CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lord Normanby departed, but fortunately the next few weeks flew by. Alice had dreaded seeing the Duchess of Cleveland again, but her grace's response to Lord St. Albans not being invited had been rather droll. She had been amused by it and blamed it on him. The next night, as they all expected, Montagu proposed to Eleanor and two weeks later they married.

Alice had come down with a bad cold and recovered just in time to attend the ceremony. Both Lord Normanby and Lord St. Albans as well as some other gentlemen had come by to leave small gifts for her ranging from bon bons to oranges and flowers. Unfortunately, just as she was feeling better, Lord St. Albans sent hyacinths that made her start sneezing again. Why could he not have asked someone which flowers she liked?

This evening was Georgie Turley's ball, and Lord Normanby had asked for the supper dance. Finally, Alice would have an opportunity to stand up with him.

They took their places on the dance floor, and he placed one hand on her waist and clasped one of her hands with his other. She had expected to feel something that would indicate he was the right gentleman for her, but there was nothing.

"I'm glad the supper set is a waltz," he said as he twirled her.

"I have noticed that they usually are." Alice wondered why that was.

"Interesting. I had not noticed."

She felt as if he was rather a stiff during the set and was a bit surprised that he was not as good a dancer as she supposed he would be. Technically, he was excellent, but there was something missing beyond his stiffness, and she could not put a name to it. She attempted to discover what it was as they went down to supper with her family.

"You must tell me what you like to eat," he said as she took her seat.

She was happy that he had actually asked her rather than assume she would like what he selected. "Almost everything but the lobster patties."

He gave her a startled look and placed a hand over his heart. "No lobster patties? What is the world coming to when people stop eating lobster patties? Hostesses will be stymied attempting to find something to replace them." He bowed. "But your wish is my command, my lady. No lobster patties it is."

Alice laughed and inclined her head. "Thank you, my lord."

She turned her head and caught the glare Lord St. Albans shot at Lord Normanby. Harry said something to Lord St. Albans, and he strolled off.

"What do you think that was about?" Madeline asked.

"I have no idea." And Alice did not care.

Harry arrived with ices in addition to with the food, and he and Madeline were soon lost in a discussion. Alice hoped she had found the person she wanted to wed in Lord Normanby. Time would tell.

His lordship did an excellent job of bringing a selection of what must have been everything but the patties. "I hope you enjoy the supper." He lowered himself into the chair next to hers. A footman came over and poured them glasses of champagne. "I brought you a few different types of ices to taste."

"Thank you." The offerings he set before her included sliced chicken, ham, poached salmon, haricot vert with thinly sliced almonds, asparagus, cheeses, fruit tartlets, and a trifle. "This is excellent."

He picked up one of the ices and tasted it. "This is wonderful. I think it is champagne." He gave her a spoon and she took a small bite. "This is lovely. It is very refreshing."

"Would you like to go walking with me again tomorrow?"

She would, but tomorrow was the party for her nieces and nephews, and she did not know how long it would last. "I am very sorry. We have a family event tomorrow that will probably last all afternoon."

"Perhaps the day after?"

"Yes. I would be delighted." Alice smiled. It was nice to have a gentleman be so solicitous instead of assuming she would like what he did.

* * *

The next day, Harry proposed to Madeline, or she proposed to him. The story Alice got from her nieces and nephews who witnessed the betrothal said both things. In any event, her sister and Harry were getting married. Alice was thrilled for them. They were perfect for each other. But again, there was only two weeks to plan the wedding. She exchanged a glance with Henrietta Fotherby, Harry's sister. Their grandmother, the Duchess of Bristol had been so certain the two would make a match she had bought a house, leaving Alice and Henrietta to decorate parts of it.

Henrietta joined Alice and said, "It is a good thing it is almost complete."

"Not that I think they will find a house they like better, but what will the duchess do if they do?"

Henrietta gave her head a little shake. "They will not. None of the other houses they will be shown are at all suitable."

Alice grinned. That sounded like something the duchess would do. "Leave it to your grandmother to be so sly."

"That is what I thought when she wrote to me."

She was certain Madeline would love the house. It also had the benefit of not being too far from Worthington House. "I cannot wait to hear what they think about it."

Henrietta leaned closer to Alice. "Nate thinks we'll be caught out. If not by Madeline, then by Harry."

At the end of the next day, that is exactly what happened. But they loved the house, and Madeline was glad not to have to do everything herself.

* * *

Lord Normanby once again arrived promptly at Worthington House for their walk. Alice tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. "It is not that I do not like strolling with you, but do you not like to drive a carriage?"

He smiled down at her, giving her a meaningful look. "I do, but then my attention would be on my horses and not on you."

That was true, she supposed. She must be careful to glance around from time to time today. "I had never thought of it in that light." This was the first time they had had an opportunity to talk since he had returned to Town. "How was your mother's wedding?"

"Being her second marriage, it was small. One of my older sisters attended her. It was held at the chapel at our house."

"That sounds lovely. I have visited houses and castles with chapels and even small churches. Living in a house like that must be wonderful."

It was a devil of a lot of work and took a great deal of money. Money Normanby didn't have. Lady Alice smiled at him as if she was imagining experiencing the house. If there was one thing he'd learned about ladies it was to always agree with them. "It was a great deal of fun as a child. We even have priest holes."

