Chapter Six
That evening, Gavin escorted Lady Littleton into Lady Matthews’s house and immediately regretted coming. They had not gone two steps beyond the receiving line when the first matron with a daughter to marry off approached them, daughter in tow. The lady could not have been older than forty as her dark blond hair showed not a glint of silver. The girl next to her was pretty enough, but somehow seemed not quite up to snuff. Nothing like Georgie, who could not be more than a year the young lady’s senior.
“Lady Littleton, I vow I have not seen you in years,” the woman simpered.
Her ladyship raised one eyebrow. “Are you certain, Mrs. Barton? I am positive that I saw you last Season with”—she tapped her cheek with her fan—“oh, I remember now. Your third daughter.” Lady Littleton smiled politely. “You were in anticipation of an offer for her hand. Did you receive it?”
Interestingly, the other lady seemed to forget the girl at her side as she beamed at her ladyship. “How good of you to remember, my lady. We did indeed receive a very eligible offer for her, and she is now happily married. I trust your son is doing well?”
“Indeed he is.” Lady Littleton’s smile widened. “I shall be made a grandmother again this winter.” She inclined her head. “I am dreadfully sorry, but you must excuse us. Lady Bellamny wishes to speak to me.”
“Oh, of course, my lady.” The other woman gave a slight curtsey. “Come along, Tabitha. We must find our seats.”
Gavin stared after the woman and her daughter. “I believe I have been taken down a peg. I would have sworn she was attempting to have me introduced to her.”
“I have no doubt she was.” Lady Littleton’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “But mentioning her success with her other daughter distracted her sufficiently for her to forget her purpose in approaching us.”
“Very well done.” Gavin glanced around. “Did you really see Lady Bellamny? I never look forward to meeting her.”
“Naturally, you would not. No unmarried gentleman does.” Lady Littleton began to steer him farther into the room. “But to answer your question, I did. She is speaking with two of my friends.” She gave him a chiding look. “If you wish, I can leave you to your own devices—”
“No.” He placed his hand over hers to keep it there. “I do not have your talent to distract.”
“Very well. Stay by my side. I see Lady Matthews has left her post in the receiving line. She would be pleased to make you known to several young ladies.”
Gavin couldn’t suppress a shudder. “I’ll stick to you like a leech.”
Her ladyship frowned at him. “What a singularly disgusting analogy.”
“It was, rather.” He found himself grinning. “You must bring out my younger self.”
“In that event, do try to control yourself. Behaving like a schoolboy will not help you at all.”
“I wish I’d appreciated how simple my life was then.” Before his mother had died. Before his father had lost his mind. “After you greet the other ladies might we discuss what I am going to do about Miss Featherton?”
“Of course.” She patted his hand that was still covering hers. “I have a few ideas of what you could do to return to her good graces.”
They reached the older ladies in question, and Lady Bellamny was the first to speak. “Cristabel, I’m glad to see you in Town.”
“It is a short stay, but it has given me time to visit a few shops. As well stocked as Littleton is, it cannot compare with London.”
“Lord Turley.” Gavin felt his spine stiffening as if he was about to be scolded. “I would have thought you would be seeking to be presented to the young ladies instead of hiding behind Lady Littleton’s skirts.”
At least his instincts were correct. He bowed stiffly. “Good evening, my lady. I have already found the lady I wish to marry.”
Lady Bellamny’s black eyes narrowed at him. “Then why are you not with her?”
“She is out of Town at the moment,” Lady Littleton said. “Really, Almeria, you are being too hard on the boy.”
The tallest of the older ladies snorted.
“Duchess”—Lady Littleton brought Gavin forward a step—“allow me to present Lord Turley. Turley, this is the Duchess of Bridgewater.”
Bowing, he took the hand she’d held out. “A pleasure, your grace.”
“We’ll see about that,” the duchess retorted, giving him a hard look.
As he rose, the other lady, who reminded him of Georgie, raised both brows as if challenging him somehow.
“My lady, allow me to present Lord Turley.” Lady Littleton glanced at him. “I do not believe you have mentioned meeting Miss Featherton’s grandmother, Lady Featherton.”
He swallowed before bowing. “My lady, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. Your granddaughter resembles you.”
“In more than mere appearances.” Her blue eyes narrowed. “You would do well to remember that.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He was being judged and judged harshly. Obviously, the duchess and Lady Featherton cared a great deal for Georgie and were clearly hostile toward him. The worst of it was he couldn’t think of a thing to say to change whatever opinion she had formed about him. Gavin wished he could leave, but Lady Littleton was still speaking with the duchess. When Lady Featherton gave him one last glare and joined the conversation her friends were having, he almost groaned with relief.
Finally, the party was called to take their seats, and Lady Littleton led him to two chairs set in a bow window. “We cannot leave the room, but we will not bother anyone if we speak softly. There are four things I believe you should do.” She held up one finger. “Write Littleton with a letter for Miss Featherton asking for her forgiveness.” Gavin opened his mouth to object, but her ladyship shook her head and held up a second finger. “Ask Littleton if you can go to Littlewood. Although, Adeline might convince him you should not be allowed to visit. Three, admit that you need not be afraid of loving the woman you wish to wed.” He shook his head, and Lady Littleton sighed. “Four, go to Littlewood and try to convince Miss Featherton that you are worth her risking her heart.”
He shook his head again. “I need a plan before I see her.”
Her ladyship let out an exasperated sound. “And exactly how long do you intend to wait before you come up with this elusive plan?” He winced at the acidity in her ladyship’s tone. “How long has it been since you saw her?”
Too long. “Not that long. It has only been a week.”
For a moment he thought her ladyship had not heard him. Then her lips formed a moue. “Delude yourself if you wish, my boy, but you cannot fool me.” Shrugging lightly, she focused her attention on the stage that had been built. “I have no more advice to give you.”
Bloody hellhounds.
There had to be another way to convince Georgie to marry him. The problem was that her ladyship was right, as usual. He had no plan and wasn’t even close to forming one.
* * *
Frits Littleton ambled into the morning room where Georgie and Adeline were finishing the last two cushion covers. “I say, a horse arrived last night by the name of Lilly. Do either of you—”