This was met by an embarrassed silence.
‘I trust you put her in her place,’ Fred said.
Oliver shrugged.
‘You did not let her beat you?’ There was such a thing as carrying chivalry too far, especially when it involved a friend’s wife.
‘I did not let her do anything,’ Oliver said sheepishly. ‘I drove out at a brisk pace. Not as fast as I might have, of course. I did not want to frighten the girl.’
‘Of course not,’ Fred agreed.
‘But fast enough to take the devil out of the horses and cause her to lose her bonnet.’
‘And I suppose she cried over that,’ Fred said, hoping.
‘Not a tear. She was too busy timing me with her little gold watch to notice. When we reached the mile marker, she held out her hands for the reins, turned the carriage like she’d been driving it for years and—’ Oliver clapped his hands ‘—we were off without giving the horses a chance to take a second breath.’
‘And she beat you,’ Fred said again.
‘I would have shown no mercy at all if I’d known she could drive like a demon.’ Oliver paused, as if suddenly remembering that this was not some fellow they both knew, but a woman. ‘A very attractive demon, of course,’ he finished.
‘Attractive?’ Fred repeated in a dark tone to remind that she was not just some girl, but the woman who had just become his wife.
‘Um, yes,’ Oliver said cautiously. ‘But also very ladylike, I am sure. She said she was taking her winnings to Bond Street to buy a new hat, since I had ruined hers.’ He grinned at the memory. ‘She is very like you were, at her age.’
‘When I was her age, I was still at Oxford.’ And many of the stories from school still made him wince in embarrassment.
‘Exactly. And a young hellion, just as we all were.’ Oliver smiled fondly at the memory. ‘I had no idea that young ladies could have the same daring streak in them. But apparently, some do.’
‘Then they should have it trained out of them,’ Fred said firmly.
‘I am sure there is no harm in it,’ Oliver said, attempting to bury a situation that he had enabled. ‘As long as you are not serious in thinking she will stay by the hearth fire while you neglect her.’
‘I have no intention of neglecting her,’ he said. The negligence would be mutual. It was hardly a mistake if he was doing exactly what she wanted by leaving her alone.
‘That is good to hear,’ Oliver said. ‘Whether you realise it or not, you married that girl to fill the void in your spirit that we have all noticed since you returned from fighting Napoleon.’
‘There is such a thing as too much spirit,’ Fred said darkly. ‘What will the world think if it finds that after barely a day of marriage she is cavorting with one of my oldest friends?’
‘Cavorting?’ At this, Oliver laughed. ‘Is that all you are worried about? I thought you were concerned about the danger of driving breakneck in an open carriage and the possibility that we could have upset and been injured or killed. But if it is our cavorting you are worried about…’
What was he saying? He was supposed to be newly married and in love. If not besotted, he should at least care enough about his wife to worry more about her safety than his own pride. ‘Of course,’ he corrected. ‘I am worried for her safety.’
‘And,of course, you are jealous,’ Oliver agreed, with another laugh. ‘Jealous that I will suddenly forget two decades of friendship and steal your bride. You are being ridiculous, but I forgive you for it. Men in love seldom think with the head on their shoulders.’
So his friend thought he was ruled by lust. They must be better actors than he had thought, if even those closest to him were seeing signs of affection between them. ‘I apologise. It is just as you say. I am being ridiculous.’
Oliver nodded. ‘It is understandable. As I said before, Challenger, what a woman.’ He was still smiling in admiration, as if Fred had somehow won first place, even though he had not been racing.
CHAPTER TEN
When George came down to the breakfast room the next morning, Mr Challenger was there to greet her with his usual disapproving expression.
‘Good morning, Husband,’ she said, smiling brightly. Then, for the benefit of the footman, she went to his side and gave him a kiss upon the cheek before taking her seat. When she glanced back at him while reaching for the eggs it was clear that the gesture had affected him. He was still frowning, but his cheeks had gone pink and it looked as though he had forgotten what it was he meant to say.
At last, he settled on, ‘Good morning, Georgiana.’
Silence fell, again. She sipped her tea.
