“Perhaps I should have made a stipulation to accept only evening invitations. I have work to do during the day, and now is the best time of day to work and talk with other gentlemen when everyone is in London for the season. I highly doubt there will be many gentlemen at a tea party.”
“Now is also the best time to attend tea parties, especially tea parties where certain young ladies are to be found.”
Reluctantly, he finally climbed into the carriage and shut the door, so the carriage could begin the short journey. “I presume you have one particular young lady in mind who is going to be there.”
“Of course, I do. Perhaps today you might actually ask to officially call on her instead of either forgetting to ask or simply asking to see her again.”
Walter knew his mother felt he had done poorly. Not only had he asked Miss Rutherford to go for a ride instead of asking to call on her, but during that ride he had done nothing more than arrange a time and day for another ride with her.
“I will try, Mother,” he assured her, though he still wasn’t certain he could bring himself to do so with Georgiana occupying so many of his thoughts.
He was met with silence for a long moment before his mother decided to change the subject. “I think you might enjoy this tea party. The roses there are always so lovely. I wonder if the dowager duchess is going to be there. It is very likely she will, and her gowns are always in the latest fashion…”
Walter tuned out his mother’s voice as she prattled on and on about ton gossip. Instead, he mentally prepared himself to ask to call on Miss Rutherford.
It shouldn’t be too hard, should it? She will say yes and smile at me, utterly flattered. I will pretend the honor is all mine and will then arrange a time and day to call on her. She is pleasant company and quite pretty. There is no reason why we can’t be content together.
Suddenly the familiarity of the scenery struck him and dragged him out of his thoughts. “Mother, where is this garden party taking place?” he asked her almost accusingly as he leaned closer to the window to get a better look outside.
They had left the main road and were going up a lane to a manor which, if he was correct, was one he had no intention of ever visiting again. Yes, he definitely knew the route, and his mother was not answering his question. “Mother?”
She sighed. “It is at Irvington Manor, and I didn’t tell you because I knew that if I did you wouldn’t have agreed to come with me, much less actually gotten in the carriage. But we are pulling up in the drive this minute, so it is too late to even consider going back.”
“No. I refuse to go to the tea party,” he told her firmly as he sat as far back in his seat as he could. “You may get out of the carriage, and I will return home and send the carriage back for you, but I shall not be attending.”
“Yes, you shall.”
He scowled at his mother, completely unconvinced. “I highly doubt I am even welcome here. I am certain you wouldn’t want my presence to create a scene.”
“Actually, it is quite the opposite. I received the invitation from the Countess of Irvington several days ago. Along with the invitation, Adelaide sent me a personal letter asking us both to attend.”
She paused for a moment to let this information sink in before she continued, “Both Adelaide and I have noticed the way you and Georgianna have been behaving towards each other at social events. We are concerned for you both, and we agreed you need to smooth over whatever it was that happened in the past, so you can both move forward.”
“So, you decided to trick me into coming?” he accused. “You couldn’t have even asked me, or tried to talk to me about it?”
“You would have said no.”
“You’re right. I would have said no!” he exclaimed. “Enjoy the party on your own,” he added as the carriage started to slow to a stop.
Sylvia did not make a single move to get out of the carriage. “If you do not attend with me, it will reflect poorly on your reputation and the reputation of our family. Do you know what has been said about your