Page 34 of Watching the Earl

It was just as well they’d be alone for at least a sennight, maybe longer. It would give him a chance to gauge exactly how much penance being married would be. Since he was married until death, he hoped it would be enough to atone for his actions.

Lord Manning interrupted his view as he strode toward him. “Well done, Durham. Well done. Pretty, accomplished, knowledgeable, and well connected. You have set a high bar.”

“It’s not that I’m competing with anyone. It’s more about finding the right woman to be my countess.”

“Yes, of course. Still, I will take your good fortune into account when I set out to find my own wife. Not yet, of course, but soon. I congratulate you once again, but now will take my leave.”

Philip gave Manning a nod and watched as the man joined a group leaving the room. Soon he would be alone with Lady Georgina. No, Lady Durham. He cringed again at calling his wife by his mother’s title. Absolutely not. Georgie? He couldn’t call her that either. Damn, he needed to be able to call his own wife by a name. Georgina? It seemed rather informal, but his parents had done the same. Georgina. Yes, he could do that.

He remained where he was as Georgina kindly accepted final good wishes from those who’d already spoken to him. When the last guests, the Duke and Duchess of Northwick, made their way to his wife, he strode over to be with her just in time to hear the end of the duchess’s sentence.

“…can always call upon us.”

He stood next to Georgina and responded, “Thank you for supporting my wife. We are both grateful.”

The duchess raised a brow. “I’m glad to hear that. We know you will do all you can to make Georgina happy.”

The duke chuckled. “That shouldn’t be too difficult. Did you not hear the birdsong as we exited the coach to come inside? Lady Durham will be very happy here when not in Town.”

“Oh yes. And did you know that there is an old dovecote here? I hope we can bring it back.” Georgina looked at him.

At such a simple request, he smiled. “That we shall.”

The duchess gave a small smile of her own, obviously pleased by his answer. “Very good. Then we shall take our leave of you. I look forward to a visit from you when we return to Town.”

As the last of their guests exited the house, Philip felt a sense of relief. They’d done it. They’d married with the ton none the wiser as to why. He’d turned to compliment Georgina on being discreet when his housekeeper strode into the room.

“My lady, do you wish to meet the staff now?”

Amid the bustle of the wedding breakfast, he’d forgotten that formality. “I’m sure my wife would like to rest a bit after such a busy morning.”

Georgina turned toward him. “Actually, I was hoping to walk in the gardens. They seem so well laid out. I know there is little in bloom right now, but it’s such a lovely day.”

He and Mrs. Newman stared at her.

“Is that not proper?” She looked at the housekeeper and then back at him. He didn’t know what to say.

Mrs. Newman answered instead. “My lady, it’s your wedding day. You may do whatever you like.”

“That is very generous of you, Mrs. Newman. I’d like very much for my husband to escort me through the gardens. That should give you plenty of time to assemble the staff. After I meet them all, perhaps a tour of the house?”

“Of course, my lady. An excellent plan.”

Mrs. Newman left to fulfill her duties, and Georgina took his arm. “Shall we? Oh, did you have other plans?”

Surprised by her energy, he took a moment to answer. “No, I don’t. This way.” There were doors to the gardens from the dining room, the study, and the ballroom. He led her past the staff cleaning away the remains of the celebration and out onto the terrace. He stopped for a moment once they were outside. “You’re correct. It’s a perfect day.” He hadn’t even noticed that it had stopped raining during the ceremony.

“Do you hear them?”

He didn’t have to guess what she spoke of. “Yes, I hear the birds.”

She smiled excitedly. “There are so many here. Let us go into the garden.”

Before he could take a step, she’d slipped her hand from his arm and started across the terrace. By the time he walked after her, she was down the two steps and onto a path.

“Look, it’s a house sparrow. He’s being quite vocal. I wonder if there’s another male nearby.”

He caught up to her in time to watch her spin to the right and disappear behind a tall hedge. Was this what she considered a “walk in the garden”?