Grey found he wasn’t surprised by either fact. He didn’t want to talk about it either. And he was quite certain Georgie did know everything young Geoffrey had been taught.
“Horse mad or army mad?” he asked with a small smile.
The boy grinned like a pirate. “I shall replace my brother Michael as the family military man when he has to come home and be earl.”
That almost broke Grey’s composure. He wondered if the current earl knew that his bloodthirsty progeny already had him planted. “I see.”
“I was hoping to speak with someone who had gone up with the Forlorn Hope at Badajoz, but, well…”
“Sorry. Dragoons don’t seem to have the necessary skills.”
Thank a merciful God. He could still hear the screaming.
“Whatdidyou do there?”
Grey never would have called the Dowager Countess an angel, but she certainly saved him then.
“Not today, you barbarous little monster,” she snapped, waving her cane at the boy, as if pushing him off. “The Marquess must go now. His bride awaits.”
She gave him a look that saidwhether he wants to or not.Thank God and little fishes, he thought.
He gave her his best non-threatening smile. “Thank you for letting me know.”
She was scowling, but her eyes twinkled. “Your girls will stay with us for tonight. Give you two a chance to get to know each other.”
Which meant she already knew about his change of plans. He suspected it would be pointless to ask her how.
More importantly, she was encouraging his time alone with her granddaughter. His body reacted predictably to the offer. Alone with Georgie Packham, the focus of her prodigious attention. Maybe he could convince her of her mistake after all. Maybe she would enjoy a bit of seduction...
He got a swat from the cane across his shins to remind him of his manners.
“Thank you, my lady,” he said with a very proper bow. “I’ll be off then, shall I?”
“Excellent idea. On your way, you might ask Georgianna what she and I discussed the other day.”
Grey was considering a follow-up question, but she was already turning to her young grandson. “Come along and harass your tutor. That’s what we pay him for.”
Reaching down, she took not only young Emily by the hand, but Geoffrey, Grey suspected so the boy wouldn’t go running after him demanding stories.
But the boy surprised them.
“Sir? One more thing.”
Grey stopped just short of sighing. “Yes, lad.”
“Take good care of my sister.”
Good God, did every Packham have murder on their minds? It said something that the dowager didn’t even blink.
“Or you’ll kill me?”
The boy’s grin was complacent. “Oh, no sir. I’m too short. I’d never reach you.”
Grey couldn’t help laughing. “Finally, somebody who is thinking this through.”
The boy shrugged. “I’d put fleas in your bed.”
After that, all Grey could do was look over to his new wife, who was hugging Amelia. “Wife?” he called. “I fear we must leave before your family does me in.”
