Chapter Seven #2
She froze as she sucked in her breath, his behavior suddenly making sense. Lord Durham only paid attention to her while around others! She forced herself to take a sip of tea to hide her hurt from his relatives.
“Mother, Philip was always doing two things at once. Do you remember the time when he was barely half a score and he decided he could ride his horse while doing his lesson?”
Lady Durham smiled fondly. “I do. Then there was the time he insisted on eating his breakfast while playing pall-mall. I thought for sure the prim Lady Alice would say something.”
“I would.” Georgina pasted a smile on her face despite the icy pit in her belly. “I would ask him straight away what he thought he was doing. Wouldn’t you?”
Both ladies stared at her a moment before they shared a look. Lady Durham nodded. “Of course. It was a quite rude.”
“Georgie, I do think you’re the best woman to come into my brother’s life. Don’t let him get away with anything. He’s been free to do as he wishes for far too long.”
Even as she heard Berry’s words, Georgina resolved to ask Philip about his actions of ignoring her when they were alone, if it continued once they were married.
If she was to face another situation where she wasn’t wanted, she wished to do so fully aware.
Unlike her friends, she’d had no choice in whom she would marry, but she could have a choice in how she would manage her marriage.
She needed to not be so easily swayed by his attentions and begin watching him like she did her birds.
Even as the thought entered her mind, she felt exhilaration flow through her, much like it did when she waited for baby birds to hatch, knowing the day was soon.
“I assure you, I will do my best to make sure Lord Durham fulfills his duties to the best of his abilities. I may even be able to help, as I have studied estate management at school.”
Lady Durham’s eyes widened in surprise, but Lady Granberry’s lit with excitement.
“Oh, you must share what you learned with me. Lord Granberry is forever telling me not to worry about certain events on our estate. I’d love to surprise him with my knowledge.
Do you think you might find time once you’re married to tutor me? ”
Not a little surprised by the request, Georgina nodded uncertainly. “I admit it wasn’t my favorite class, as I was much more interested in ornithology, but I’d be happy to share what I’ve remembered.”
Berry clapped her hands together. “Oh, I cannot wait. Of course, we mustn’t tell the men.”
Georgina groaned silently. How was she to avoid telling? Knowing it was impossible, she’d opened her mouth to persuade Berry to tell her husband when that very man and Philip walked into the parlor.
“I hope you ladies weren’t discussing anything political. I’ve had about enough of political talk for one evening.” Lord Granberry winked at Philip before taking a seat across from his wife.
Philip sat in the chair next to Georgina. “Be assured, Lady Georgina, that there was no such talk while we enjoyed our drinks. We were actually discussing the latest play to take London by storm.”
Lady Durham sniffed. “The latest play or latest actress?”
“I assure you, Mother, it was the play.”
Lady Durham didn’t seem convinced. That puzzled Georgina, since she’d found Philip to be very honest in his dealings with her. Or at least as long as she’d known him.
“Brother, Lady Georgina was just telling us of how you met and your constant courtship. However did you find the time?”
Though Philip sat in his own chair, Georgina sensed him tensing. “I’m a man of many talents. And as you know, when I want something, I pursue it.”
Berry lifted her brows in disbelief, but didn’t say anything as she sipped on her tea.
Lady Durham took up the conversation. “Will you both be attending the Reedans’ ball next week?”
Excitement filled Georgina at the opportunity to dance again. She did so love to dance. When Philip rested his hand upon hers as it lay on the arm of her chair, her excitement doubled.
“I suppose we could, but I’d much rather keep Lady Georgina to myself until we are wed.”
Even as disappointment filled her, she understood why. He didn’t want her to reveal the real reason they had to marry. She was thankful that he protected her, but a small part of her resented it.
“Surely you cannot keep her all to yourself for the next two weeks, Philip.”
Philip’s hand on hers tightened. “But I can. That is to say, we will be out and about, as I hear there is a new art exhibition I have yet to see. Would that interest you, Lady Georgina?”
She looked at him, and with his gaze so hopeful, she couldn’t deny him. “It would. And perhaps we could also attend the lecture on the American hummingbird at the Royal Institution next Tuesday? I have been fascinated by the hummingbird’s existence, since we have none here in England.”
If he was surprised by her request, he didn’t show it. “It would be my honor to escort you there. It is refreshing to find a woman with such a hungry intellect.”
She felt her cheeks heat. Usually, if she received a compliment, it was on her energetic dancing, not her mind.
Lord Granberry raised his brows. “Interesting. Lady Georgina, have you visited Lady Farnell’s aviary, then?”
“Not this year as of yet.”
The man looked to each person in the room. “This year? Why, I know many people who have yet to enjoy it. Do you go every year?”
She nodded. “I do. She has many birds from abroad. But to be truthful, I prefer watching them in their natural habitat. In the aviary, their food is plentiful, which is the only way they can survive no matter the time of year. It’s not so in the wild. Their food sources are quite different.”
Lady Durham smiled at her. “I do believe I will learn much from you. I’m so pleased you will be joining our family.”
“As am I.” Though Berry spoke to Georgina, she looked at Philip. “I admit, I doubted my brother would choose well, but I can see that you’re perfect for him.”
Berry doubted everything about Philip and was not impressed with him no matter the subject. Maybe that was why Georgina felt so comfortable with him, as she knew how that felt.
“Sister, you were right to doubt me. As much as I’d like to take credit for finding Lady Georgina, I admit a friend, Lord Tamworth, pointed me in her direction. I count myself lucky that he is such a good chap.”
“Is that a friend from Oxford?”