“Do you know if Lord Turley has a favorite dish or food?”
“Most of the time he and his lordship ate everything in sight. But let me give that some thought.”
“Thank you.” With any luck at all, Mrs. Fanner would remember something.
“What was that about?” Adeline asked as they went back to the hall.
“While we were sampling the different offerings, I had a lemon ice and told him that it was my favorite food.” Georgie pulled a face. “Well, almost anything with lemon in it tastes good to me. In any event, I asked him what his favorite food was, and he could not think of a thing.”
“Interesting.” Adeline paused on the way to the morning room. “Frits and I both have favorite foods. Well, favorite ices.”
“According to Turley, he does not even have a favorite ice.”
“Now that I find odd.” She linked her arm with Georgie’s. “I am certain our cook will know. Or perhaps, my mother-in-law.”
Georgie did not know why she had not thought of Lady Littleton. She glanced out the window of the morning room. “Do you mind if I take a short ride? There is something I wish to work on with Lilly.”
“No, not at all.” Adeline added a pillow to the one on the daybed. “In fact, I shall take a bit of a nap. I am not quite as tired as I have been, but it’s been a busy day.”
Georgie wondered if she would be so tired when she was with child. She turned and hurried to her rooms. There was only one way to find out. But first she had to get Turley to admit he loved her. In the meantime, she would practice starts with her mare. He and Lochinvar were not going to win the next race.
* * *
“My lady, Lord Turley has returned.” Cristabel’s butler poked his head into the parlor.
“Thank you, Crothers. Please bring him to us.”
The butler bowed and left. “Perhaps we will have some good news.”
“I certainly hope that is the case,” Lucinda said. “If not, we must take a more direct hand in the matter.”
Constance set her glass of claret on the small table next to her. “Who would have believed that this would take so long? It is obvious that they love each other.”
“Is it enough?” Lucinda asked. “We know that Georgie loves him, but I will wager that he does not have a clue that he loves her.”
The three of them had been going round and round about this mess all to no avail. “We shall ask how today went, then make alternative plans if need be.”
The door opened and Gavin entered the room. “Good afternoon.”
“Good day to you.” Cristabel glanced at her friends.
Constance gave an almost imperceptible nod before saying, “Did you kiss her?”
“No.” Fortunately, he appeared disgruntled.
“Were you not alone with her?” Cristobel asked.
“Oh, we were alone. And we were finally in a place where we would not be seen, but there was an altercation over fish.”
“Fish?” Lucinda shook her head as if unable to understand what he’d said. “I believe you must explain yourself. I had no idea you were going fishing.”
Gavin grimaced. “We were not. One of the guests made a wager about catching fish and when he did not do it, he attempted to steal a catch from a local lad. We decided that we should intervene. Thanks to your granddaughter, the matter is now resolved. Unfortunately, to resume our walk afterward would have caused talk as everyone was by then in the formal gardens near the house.”
“What bad luck.” Lucinda took a healthy drink of wine. “Are you dining with her this evening?”
“No. We had a substantial luncheon and there was a great deal of food at the garden party. Adeline and Frits decided to have a light meal this evening.”
“Unfortunately, we are going out for dinner,” Cristabel did not for a moment think her son would forgo a larger meal, but she did believe that Frits would like to spend time alone with his wife. “I shall tell my cook that you will dine in your rooms.”
