“Yes. I think I know what I’ve been doing wrong in approaching her, but Normanby has been courting her. I don’t want her to accept an offer from him before I have a chance to mend my mistakes with her.”
“Hmm.” Mamma picked up her teacup. “What could he be hiding, I wonder? His mother did not come for the Season, which is unusual. She also recently wed when she said she would never do so again. Let me see what I can discover.”
“Thank you.” Giff had learned that the older ladies, not that he thought his mother was that old, had avenues of information others did not possess. In the meantime, he would look around as well. “I will see you at dinner.”
A line appeared between her eyes as if she was thinking, then she glanced at him. “Until then.”
“Thank you.” A thought occurred to him. “I’m going to Hatchards. Do you want me to bring you anything?”
Mamma’s face brightened. “Please see if they have a new book by one of the Misses Porter. I believe one is releasing soon.”
That was fortuitous. “My pleasure.”
Giff arrived at the bookstore shortly before the appointed time and began to peruse the shelves. He’d been there on many occasions before but only to pick up books he’d ordered. This was the first time he’d taken the time to just browse. He found the section on estate management and discovered several books he’d not known about. As he started toward the area that housed novels, the outside door opened, and Alice greeted the clerk.
“Good morning.” She sounded as if she was in a good mood. “I must fetch the books my sister, Lady Worthington, ordered after I search for something for myself. Can you tell me if you have received Porter’s The Village of Mariendorpt?”
“Good morning to you, my lady. We have several copies. Shall I get one for you?”
“No, thank you. I would rather look for myself.”
“As you wish. I will wrap up the books for Lady Worthington.”
Giff glanced over the rail in time to see her flash a smile at the clerk, then ducked back. He was staring at the shelves when she entered the area. “Lord St. Albans. What are you doing here?”
He plucked a book by Miss Austen off the shelf. “Searching for books.”
“I did not know you read.” Alice sounded surprised.
What was it about him that made the ladies in her family doubt his reading skills? “I did attend university. It is a required skill.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Alice was astounded to see Lord St. Albans in Hatchards. Well, not the bookstore precisely, but in the section with the novels. She had, of course, said the first thing that came to her tongue without passing through her brain first. Naturally, he had the skill to read. She strained to see which book he held. “I meant I did not know you read novels.”
“I find Miss Austen extremely erudite and witty.” He glanced at the books again and started to scan them. “Have you seen The Village of Mariendorpt?”
Now she was shocked. “That is the book for which I am searching.”
He backed up, glanced again, and took two books from the shelf. He handed her one. “Here you are.”
“Thank you.” Alice had what she came for but was strangely reluctant to leave. “Are you here just for Miss Porter’s book?”
A flush crept into his cheeks. “Ah, no. I need a book on estate practices and sheep husbandry if there is one.” He focused on her as if trying to make a decision. “I am quite ignorant on the subjects.”
“Indeed?” He was full of surprises today. “I thought all gentlemen were trained to run their estates.”
“Yes, well, my father has some odd ideas, and he has not allowed me to learn.” Lord St. Albans frowned. “I mean, I could have read about the subject, but I have not been given an opportunity to have any practical knowledge.”
How curious. And aggravating. “I do not understand that at all. What possible reason could he have to keep you ignorant about a subject with which you must be conversant?” If nothing else, she could help him find the right tomes on estate management. “I shall help you.”
Lord St. Albans gave her a relieved smile. “I would appreciate that a great deal.”
Strange. He did not seem at all amazed that she knew about the subject. Then again, he was a friend of Montagu’s, and he might have told Lord St. Albans about Eleanor’s knowledge. “Come with me.” She led him to the section on farming, estates, and animal husbandry. “Many of the books will essentially apply to all areas of the country. However, you will have to adapt some of the methods.”
He nodded then glanced at her. “Would it help to know where the estates are located?”
Why could he not have discussed this with her before? “It might.”
St. Albans’s green gaze met hers. “The estate I will first have is only about three hours north of here. That is the one for which I will be responsible for the remainder of my father’s life.”
Alice interrupted him. “Will be?”
He gave her a look of long suffering. “Yes, I will tell you about it later.” She nodded. “The dukedom’s main estate is north of York near the sea. There are several others.” He took a breath. “The one that is my current and main concern is in Scotland near Inverness. My great-great-uncle on my mother’s side left it to me.”
“And you know nothing.” It was not at all good to be thrown into something as complicated as estate management. “Oh, dear.”
He let out a breath. “I assure you my response was much stronger. I am immensely grateful he left it to me. He and I were close, and I spent a great deal of time there. However, I am totally unprepared for the responsibility.”
Why did his uncle not train him? “Did he know that?”
St. Albans’s gave a light shrug. “To be honest, it never came up. He refused to tell anyone who he had named his heir.”
What a bunch of numskulls. “You seem to have a great many odd relatives.”
He winced. “I can only suppose he expected my father to attend to it.”
The less said about his father the better. At least until she knew the whole story. “We had better get started.” Alice reached up but could not reach the book she wanted.
