CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Giff had escorted Alice to her home from Hatchards. He now understood why Normanby wanted to stroll with her in lieu of riding. Even when one stopped to greet acquaintances, one had a great deal more time to converse. He tied his cravat and fixed it with an emerald pin. The ball tonight was going to be excruciating. He'd have one set with Alice, but Normanby would have the supper dance. Giff hoped the blackguard would trip up somehow, but hope was not a strategy. He had to do something to snatch Alice from the cur's clutches. Yet it must be in a way that caused the least harm to her. What was it Lady Mary had said?

"Theo and I pray daily that Matt will discover something is wrong with him."

Ah yes. Theo of the sheep.

Giff had a feeling he'd need more than a mistress to show Normanby for the scoundrel he was. The servant said they'd all be out on the street without a marriage. How could Giff find proof of the cad's financial difficulties? There was, of course, the time-honored method of starting a rumor. But he wanted solid proof. Perhaps Mamma could help. Gunn helped Giff into his jacket and fixed his pocket watch and quizzing glass to his vest.

He made his way to the small drawing room and was surprised to find only his mother. "Where is Father?"

"He had a committee meeting. He will dine out." She handed Giff a glass of sherry. "Have you made any progress with Lady Alice? I hear Lord Normanby is hopeful of a match."

Giff decided to keep his conversation with Lady Mary and her notes to himself. "A bit. We've met at Hatchards twice now. I had been approaching her in the wrong way. We're getting on much better now. About Normanby, I discovered he is still keeping a mistress."

His mother raised one brow. "That is not something a lady like Lady Alice would appreciate. I heard a whisper that his mother married and is on the Continent because her gambling was out of control."

That might be the reason Normanby was seeking to marry money. "I have reason to believe he might be on the rocks."

Mamma fixed him with a disgusted look. "Can you please not use cant around me."

Giff bowed. "My apologies. It means—"

"I know very well what it means." Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she gave him the look. "He has little to no funds." She took a sip of her wine. "If that is true, he is hiding it quite well." And that was the problem. His father's butler entered the parlor and announced dinner. Mamma placed her hand on Giff's arm, and they strolled to the family dining room. "Rumors are all well and good, but I think you had better focus on charming her away from his lordship."

"You might be right." Now that he knew where he'd gone wrong, there was a chance he could cut Normanby out. "I have a dance with her this evening."

Mamma looked at him in surprise. "Well done. Considering the set down she gave you the other day, I am impressed."

"I was as well." The servants had been steadily offering them dishes, and he took several pieces of asparagus sautéed with mushrooms. He had to make the most of that dance and be seen standing up with other ladies. He wasn't ready to let her know that the lady upon which he was focused and hoped to wed was her.

Mamma swallowed. "How are you doing with the Scottish estate?"

"I am reading everything I can find. Mr. Quinney has been very thorough in answering my questions. I want to travel to Inverness as soon as I am able."

"Perhaps on a wedding trip?" she said archly.

"If that wedding trip includes Lady Alice, I rather think she would like to visit Paris. Both her sisters are there on their honeymoons." Yet, she might be willing to travel to Scotland. "It's too soon to make plans. I must first secure the lady's hand."

Mamma rose. "Speaking of that, we should be going."

They entered the ballroom before the first set. Alice was standing with her family. Normanby was nowhere in sight. Then again, he had the supper set and had no reason to attend earlier. Giff accompanied his mother to a group of her friends and made his way toward Alice's circle. Bolingbrook led her out for the first dance.

Almost immediately, Lady Millsworth approached him. "My lord, please come with me. There is a lady in need of a partner."

Giff inclined his head. "It would be my pleasure."

He was made known to a Miss Butterworth. The next set went to Lady Amelia Grant. Then it was time to dance with Alice. If she had been taking note of his previous partners, she did not give herself away. They took their places opposite each other, bowed and curtseyed, and the music began. He took her hand as they came together. "You look exceptionally lovely this evening."

"You are very handsome." The color of her cheeks deepened as they danced apart.

The next time he offered an invitation he thought she might like. "There is a balloon ascension in the Park on Thursday. Would you like to accompany me to it?"

"I would indeed," she managed to say before the dance separated them again.

