Page 26 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

Sterling rolled his eyes. “You are only going into town, to which I have no objection, not all the way to London.” He crossed to the bellpull to summon the butler.

“Have the carriage readied for a six o’clock departure,” Damian instructed when he appeared. “And see that I am awakened in time, as well as Miss Georgie.”

He usually rose before the sun because the days started early on the docks, but he did not want to risk tomorrow being the first time he slept later than normal and then miss the mail coach. He’d likely never hear the end of it from Georgie. Or worse, she would go on without him.

*

Georgie hardly slept despite her exhaustion. She was too worried about Grace and afraid that a servant wouldn’t wake her.

She also wasn’t used to relying on a servant since they did not have any at home.

She finally rose just before five and prepared for her journey, then made certain that her clothing was packed before she made her way downstairs and set her valise and satchel by the front door. She next wandered into the parlor to wait for Damian, surprised to find him already present, along with Lord Wyndham.

“I was told that the English did not rise so early to break their fast.” That information had come to her by the various students attending the art and architectural school in Carrera.

“For most of the gentry, that is likely true,” Damian answered. “However, I have an import-and-export business to run and am often up with the sun and would soon be off to the Trade Wynd office if I were not traveling to London.” He then smirked at his brother. “Though I have no idea why the earl must rise so early, given his pampered status.”

Wyndham snorted. “I am quite certain that if I were to lie about in bed so late in the day when work needed to be done, Father would likely return to haunt me.”

“Rest is for the infirm or dead,” Damian explained.

She was rather glad that she had not met their father if he was so stern. Yes, she rose early to bake bread because it was the profession, but she also had some time that was free to do as she wished in the afternoons after they closed. Were the sons ever allowed leisure time or could they simply not sleep late in the morning?

It was a question she did not ask because she was anxious to be on her way. “Shall we return to town?” she asked.

“Not until we have broken our fast,” Damian answered.

Georgie slipped her pocket watch from inside of her satchel to check the time. “How long will it take to get there?”

“Less than half an hour.”

“That leaves us little time to eat.”

“We will still be early. I promise.”

“Early is on time,” Sterling grumbled. “Another rule we were raised with. I do not think Damian has ever been late to anything.”

“Yes, well, I would rather today not be the first time,” she informed them. Why couldn’t they just leave and be waiting when it was time to board the mail coach? What if it left early and without them?

“Breakfast has been placed,” a footman announced.

The idea of another hot meal did make her mouth water, so she reluctantly followed Damian and Lord Wyndham into the dining room where eggs, meats, and bread were placed on the sideboard. She added food to her plate then took a seat and began to eat while the footman pored her a cup of tea.

She did not waste time talking as she really wanted to be on her way, except Damian had no concerns.

In fact, he still had food on his plate when she had finished eating.

She checked the time again and realized that they had only an hour, which did not seem sufficient enough to her.

Well, she was not going to wait on him and would walk into Southampton if she must and hope that she still arrived on time.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Wyndham and please thank your wife,” she said as she rose from her seat.

“Where are you going?” Damian demanded.

“In case you have forgotten, we need to board a mail coach for London and I am not going to risk arriving too late.”

“We will be early,” he ground out.