Her grandmother grinned, and Gavin wished he knew what that was all about. As far as he was concerned she looked beautiful in everything.
“Well then,” Adeline continued, “what else do you wish to discuss?”
Georgie covered a smile with her cup, and the ladies glanced at each other.
“Nothing at all, my dear.” Lady Littleton rose. “When do you plan to depart?”
Adeline rose as well. “Tomorrow by midmorning or early afternoon.”
“Very good.” Lady Featherton moved to Georgie and bussed her cheek. “Have a pleasant journey. Send me a note if you need me for anything. I have no doubt your father will be pleased to stand the nonsense.”
They accompanied the ladies to the door, and before Gavin could ask what her father was expected to stand the nonsense for, the duchess called out, “Turley, you will accompany us.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” Georgie muttered.
“Look at it this way, it saves Littleton and Adeline from having to chaperone us.”
Georgie sighed. “I suppose you are right.”
Even though their friends and family were all around them, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. “I’ll be back in the morning to accompany you.” A thought made him pull a face. “Unless, that is, they decide I should provide an escort for them.”
“I love you.” Her arms tightened around him.
“And I love you. Sleep well. I’d try to sneak out, but I doubt they’d let me.”
“We’ll be together soon.” Georgie stepped back. “Until tomorrow.”
The door closed behind him and Adeline yawned. “Thank the Lord. Now I can go to bed.”
“That was a masterful performance, my love.” Frits did not even get the sentence out before he began to laugh.
“I agree.” Georgie chuckled. “I do wonder how long they will try to keep Gavin and me apart.”
“Until you set a date,” Adeline threw over her shoulder as she strode toward the stairs. “Depend upon it. They will not care about an early baby. God knows there are enough of them. They will want to make sure he doesn’t die before the lines are signed.”
“Drat.” Georgie had thought of the obvious way he could be killed but not all the other dangers of life. “Well, it’s a bit late for that.”
Frits stopped and his eyes widened. “Despite what Turley said, I knew something had gone on.”
“I do not know why you are surprised,” Georgie retorted. “It will be your job to keep him safe until we are married.”
“Of course it will,” Frits grumbled as he followed his wife up the stairs. “Now that the horse is out of the barn, I don’t suppose I need to worry about you and him in Town.”
She was not quite sure she liked being compared to a horse, but she did agree with the sentiment. “Exactly.”
Georgie stayed awake as long as she could hoping that Gavin would come, but eventually Morpheus took her in his arms, and the next thing she knew the sun was shining in her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Not that late, miss.” Smith stepped out of the room and spoke to someone in the corridor. “Your tea will be here shortly. I would have had it ready, but you looked so tired last night I knew you’d sleep later this morning.”
Georgie wondered exactly how long she had remained awake last night. But it didn’t matter. Her grandmother and the duchess would have kept poor Gavin up until he dropped from exhaustion. “Do we have a more exact time of our departure?”
“Yes, miss. Shortly after breakfast. Your trunks are already packed, and have been sent down to the baggage coach.”
That was fast. “How late is it?”
Her maid answered the scratching at the door and brought tea and a piece of toast to her. “We knew last night we’d be leaving this morning after everyone was up and had broken their fast.”
She thought of all the shopping she had done at the fair. “Did everything fit?”