He'd conversed in snatches of conversation before, but they had never been important. This was. "I imagine some of the younger children would like to attend it they are allowed."

"I am sure they would. I will have to ask if they may."

Alice was amazed he had invited the children to the balloon ascension. At the breakfast he'd attended, she had the distinct impression he did not like children. However, perhaps that had been because he did not know how to approach her. She enjoyed his company much more now.

He escorted her back to her family and immediately led her to Matt. "My lord," he greeted her brother-in-law. "I have asked Lady Alice to attend the balloon ascension with me. If it is possible, I would like to extend the invitation to the children."

"Perhaps not all the children, but certainly Mary and Theo would like to accompany you."

Alice thought how hurt her niece and nephew would be to be left out. "Gideon and Elizabeth would like it as well."

Matt looked at her. "That would entail nursemaids. I doubt you'd have much fun trying to keep track of them in what I imagine will be a huge crowd." He seemed to gather her other brothers-in-law and Merton with a look, and they made their way to him. "What would you think of taking the children to the balloon ascension on Thursday?"

Con grimaced. "The girls might be well behaved, but I'd have to keep Hugh on a leash. The first thing he'd do would be to try to climb into the basket just to get a better look."

Matt gave him a sympathetic look. "I hadn't thought of that. Even Gideon would be tempted." He glanced at St. Albans. "It's better if you just take Theo and Mary with you."

He seemed a little disappointed but nodded. "I bow to your knowledge of the other children." He turned to Alice. "If I do not see you before then, I shall collect you at one o'clock."

"I shall be ready." This was the most exciting thing she would have done while in Town.

"That was exceedingly kind of him," Rothwell said. "If we could have limited it to the girls it would have been fine."

Con gave him an exasperated look. "We'd have a mutiny on our hands."

"Who would munity?" Grace asked.

"St. Albans invited Alice and the younger children to the balloon ascension on Thursday. I told him he could take Mary and Theo, but not the younger ones."

Grace heaved a sigh. "Mary and Theo have already been invited to attend with Phoebe Evesham."

"It looks like you will have to go with just St. Albans," Matt said.

"It is not a problem. He simply wanted to ask the children as well." It might actually be better being alone. Then they would not be responsible for anyone else in what was certain to be an enormous gathering.

Lord Normanby joined them. "Are you discussing the balloon ascension?"

"Yes." Alice turned to him. "I have been invited to attend, and we were discussing taking some of the other children as they were asked as well."

"How very nice of the person. However, I was going to ask you to accompany me." His tone was glib, and, suddenly, she had the feeling he had not even heard of the event before then. Very odd. "Our set is next," he said.

"It is." She glanced around and saw St. Albans speaking with a matron and her daughter. Was that the lady in whom he was interested?

* * *

As it happened, the next morning was fair, and she saw St. Albans riding in the Park. For once, he was before her. She rode up next to him. "Good morning."

"And to you." He smiled and motioned his head in the direction of the large oak tree. "Do you care for a race?"

"I do." Her mare stamped a foot. She was ready for a run as well. "On the count of three."

A wicked grin appeared on his face just as he said, "Three."

Galyna was ready for him and dashed forward, catching up with his gelding in a few short seconds. They reached the tree at the same time.

"Excellent race," he said, eyes bright with excitement.

Alice narrowed her eyes at him. "You cheated."

"Me? I wouldn't dare. I merely counted one and two to myself." He glanced at her mare. "Aside from that, I could see she was ready to go."

They trotted to the Serpentine. "Why did you name your horse Horace?"

"I am addicted to the poems of Quintus Horatius Flaccus, a Roman poet who lived in sixty-five B.C. He had a famous quote: ‘Seize the day and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. Begin, be bold and venture to be wise. Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even.' Horace is derived from his name. How did you pick Galyna?"

Eleanor and I decided to use Latin names. Galyna means a girl who remains calm." Alice glanced at her mare. "She usually is."

St. Albans chuckled. "We all have our moments."

"Very true." They meandered around alternatively trotting, walking, cantering, and talking.

"I'm sorry to see the hyacinths have gone," he said.

"I am not."

He gave her a shocked look. "They are so pretty."

