Her question ended his vision of her with him in a loch. “It is some sort of strange tradition. I’m not at all sure how far back it goes, but his father, my grandfather, did the same thing. The heir is only allowed to have the heir’s house and learn by doing when he is married. I was not even allowed to ask our steward to teach me.”
One brow rose. “The reason you wish to wed is so that you can have the estate?”
Of course, she would pick up on that. “Me? No. I mean, I do want the estate. It is my favorite of them all. But he has held it over my head since I came down from St. Andrew’s. I refused to consider marriage until I was ready to have a wife and children.”
Her concentration on him was so intent he wanted to run a finger under his collar. “Is that the reason your uncle left you his estate?”
“I don’t know. It might be. He and my father didn’t like one another.” She was extremely shrewd. “My mother’s father made my father agree that I would spend part of every year in Scotland. Usually over New Year’s and in summer.”
Alice nodded sharply. “That sounds like something Matt would do.”
Once again, he noticed the similarities with her family and his mother’s. “So I have heard.”
She tilted her head at him and laughed. “I imagine Montagu told you about it.”
“He did.” Giff smiled remembering how put out his friend had initially been. “One of your brothers-in-law told him before he proposed to Lady Eleanor.”
“I had no idea they had been so busy,” Alice mused.
If she only knew it was not just the gentlemen who were involving themselves. “I think it must be done out of caring for your sister.”
“Yes, of course.” She appeared to think about that as she sucked the last of the ice from the spoon. An image of her lips on him caused Giff to suppress a groan.
The waiter came for the cups, and he paid for their ices, but she didn’t start the horses. “What is the estate like that you will receive when you wed?”
It occurred to him that this was the only place they could continue to talk. She could not take him home unless she stopped at Worthington House and picked up a groom. That was something else Montagu had let drop. They were always accompanied by male servants. “It’s called Whippoorwill Manor.”
The interest in her beautiful blue eyes increased. “What is a whippoorwill?”
“It is a bird native to North America. Apparently. Well, the story is that one of my great-great-grandmothers lived in Canada for several years, and she had fallen in love with the song of the whippoorwill. When they moved into the manor, she renamed it.”
“I am surprised her father-in-law allowed her to change the name.”
He was too. “I asked about that as well. The change was not official until he died, and she became the duchess.”
She opened her brooch watch, looked at it, and closed it. “I had no idea how long I have been gone.” She pulled a face. “I must go home.”
Alice mustn’t feel badly about not being able to take him to his house. “I will walk from Worthington House. I’ll enjoy the stroll.”
“If you are certain.” She obviously was not convinced.
“Very. I would have walked to Hatchards if it hadn’t been raining when I left.”
She started the carriage, and when they arrived at Worthington House he jumped down and went to her side of the phaeton. The carriage was too high for him to have lifted her into it, but he could lift her down. Giff clasped his hands around her waist and didn’t ever want to let go. Her breathing quickened. She sucked in a breath when her feet reached the pavement and he had to pry his fingers from her one by one. “May I call on you if I have any questions?”
“Yes, of course you may.” She smiled at him again.
“Thank you.” He would have a great many inquiries of that he was certain. In fact, he should make a list.
“It was my pleasure.” Alice took his arm as they walked to the door. “It is always nice to converse with a gentleman who listens.”
He had been a total idiot. “I apologize deeply for not attending to you before. To be honest. I didn’t know what to say to you.”
Her brow went up again. “Did it not occur to you to speak to me as you did to other ladies? Quite frankly, I could not understand how they thought you were so interesting.”
That was blunt. “I was afraid of offending you by flirting. You cannot imagine my relief at not having to read the court and scandal sheets.”
She let out a peel of laughter. “At least I now know that it was as painful for you as it was for me.”
He bent over her hand and kissed the back, wishing she wasn’t wearing gloves. “I hope we will be friends.”
Her eyes widened and the corners of her rosy lips tipped up. “I do as well.”
The door opened revealing the butler. Straightening, Giff reluctantly gave her back her hand. “Let me know how you like The Village of Mariendorpt. I will have to wait until my mother finishes the book before I am able read it.”
“I shall. Then, after you have had a chance to read it, we may discuss the story.”
“I’d like that.” He’d like any time he could spend with her. “Until we meet again.”
Alice started to turn and stopped. “I have a country dance open at Lady Millsworth’s ball.”
His heart almost stopped beating. After what had happened yesterday, he never thought she would offer him a dance so soon. “May I have the set?”
“You may, my lord.”
“Thank you.” All he had to do was find out when the ball was.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
