Chapter Eight #2
Once they’d gone their separate ways, Philip handed his horse off to his coachman and headed down Bond Street.
He might not know much about Lady Georgina, but he did know what she loved to eat.
In no time he’d arrived at Monsieur Armand’s, purchased a box of bird-shaped marzipan, and had it sent to his betrothed with a note that he would call on her later in the day.
He’d been avoiding calling on Lady Georgina in her home because of her mother, but they were only a week away from being married and he had no compunction about telling Lady Edgerton to leave the room.
Tamworth was right: he needed to learn a few more things about his future wife, and he was quite sure she wouldn’t speak freely in front of her mother. He certainly wouldn’t.
Having set his plan in motion, he moved on to the tailor’s and then stopped at Truefitt & Hill to purchase his cologne and have it sent to his rooms. After facing poverty, he felt a new appreciation for those items he took for granted.
As he returned to the Albany to change for his call, he found his valet, Mr. Gibson, flirting with a maid.
He smirked as the woman giggled. His man had a way with the ladies.
About to take the stairs, he hesitated. If he’d lost his fortune, he would have had to dress himself, but even worse, where would Gibson have gone?
Philip would have given the man excellent references, but Gibson had been with him since the age of sixteen.
He’d never thought about the myriad people he employed when he discovered he’d lost the bet.
But now it was becoming clear that his frivolous action would have impacted hundreds of lives.
The thought was sobering and had him climbing the stairs at a much slower pace than usual.
“My lord, have you returned for tea?” Gibson walked briskly forward to open the door to their temporary apartments.
“No, I have returned to change. I will be calling on my betrothed.”
Gibson grinned. “Even better. Allow me to suggest your dark blue. It accentuates your eyes and gives you a happier air.”
Philip stopped at the doorway. “Happier. Are you saying I don’t appear happy?”
“Exactly.”
He started forward, talking to Gibson over his shoulder.
“I don’t see how a happier appearance would make a difference with the lady.
She has already agreed to wed me, so if I don’t look particularly happy, she will simply have to make do.
I will be her husband and that is that.” It wasn’t as if he’d had a lot to be happy about lately, though he could count finding a wife whose dowry would save his home as an event of great relief.
“Of course, sir. What would you like to wear, then?”
He stopped in his bedroom and untied his cravat.
Did it really matter what clothes he wore?
He’d never courted a woman before, as he’d not planned to marry anytime soon.
He’d enjoyed his time with his friends, mostly Manning and Wellsley, until Tamworth had returned from teaching at Oxford.
He should count himself lucky he would never need to court one now.
“I shall depend upon your better experience with courtship, Gibson.” He waved his hand. “Whatever you feel is best.”
Within minutes he was dressed in his blue pantaloons, white shirt, a paisley waistcoat with blues in the pattern, and his blue tailcoat.
He looked at himself in the mirror and acknowledged that it did make him appear happier.
Was that the impression he wished to make while discussing important matters?
“I do say, sir, the lady will be congratulating herself on having landed such a well-countenanced husband.”
Would she? “We haven’t married yet. Not until Wednesday next. My new suit of clothes should be delivered here before we leave.”
“Very good, my lord. Will you be bringing the lady flowers?”
Philip smirked. “Actually, Gibson, I sent her a box of marzipan this morning and let her know I’d be calling.”
“Does she enjoy marzipan?”
“She does indeed. I do believe it is her favorite food. So, you see, I should be very well received. Now send the footman for my coach. I’m anxious to be off.”
As his valet left the room, Philip took another look in the full-length mirror.
He’d never given a care as to what figure he presented.
He did look fashionable and, as Gibson said, happy, or at the very least content.
He wished it were true, but it was perhaps better to appear a certain way than to actually be so.
If his appearance helped Lady Georgina be more comfortable, then all the better.
Quickly, he exited his rooms and boarded his coach. When he arrived at the townhouse just outside of Mayfair, he had to keep himself from running up the stairs. It wasn’t that he was eager to see the lady so much as he was to fulfill his mission of getting to know her.
