“They’re just babies.” He stuck a fork in the eggs he’d been brought.
“So were you,” Mary said.
His little face scrunched up. “I suppose you’re right. I just never think about them growing up.”
Matt covered his mouth with a serviette, and his shoulders shook.
Grace regarded her eldest son. “It is the way of things that children grow.”
“And if things proceed as usual,” Theo said, “you will have new cousins next year.”
Well, that brough it full circle back to Alice. She was ready to be a wife and mother and have a house of her own. If only she could find a husband. Normanby had to be the one. He had already displayed most of the necessary traits. She did not want to be left behind.
“Alice,” Grace said, “what do you plan to do this morning?”
That was an excellent question. She may as well keep to the regular schedule until she could think of something else. “I will do some shopping and go to Hatchards.”
“While you are at Hatchards, would you mind collecting the books I ordered?”
“Not at all. Did you happen to order Miss Anna Maria Porter’s latest book?”
Grace’s eyes widened in surprise. “I did not know she had a new one.”
That would give her more time to see what else the bookstore had. “I will look for it and place an order if they do not have it.”
“Take the town coach if it is still raining,” Matt said. “I’ll have it sent back for you.”
“Thank you.” Alice finished her breakfast. “When do you depart?”
He glanced at the clock. “Shortly.” Rising, he went to Grace and kissed her cheek. “I shall see you later.”
Alice looked at Mary and Theo. “Is there anything you would like me to fetch for you?”
“Yes, please,” Mary said. “I will write a list.”
“I shall add what I want to her list,” Theo rose and turned to Mary. “If you wish to get that done before classes, we had better go.”
Mary glanced at Alice. “What time do you plan to leave?”
“Around nine-thirty. I will go to the Arcade first.”
* * *
Giff sighed with relief when he heard rain hitting his window. When he’d returned home from the lecture Lady Mary had given to him, he had gone to the library and found copies of Miss Austen’s books and a copy of Cooper’s Precaution. He spent the rest of the day and most of the night reading. By the time he finally went to sleep, he understood exactly why Cooper’s book had missed the mark, and why Lady Mary thought it could be a topic of discussion with Alice. He rose, and was pleased to see his breakfast was waiting in his parlor. Now that he had some idea of the tact he should take, he could imagine sitting across the table from Alice and discussing books. Of course, it was even easier to envision waking up with her next to him.
A knock came on his door.
“Enter.”
A footman came in and handed him a note on a silver salver. “This just came for you, my lord.”
Giff opened it, and his jaw almost dropped.
Dear Lord St. Albans,
You should be at Hatchards no later than ten-thirty and wait as long as you need to.
Yer friend,
M.C.
He was being managed by an eleven-year-old. Yet surely, she had not sent a footman. “Who brought this?”
“A boy who said to give it to you straightaway.”
“A street urchin?”
“No, my lord. He was clean enough and looked well nourished.”
Where had she found a lad to do her bidding? Giff gave himself a shake. He’d eventually have his questions answered. He pulled out his pocket watch. He only had an hour, and there were a few things he must do. Chief of which was to speak with his mother.
He knocked on the door of her parlor. Her maid let him in. “Good morning, Mamma.”
She gave him her cheek to buss. “Good morning. What can I do for you?”
“I need to discover more about Normanby’s family. There is something about him I do not trust, but I can’t put my finger on it.”
One dark russet brow rose. “Would this have anything to do with Lady Alice?”
