All this was making Gavin’s head ache.
Upon entering his house, he strode straight to his study and wrote to Littleton, asking if Georgie was visiting. Gavin affixed his seal and sent it off by messenger. If he received a return letter stating she was at Littlewood, he’d go down and . . . and find a way to get her to say yes to him.
Why couldn’t procuring a wife be simple?
Chapter Four
Georgie arrived at Littlewood and was immediately embraced by Adeline Littleton, who obviously already knew about Turley’s proposal.
“Come with me to the morning room.” She turned her head. “Creswell, please bring tea.” She linked her arm with Georgie’s. “I am so very glad you decided to come to me.”
“I am too.” When she had visited for Adeline’s wedding, Georgie did not remember being in the morning room. As at Featherton House, the room seemed to invite the garden indoors. Although here the walls reminded her of green apples. The trim on the windows and doors was painted in soft yellow, and the curtains added even more color in the form of a flowered pattern. The furniture, however, had been chosen more for comfort than for style. That, though, was not a surprise, considering how large Littleton was. Two small sofas faced each other across a low walnut table. Adeline sat on one of them and Georgie took the other.
The butler carried in a large tea tray complete with biscuits, cake, and small sandwiches.
Adeline poured. “Littleton expects to hear from Lord Turley as soon as he discovers you left Town.”
Georgie gratefully took the cup and sipped enjoying the warm comfort the tea offered. “Who wrote to you, Henrietta or Dorie?”
“Both of them.” Adeline grinned. “The letters came by the same messenger.”
“That would have been Henrietta’s idea. I suppose they could not agree on what to say.”
“The letters are different,” Adeline agreed. “Shall I let you read them?”
Georgie shook her head. “Allow me to guess. Henrietta was angry that Turley had been such an idiot and thought he deserved to suffer for his disastrous proposal, and Dorie agreed that he handled the whole matter badly, but she stated that he might not understand what he is feeling.”
“That sums it up nicely.” Adeline’s hand settled on her slightly rounded stomach, and Georgie felt a pang that she would not soon be in the same condition. “I am not sure that Henrietta has ever doubted herself, and she does not understand why anyone else would doubt themselves.”
“Whereas Dorie and Exeter went through a fairly long process of working out how they each felt,” Georgie added.
Adeline’s curious eyes held Georgie’s gaze. “What do you intend to do about it?”
“I do not know.” She shrugged. “I do not know if it is I who should do something.”
Silence surrounded them as they sipped their tea, then Adeline said, “If he wants you as badly as I think he does, you will see him shortly.”
“That is the only point upon which everyone seems to agree.” Georgie just had no idea what would happen after that. “But if he does not want love in a marriage, why would he want me? He is not unintelligent. Surely he has realized that I love him. Otherwise, why would I have asked him if he loved me?”
“You have a good point.” Adeline selected a butter biscuit and stared at it. “Perhaps we all believe that he will come to love you.”
“I do wish he would.” The real question was what if he did not.
What would she do then? Could one fall in love more than once, or would she be destined to live life as a spinster? That thought did not appeal to her at all.
* * *
Two days later she was again sitting in the morning room at Littlewood with Adeline and Adeline’s mother-in-law, the dowager Lady Littleton. At Adeline’s feet was a sleeping eight-week-old Great Dane puppy, Jeremy, and at her side was Maximus, a three-year-old Dane. Georgie and the other two ladies were embroidering new chair cushions for the breakfast room, which even Georgie had to agree needed to be replaced.
By the end of the previous day, Lord Turley had still not arrived, nor had Frits Littleton received a missive from him. That Lord Turley had done neither thing broke her heart all over again. She’d had to face the fact that he obviously did not care about her enough to find her.
She had fought tears and for a while had lost the battle. Today she tried not to think about him at all. After all, there was no point in pining over a gentleman who did not care about one. She was glad the activity helped quiet her mind. There was something peaceful about following a pattern and placing well-practiced stitches. Still, her thoughts kept going back to Turley, and they should not. If he had cared about her even a little he would have come to see her the next day at her family’s house and he had not. Clearly she had been nothing more than a lady he thought would accept him because of his title and wealth.
Stop it. You are not to think about him again.
“I must say, Adeline.” The dowager’s words broke the silence. “I think this new design and the colors are just the thing to refresh the room.”
Adeline’s cheeks grew pink under the praise. “I am glad you like it.”
“Oh, my dear.” The dowager smiled. “It is not for me to like it. I had my turn to make the house my own, now it is your time.”
A knock sounded on the door, and the butler entered holding a silver salver. “My lady, a message came for Miss Featherton.”
Georgie held out her hand. “I wonder who it’s from.”
“It is franked by Lord Exeter, miss.”
“Thank you.” She popped the seal, shook out Dorie’s letter, and perused it. Georgie’s heart beat so hard she thought it would fly out of her chest. Her hand shook as she handed it to Adeline. He must care. “Turley is searching for me.”
“I told you he would.” Adeline took the letter. “He probably went by your house shortly after you left.”
The dowager cleared her throat. “I have no wish to intrude, but I have known Gavin Turley all his life. His mother and I were the best of friends. Perhaps I might be able to be of assistance with whatever it is that has happened.”
Georgie supposed anything was worth a try. Still, she was reluctant to bare her heart to a lady, however kind, she did not know well. She glanced at her friend, who nodded. “I am not sure anyone can help. He proposed, and when I asked him if he loved me he was silent.”
The dowager’s brows drew together as if she was thinking about what Georgie had said.
Adeline handed the letter back to Georgie. “Well, I think he is in love with her, but cannot admit it or does not know what love is. Look how long it took Exeter and Dorie to realize that they were in love with each other.”
“You make an excellent point, my dear.” The dowager tied off her thread. “Another one completed.” She placed the cover on top of the others they had finished. “Now you must excuse me. I have the vicar’s mother joining me for tea.”
“I did not know she was visiting,” Adeline said. “We must have them to dinner.”
“Yes, indeed.” The dowager gave Adeline a peck on her cheek. “Be sure to invite the eldest daughter as well. She is making her come out in the spring and needs to be out locally if she is to gain some experience.”