“We did.” She gave him a broad smile. No one would discover from her how quickly she was feeling. “Although, nothing has yet been decided, I expect them to be betrothed in the near future.”
“Yes, of course.” He grinned at her; his blue-gray eyes were a mix of sympathy and something else she could not place. “Very lucky. Are they love matches.”
“Yes. Everyone in the family has married for love.” For some reason Alice could not explain, she needed him to believe she was not sad about her sisters marrying before her. “I am very much like one of my older sisters. She came out with another of my sisters and a dear friend and was the last to wed. In the end, it turned out to be fortunate. Her husband is perfect for her.”
“That is good to know.” Lord Normanby kept his head turned attentively toward Alice. “Your family is very large I take it.”
She enjoyed his attention. And his interest in her and her family. “I know families who are much larger, however, our family continues to grow.”
He gave her a curious look that indicated he did not know if he believed it. “That sounds wonderful.”
“I think so.” She glanced around and saw that they had circled the Park without speaking with anyone. How had that happened? Who had she ignored? “Tell me, do you like large dogs?”
“Of course. I have always been intrigued by them.” Another mark in his favor.
“You will have to meet our Great Danes.”
He briefly inclined his head. “I am sure I will like them immensely.”
Alice would ask Grace to arrange a breakfast to see if Lord Normanby liked children as well. For their first engagement, it was going quite well.
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.”
