long time, have you not?”
“Yes, miss, I have.”