The door opened before he could knock, and no sooner had he given his hat to the butler was he shown into the parlor, where he found Lady Georgina pacing the length of the room, oblivious to his entrance.
Her stride was quick and confident in her pale green day gown, her back straight, and despite her movement, her dark brown hair remained in place.
The footman opened his mouth to announce him, and Philip held up his hand before waving the man away. With no Lady Edgerton in sight, he remained where he was as the svelte form of his future wife turned and started back the way she came. Yes, in appearance, she would make quite a regal countess.
Having come to that decision, he cleared his throat.
Immediately she halted, her head whipping around and her eyes rounding at the sight of him in the doorway.
She smiled as she walked toward him, both her hands outstretched.
“My lord, I didn’t realize you had arrived.
Please, come sit. Tea will be served shortly. ”
He took her gloved hands in his own, then let go of one to lift the other and set a kiss upon it.
Her other hand moved to her chest. “Lord Durham, you’re most kind.”
Letting her hand go, he waited until she took a seat in a pale pink upholstered chair. Then he moved forward and held his hand out to the settee. “I believe this would be a better place for us to speak, don’t you think?”
A slight blush filled her cheeks. “Of course.”
After she moved to the settee, he took his place beside her.
“I was surprised to learn that you would be calling. Though I’m very pleased, as it is part of the story we fabricated, and now I know exactly what it is like to have you call, so I will no longer need to use my imagination.
” As she spoke, one hand moved about constantly.
First, it lay on her lap, then it brushed her dress, then she pulled at her earlobe. Obviously, she was nervous.
“It has been remiss of me to have not called sooner, but as I wished to speak with you without your mother present, I needed to wait until it was closer to our wedding for propriety’s sake. In addition, I wanted you to feel more comfortable with me. Are you comfortable?”
“Oh my, yes. I know so much more about you. I’m sure if someone asked why I wished to marry you, I can now choose from a variety of reasons.”
That wasn’t exactly what he was looking for, but it did give him pause. “Truly? And what might be some of those reasons?”
“Why, I could say I was quite taken with your appearance, which I truly am. The blue of your coat quite brings out the blue in your eyes, and you appear to have a pleasant disposition.”
“Indeed.”
“Of course, I’d also tell anyone who asked that I’m quite taken with your manners, as they are impeccable.
But I’m sure you’re aware of that. I’d also say that your attention to me is absolute, except when we’re alone.
But that would not make sense, since we are alone and your attention is quite focused.
” The longer she talked, the faster her words came, and her chest seemed to rise and fall more rapidly.
“It is indeed.”
“And, of course, I would have to mention how kind you have been to indulge me in some of our outings, which I’m quite sure would not have been your choice.
Though some might assume I’m marrying you as it increases my station, I’d assure them that was not my initial reason but that I had become quite taken with you. ”
Now she was quite flushed and he would swear her amber eyes seemed to glow. Something about her behavior reminded him of a fearful horse, and he wished to calm her. Gently, he placed his hand on her cheek. “And are you, my lady? Taken with me?”
She blinked multiple times as she looked at him, then suddenly rose. “I don’t know you well enough, Lord Durham.” She walked around the small tea table and stood behind a chair, holding the back of it. “Please, don’t misunderstand me. I do wish to know you.”
He rose too, as was proper. “And I wish to know you, which is why I’m here.”
“Know me? There’s not much to know. I’m a score and four, I like to study birds and their behavior, and I’m the youngest of eight children. That is me.”
“You forgot about the fact that you like marzipan above all other foods.”
Oddly, that seemed to calm her a bit, and a small smile graced her face. “You’re correct, my lord. I must thank you for the ones you sent me. They were perfect.”
“And I’m guessing, but I believe your favorite color is green.”
“Why yes, it is. Truly, you’re very observant.”
Actually, he wasn’t, but both were so obvious that it had taken little to make the deduction. “Tell me, do you enjoy the Season or do you prefer to study your birds?”
“I do believe I like both equally. I enjoy the Season because I love to dance and be with my friends. I enjoy the rest of the year to walk the woods and observe bird behavior. And when it’s very cold, I do love to skate, though I’m better with speed than with turns and such.”