"They are, but they make me sneeze."

A look of horror passed over his countenance. "I sent them to you."

"The servants enjoyed them."

"I'm terribly sorry. Our housekeeper had suggested lavender, but they were not quite in bloom, and I thought hyacinths would do just as well."

He appeared so distraught. "I think your housekeeper might have recommended lavender for the plant's healing properties."

"I made a mull of that." He shook his head in disgust. "The next time I will send fruit." His brows drew together in concern. "You are not allergic to any of them, are you?"

"Not that I am aware." Why could he not have been like this before? She should ask about his lady, but Alice would rather not know. "Hopefully, I will not be ill again for a long while. I caught my cold from one of my nieces or nephews. They all had it."

"Small children tend to be generous with their germs. The nursery at my maternal grandparents' house came down with a stomach disorder, and soon the whole keep had it."

What had he said? "Keep?"

"Yes, you know. The castle and its grounds."

"Your grandfather's estate in Scotland?"

His eyes were sparkling, and his lips twitched. "The very one. Mine is not nearly as large, although, it is quite old."

Everyone seemed to live in an interesting house but her. "Do you have priest holes?"

St. Albans barked a laugh. "I can do better than that. I have secret tunnels and corridors. Cleveland Castle does as well."

She would have loved playing in those as a child. "I wonder why none of our homes have them."

His eyes sparkled with laughter. "Most likely because your houses were not built before the fifteenth century and are further south?"

He was right. "Ours are quite modern comparatively." How depressing. Although, there were benefits of living in a newer house. "Are they cold and uncomfortable?"

"They would be if the men had anything to say about it, but, at least in the past two hundred years or so, the ladies have taken charge and made them very comfortable."

It was a shame she would never be able to see them.

"My lady," Robertson said. "We should be getting back for breakfast."

"I had not realized how late it was getting." A thought occurred to her, and she glanced at St. Albans. "Would you like to break your fast with us?"

"It would be my great pleasure." They galloped to the gate, and he came to a stop. "I would like to change. When should I arrive?"

She took out her watch. "Forty-five minutes."

"Until then." He headed toward the end of the Park.

Where did he live, and why did she not know? Well, that lack of knowledge would be remedied this morning.

She and her groom rode back to Worthington House. As soon as she had informed Thorton of the guest joining them for the morning meal, bathed and dressed, Alice went to the library and took out a copy of Debrett's. She flipped to the page where the Dukes of Cumberland were listed and ran her finger down the page until it mentioned a house on Park Lane. The clock chimed the hour, and she closed and reshelved the book. Alice headed toward the breakfast room at the same time the knocker was plied on the front door. She glanced at her watch. St. Albans must be early, but instead of a deep melodious tone, she heard high-pitched squeals. Who was here?

Quickly striding to the hall, she stopped short to see most of her family there. Had she forgotten they were gathering this morning, or had she not been told? A small body almost knocked her over.

"We came to cheer you up," Hugh said, hugging her.

Charlotte laughed and bussed Alice's cheek. "Not to cheer her up, to keep her company."

"Well, I want to make her happy." Hugh had a stern look on his childish mien.

She hugged him. "You are cheering me. Would you like to escort me into the breakfast room?"

He held out his arm as he had probably seen his father do. "I'd like to." She placed her hand on it. "Besides," he whispered. "Gideon's not here so I'm the oldest boy."

He was the only boy, but she would never tell him that. His sister and cousins were chatting as they strolled to the large breakfast room, while her sisters and brothers-in-law were greeting Matt and Grace.

The door closed and opened again. St. Albans. He strode in smiling and greeted the others, then looked at her. "I see a gentleman was before me."

Hugh straightened. "Yes, you are correct."

St. Albans gave one nod acknowledging his defeat. "May I walk on your other side, my lady?"

Alice met his gaze and her heart sped up. "Yes, my lord."

He bowed to Hugh, "If his lordship has no objection, that is."

His chin rose. "I do not."

"Oh dear," Constance said in a perfect imitation of her mother. "There will be no living with him now."

Alice exchanged a glance with St. Albans. His lips twitched, and she almost went into whoops. How mistaken she had been about him.