Then Montagu said, “I am happy to accept your invitation, my lady. Would tomorrow be too soon?”
She picked up her cup and looked at him over the rim. “Not at all.”
That was much too soon. She glanced at Giff. “Excellent, my lady. If you will excuse me, I must go to my mother.”
Lady Alice gave him a look he couldn’t interpret. When had he become such a dullard? Perhaps he should go back to what he knew, flirting always seemed to work.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Alice heaved a sigh of relief when Lord St. Albans said he had to go back to his mother. When she had first seen him tonight, it struck her how handsome he was. His auburn hair curled perfectly. His eyes were so green they vied with the emerald he wore in his elegantly tied cravat. He danced better than any of the gentlemen she had stood up with at the entertainments they had attended in the country. All that male beauty and grace, and there was nothing inside. It was a shame his parents had not taught him to be more charitable to others. On the other hand, she had no idea what his family was like. The duchess could be the reason he did not appear to care about anything. Or it could be the duke. Or even his nurse.
She rode home with Matt, Grace, and her sisters. Both the inner and outer lanterns had been lit allowing them to see each other.
As soon as they were settled, Grace said, “What did you think of Almack’s?”
“It was not as oppressive as I thought it would be,” Madeline said. “Yet, that might have been because I was surrounded by my family and friends.”
“I was happy to be able to waltz.” Eleanor looked delighted.
Alice wished she had had as much fun. “It was fine.” She was not looking forward to attending again. “I suppose we must go back next week.”
Grace gave her a sympathetic look. “We will. But there are many other entertainments to which to look forward.”
“We were supposed to attend Lady Castlereagh’s no, Lady Londonderry’s ball tomorrow, but they are now in mourning,” Eleanor said.
“Is there anything thing else to attend?” Madeline asked.
“Lady Markham has arranged a ball to take its place,” Grace replied.
“The following night is Lady Harrington’s ball,” Eleanor added.
Hopefully, Alice would meet other gentlemen who had more to offer than Lord St. Albans.
“You will not have to worry about being well entertained.” Matt’s tone seemed almost unhappy.
Well, he need not worry about them. “We will not give you any trouble at all.”
He raised both brows and pinned her with a stern look. “I’ve heard that before.”
“It was not Dotty’s fault those ladies mistook what she and Dom were doing.” Madeline said. Although, that ended up well. “Or that Charlotte was kidnapped. Or that Louisa announced her marriage a bit too soon. Or that Augusta wanted to attend university.” In fact, they all had happy endings.
Matt dragged a hand down his face. “Be that as it may, I would like to get through this Season without any of those things occurring again.”
Her sisters, brothers-in-law, brothers, and cousins joined them for the supper Grace had planned. While everyone was getting settled, Alice decided to voice her opposition about St. Albans coming tomorrow morning. “Grace, did you have to invite St. Albans to breakfast?” Alice took a glass of wine from Thorton and was tempted to toss it down. “I am not at all certain I want him there.”
“She did not have much of a choice,” Matt pointed out. “He was rather like a hungry puppy.”
“I suppose so.” If one could call such an elegantly dressed and experienced gentleman a puppy. Alice sat down next to Charlotte and Con on one of the two large sofas in the drawing room.
“What has put your back up about St. Albans?” Con asked.
“He does not appear to care about anything. When I asked him about charitable works, he was not at all interested.”
Con’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “When Charlotte and I met, I was the same. I cared only for my own entertainment.”
Alice had not known that. Then again, she had only been twelve years old. And he was nothing like that now. “But you changed.”
“Very true. I did. Something happened that proved to me Charlotte was right about an argument we had been having. It caused me to step back and look at the life I was leading.”
Were most gentlemen like that? Matt had not seemed to be, but he was responsible for his sisters. “Maybe I could talk to Lord St. Albans and make him understand how important it is to do even small acts of charity.”
“You can always try. Although, I believe a gentleman must have something happen in order to effect lasting change.” He glanced at Matt. “Take Worthington. He led much the same type of life I did until he decided to marry and found the lady he wanted to wed.” Con’s brows drew together. “I might even remember when it happened. We’d both been invited to a hunting party, and he suddenly left saying something about needing to go to Town.” Con glanced at her and shrugged. “The next thing I knew he had wed.”
Alice had not known that about Matt. And she did not know how she could create an event that would change someone. She should take Georgie’s advice and simply enjoy Lord St. Albans’s company. Yet something told Alice that it was not something she was likely to do. “Surely, he must do something other than have fun. How can one live like that? He must have some purpose in life.”
Con raised a brow. “If he does, I don’t know what it is. I do know he doesn’t have any horrible habits.”
Which habits was he thinking about? “Such as?”
He stared at her as if he did not know what he should tell her. “Gambling for instance. He hardly gambles at all, and I have only once seen him drink to excess.”
Well, that was something. However, not wasting money on cards or drinking moderately did not seem such a great thing. Then again, the ton was full of people who ruined their families engaging in those habits. Alice nodded. “Thank you for telling me.”
Con inclined his head. “It’s my pleasure. Just ask if there is anything I can do to help.”
Louisa suddenly broke out into laughter. “She is setting a test for him.”
What was going on?
