Page 40 of Marry in Haste
There was a long silence, broken only by the crackling of the fire and the wind outside in the trees.
The old lawyer added, “Young George doesn’t take after her mother much—she’s all Rutherford for the most part. But when she smiles, ah, when she smiles, you can see her mother in her then. Sweetest smile in the world.”
Cal was yet to see George smile. He was most familiar with her version of the Rutherford scowl.
“The family had no idea of any of this,” Cal told the old gentleman. “If my father had known, he would have taken the baby in and had her raised at Ashendon Court, as was her right. She wouldn’t have been”—he gestured—“running wild.”
Chiswick gave a wry grin. “And there would be a dashed sight fewer foxes in the district.”
“Has she really managed to disrupt the hunt? I met a few fellows in the village yesterday who expressed themselves in the strongest terms.”
Chiswick nodded. “Have you seen her ride?”
“I have,” Cal said grimly.
“With that black stallion of hers and a bag of smoked herring heads, she’s managed to bring the local hunt pretty much to its knees for the last three seasons. Got a soft spot for wild creatures, has young George.”
“Well, the hunters can relax. I’ll be removing her from the district.”
The old man shot him a searching look. “To what purpose?”
“I have two half sisters the same age as she is. It will be easier to look after them all together.” He saw the man’s hesitation. “What? You don’t imagine I’d leave her here, running wild and trying to hold things together on her own, do you?”
“It’s not that,” Chiswick said. “Have you told George yet? I can’t imagine she’ll agree. Very attached to her home, she is.”
“Georgiana is eighteen,” Cal reminded him. “It’s time she was thinking about marriage. I’ll launch all three of them together in London next season.”
As he uttered the words he realized it was the very solution.Get them married off as quickly as you can. Make them some other man’s problem.
“Won’t she be in mourning for her father?” Chiswick asked. “And your sisters for their uncle?”
Damn. That was right. They were supposed to spend a year in mourning because of Henry. Another year of mourning for his sisters.
People took these conventions so seriously. Why make such a display of death? As if draping yourself in black made any difference to how much you grieved. Or didn’t.
During the war, Cal had lived with death all around him, an everyday occurrence, a constant presence. He’d lost friends, good friends and comrades. He still missed some of them. But he’d learned not to wallow in the pain or dwell on the loss—not that there was any time for wallowing in wartime.
He thought of the outbreak of public mourning for the death of Princess Charlotte the previous year. It wasn’t just about grieving, though the nation did sincerely grieve her loss. It was also a show of respect.
But as far as Cal was concerned, death was a reminder to mankind to get on with the business of living. His preferred response to death was to celebrate life, not shroud yourself in black and retreat from it.
A year of mourning for Henry? Henry didn’t deserve it. And neither did the girls.
No, Cal would launch all three girls together in London this coming season.
And then he remembered. He’d be on the Continent in a couple of weeks, God willing.
Well, someone would launch the girls. His aunt or someone. He’d work out who later.
***
Georgiana stayed away for another two nights and two days. Cal used the time to check on the men on his list. Without success.
He would have wagered she’d have stayed longer had the weather not turned nasty, with a bitter wind and driving sleet coming down in sheets.
As it was, she simply appeared shortly before dinner on the third day, soaking wet, her boots and breeches covered in mud,but otherwise as cool and unconcerned as if she’d just stepped out for a moment. And without a word of acknowledgment—or apology—for her outrageous disappearance.
“Don’t fuss, Martha dear. I’m perfectly all right. It’s just a bit of mud and water. Is there any hot water? I’ll take a bath if there is.”
