1) “Fine, his latest said. I gather Mr. ớ Mrs. G. ensconced in hotel. Don’t particularly want you tied up for days in paperwork (sure you agree) so polite chaperoning only please till formality complete. Job done” (Miéville 85).
2) The OED definition of “chaperoning” is given that chaperon (v.) – To act as chaperon to (a young lady); to escort. “Chaperoning” is mentioned in OED, it only tells that if it is a noun or adjective, it writes chaperoning.
3) Etymology: < chaperon n. (The French derivative verb (in different sense) is chaperonner.) It first used in 1811 on J. Austen Sense & Sensibility I. xx. 258, I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time.
4) I think “chaperoning” might mean something in the positive way because in the text, the word put after “polite” and also before the word “please.” There are positive word and blank and positive word. It should mean something like gentleman because on OED gives an example that chaperon to a young lady. Thus, I think “chaperoning” in the text mean to write something by using the appropriate and polite vocabulary like when a writer talk to a woman.
ENG 195: The Literary Metropolis 