She glanced up and looked around. "We must greet Lady Bellamny."

"How amazing." That old busybody. He escorted Lady Alice to her ladyship after she greeted Lady Bellamny. He bowed. "My lady."

She inclined her head. "Normanby. How is your mother? I have not seen her in Town this Season."

"She recently remarried and is off to France on her wedding trip."

"Coltrane?" she asked.

"Who else? He has been her faithful cicisbeo for years."

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Lady Alice watching the conversation. Would she even understand it? From what he'd heard and seen of her family, they were depressingly monogamous. Even Kenilworth had got rid of his mistress and not taken another.

"Lady Alice, I do not suppose you have heard from Lady Eleanor yet?"

"No, my lady. It has been too soon."

"You two be on your way." He was glad when her ladyship waved them off. If anyone could discover his masquerade, it was her. All Normanby had to do was hold on for a few more weeks, and he would have everything he wanted in a wife. Good bloodlines, beauty, and wealth.

When they reached Worthington House, he bowed. "May I see you again tomorrow?"

"I have another engagement." She lightly bit her bottom lip, and he could see himself bedding her. She would not compare with his mistress, Celeste, but he would be able to perform. "I will not be available for the next two weeks."

"Are you going away?" That would scuttle all his plans.

"No. I simply have a great many engagements which I must attend."

Normanby had hoped he'd have her betrothed by then, but that would have to be good enough. He'd wanted to be seen with her enough to cause some tongues to start to wag. "Until then."

"I am looking forward to it." She curtseyed. "In a few days you will hear about it." With that cryptic remark, she entered the house.

As Alice had expected, the next two weeks were madness. To make things worse, just before the wedding, Lady Wolverton, Madeline's mother, decided to object to Harry. Alice did not know how it was resolved, but it was. Harry's grandmother, the duchess, and his parents came to Town. If it was not for the early morning rides in the Park, they would have all been ready for bedlam. The only thing that spoilt the rides was that Lord St. Albans continued to attend. Not that Alice had to speak with him much at all. Georgie Turley, Henrietta Fotherby, and Dorie Exeter were there as well.

Matt was able to contact Montagu and Eleanor, and they arrived the day before the wedding. The ceremony itself was held in the garden. Harry and Madeline were surrounded by their family including the Great Danes. As Alice listened to the vows being said, she was at once overjoyed for her sister and at the same time felt alone. Her sisters were on their way to creating their own families, and she had been left behind. She gave herself a shake. Lord Normanby was waiting to take her walking again. This time she would find out if he met the requirements on her list.

* * *

Giff had stayed up late into the night going over the information Mr. Kennedy had sent trying to make sense of it all. He was probably going to have to send a note to Quinney asking for his help. As a consequence of Giff's late night, he arrived at the Park as Alice was departing. At least he'd have a chance to see her this afternoon at the Venetian Breakfast they were both attending at a riverside estate near Richmond. He just hoped Normanby wasn't there.

When he arrived, she was standing with Lady Turley and some other ladies. Giff made himself stroll in a circuitous manner to Alice's side and greeted the other ladies. "Lady Alice, would you do me the honor of strolling with me?"

"Of course, my lord." She glanced at the others. "Please excuse me."

The day was warm and as they neared the river the slight breeze was refreshing. He stopped and faced her. "I would like to discuss the possibility of you becoming my wife."

Alice sniffed and looked down her lovely nose at him. "You are not qualified to be my husband."

The devil I'm not!"What do you mean I'm not qualified?" This couldn't be happening. "I'm the heir to a dukedom."

She raised one imperious brow. "Be that as it may, I have a list, and you do not meet the qualifications."

"A list?" He'd thought things had been going well. He could have sworn he'd recovered from not being invited to her come out ball. Normanby must have something to do with this. Giff wanted to bash his head against a wall.

"Yes." She nodded sharply. "A list of qualifications a gentleman must have before I will marry him. You do not meet the qualifications, and marrying a duke or a future duke is not one of them."

"What are they then?" They could not be that difficult.

Her beautiful blue eyes hardened into an icy glare. "One of them is to listen. Do you realize that this is the first time I have been able to get a word in when you start talking?"

"I paused." He thought she hadn't wanted to speak.

"Only to take a breath and talk again. It is as if you are more enamored with the sound of your own voice than hearing what the person with whom you are conversing has to say."

That hurt. "What do you wish to discuss?"

"Almost anything but the royal family and gossip." She glanced around, and he followed her gaze. "We are going to attract attention." Without another word, she strolled off.

What in perdition was he going to do now? Bloody hell-hounds! Stern had been right. Giff knew next to nothing about Alice other than he wanted to marry her. Well, he was not going to give up. The problem was how was he to find out what she liked and discover the qualifications so that he could meet them. Once he had succeeded, she would change her mind and be happy to wed him.

"Send them flowers, waltz with them, compliment them. Being wealthy and having a title is all part of it. She will see that being a future duchess is in her best interest."

Giff couldn't believe he'd truly uttered those words. What a fool he'd been. One good thing was coming of this. At least he could stop reading the court pages and gossip rags.

He watched as she walked away, her spine stiff, her shoulders straight, and her hips swaying softly. God, she was magnificent. It occurred to him that he should immediately apply to Worthington for her hand. He made his way to his hostess and thanked her for a lovely event then drove back to Town.