He stood up with a start, half-expecting something terrible to have happened.
“My Lord, you can’t just go in there.” He recognized the voice of one of his footmen just seconds before Walter barged into the room.
At the sight of him, Mary dropped into a low curtsey. “My Lord.”
George bit the inside of his lip, trying not to smile at the dumbfounded expression on his friend’s face.
“Lady Mary,” he said, clearing his throat. “Forgive me. I was unaware that the duke had company.”
At that, the footman arrived, a flustered look upon his face that most assuredly told George he had known well he had company.
“Please do not apologize, My Lord. I was just on my way out,” Mary insisted, rising from her curtsey but keeping her gaze low.
George watched his friend take a hesitant half-step towards her. He glanced in George’s direction before he responded, “Do not let me encourage you out. I was just coming to remind George that he promised me a ride out this morning.”
He glanced at George again, but his gaze quickly returned to Lady Mary. George and his mother shared a glance, one filled with knowing and amusement.
“I hadn’t forgotten,” George insisted, though in truth, he had.
“Well then, I wish you well on your ride, Your Grace, My Lord,” Lady Mary said, offering each of them a dip of her head before she finally raised her eyes to look at Walter and add, “I am ever so glad to see you home safely, My Lord. I was not aware you had returned.”
George thought he saw a little colour light his friend’s face. “I should have sent word,” he sighed, shaking his head. “I am terrible for such things. I am glad to see you well also, My Lady.”
The tension between the two of them was palpable, even more so than it had been when they were children, and George came to realize quickly that it seemed nothing had changed between them over the years.
He remembered well how Walter and Mary had always been close, the two of them always in each other’s company, laughing, playing, and doing just about anything to stay at each other’s side.
And it made his heart ache, for once, he and Lady Cecelia had been entirely the same. Now, they were practically strangers. Suddenly, he wondered what he wouldn’t do to get back to that.
The thought was gone in a second as he remembered all over again what had happened in the gardens that day. How could he possibly grow so close to a woman who had once called him coward?
“Perhaps, Lady Mary, you might join us?” Walter suggested, and George almost missed it, too entrenched in his thoughts. It was only when his friend said, “What do you say, George?” that he registered the words spoken.
“I … umm …” George stammered, unprepared for such a question. He wasn’t certain that riding out with Lady Mary in tow after having just made a deal with her to keep things secret between them would be such a great idea.
Luckily for him, Lady Mary appeared all too willing to save the day.
“I thank you for the offer, My Lord, but I’m afraid I’m much more comfortable with books than I am horses,” Lady Mary said, dipping her head again. “And I really ought to be on my way home. My mother is quite unwell at present, and I do not wish to stay away too long.”
Walter looked more than a little disappointed at that, and George felt a small shred of sympathy for him.
“Perhaps another time then?” Walter suggested, his expression becoming hopeful.
Lady Mary looked up, a brilliant smile on her face then and said, “Perhaps.”
It was clear to see that though she never had any intention of horse riding that day, she desperately would have liked to spend some time with him. The way they looked at each other reminded him once again of her sister, and George had to force himself to look away, hoping to give them a semi-private moment.
When he glanced at his mother, she had her head down and was focusing on her breakfast as if she wished to do the same.
“Can I at least escort you to the door, My Lady?” Walter asked.
Lady Mary’s cheeks flushed at that. “I would like that.”
Walter glanced at George as if looking for something to stop him, or maybe even a little courage, but then he offered Lady Mary the crook of his arm.
“Good day, Your Grace, Your Grace,” Lady Mary said, dipping a quick curtsey to both George and his mother before she allowed Walter to guide her from the room.
Almost as soon as Mary was gone, his mother stated, “I knew you would see sense eventually.”
