Normanby was escorted into Mr. Greenway’s office for the purpose of discussing the settlement agreements Normanby was now almost certain he wouldn’t require. Miss Greenway’s name had been given to him by his man of business as a way to alleviate his financial situation. The Greenways had only been told that Normanby had seen Miss Greenway and was smitten by her. They were grasping enough to believe it. Subsequently, an introduction was arranged. She was quite beautiful and practical and was willing to do as her parents wished. Ergo, marry into the peerage. Her manners and speech were acceptable. She could pass as gentry. If it were not for the fact that her father was a Cit, she would have done. However, her father was a Cit. Her mother was a daughter of a Cit, and a chill snaked down his spine every time he thought of sullying his bloodline. God only knew what kind of mongrel blood would run through his children’s veins. Normanby repressed a shudder. Thankfully, he would only have to play this game for a little longer. Soon Lady Alice Carpenter would agree to wed him. Yet for the present, his creditors knew he was betrothed to the daughter of the very wealthy Mr. Greenfield of the City and that would keep them at bay until he secured Lady Alice.
The man rose, bowed, and came forward as Normanby entered the faintly ostentatious office. “My lord. Thank you for meeting me here.”
Normanby inclined his head. What he did not want was for the man to see his reduced circumstances. He could probably explain it, but why go to the bother when he could bestow such a boon on his so-called future father-in-law. “It is my pleasure.”
“Please have a seat.” Greenway indicated a chair situated at a round table. “Tea will arrive shortly.”
“Thank you.” Normanby settled himself into the plush, dark, leather chair. At least the tea and biscuits would be of good quality. One clerk entered the room with a tea tray and another with a sheaf of papers. Once the tray was placed on the table, he poured and handed Greenway a cup.
“Thank you.” The man waited while he added sugar and milk to his tea before fixing his own. “I have a draft of the settlement agreements for you to review. Of course, you will want your solicitor to look at them as well.”
He bit into a ginger biscuit and savored the sharp taste. “Naturally.”
Greenway nodded nervously. “There is one, ah, issue that has come up. Your mother is still living. Naturally, we all want her to continue to a long life. However, in the event of your untimely death, we wish to know that Miss Greenway would have a place of her liking in which to live.”
Normanby could not imagine a circumstance under which his mother would tolerate the daughter of a Cit living under the same roof as she. “I see your point.”
“Good, good. Mrs. Greenway suggested that our daughter and you, of course, might find a property that would be acceptable as a dower property.”
“Mrs. Greenway is extremely astute.” As long as he wasn’t expected to pay for said property, he didn’t care. “How would that be arranged?”
“I would put forth the funds for payment. I see that as only fair considering it is my daughter’s desire.”
Perfect. “A very satisfactory arrangement. Might I suggest that, as it will be Miss Greenway’s house in the event of my passing, she and Mrs. Greenway will wish to choose it?”
The man ventured a small smile. “I am sure they would like that, my lord.” He stared at the papers and frowned. “My wife would like to ensure that our daughter will be presented at court.”
With any luck at all that would never occur. “I will see to it.”
“Thank you.”
As the meeting was coming to an end, he finished his tea and biscuits. When Greenway stood, Normanby did as well. He took the sheaf of documents. “I will have my solicitor look at these and get back to you as soon as possible.”
“At your convenience, my lord.” Greenway took a breath. “My wife would like to know if you have a particular date for the wedding in mind.”
“I shall leave that to the ladies.” It occurred to Normanby that he did not want banns called at St. Georges. “Do you have a parish church?”
“Oh, yes. Yes. St. Mary-le-Bow. Our families have been attending for years.”
“As I said, leave it to the ladies.” Not that they were “ladies.” Yet it appeared to make Greenway happy. “I shall see you soon.” Normanby donned his hat and took his cane from a clerk. It was a long walk back to Mayfair, but he didn’t want to spend the price of a hackney. He should probably stop in at White’s on the way home. If only to be seen. It would give him something to do until his appointment with Lady Alice.
* * *
The afternoon had turned out warm and sunny, causing Alice to choose her light-yellow walking gown for her stroll with Lord Normanby. By the end of their outing, she would not know the answers to all her questions, but she would have more of them answered. And the sooner the better. She stared at her image in the pier-glass. The pale-yellow did look good, but she wanted brighter colors from which to choose. It was silly to wish to wed for more colorful gowns, and she would not do it only for that. But the colors denoted a change in status in her life she wanted almost desperately.
Bertram strode into the room. “Lord Normanby is here.”
Something about the dresser’s tone made Alice take notice. “Do you not like him?”
“Not me, my lady. I’ve not met him. Posy wouldn’t go to him the other day.” Her maid shrugged. “They say dogs know.”
Alice also knew of dogs that were devoted to cruel masters. “When was that?”
“When you were in Richmond at the breakfast. He came to see his lordship.”
He must have come to ask permission to marry her. “I see.” Perhaps Posy was merely not up to meeting anyone new. “I must be off.” Alice left the room before her dresser could say anything else. When she reached the main landing, Lord Normanby glanced up and the corners of his lips rose. She descended the remaining stairs. “Good afternoon, my lord.”
“A good day to you, my lady.” He held out his hand. “I trust you have been well.”
She placed her hand in his. “Yes. Very well. Thank you for asking.”
They turned and walked out of the house. She smiled at him. “Do you like dogs?”
“I do, very much.” He returned her smile. “I thought I was going to meet one of your Great Danes, but she changed her mind.”
Ah, so it was Posy and not him. “I wonder what got into her?”
“Who can tell with dogs and other animals.”
He did not seem to be surprised the Danes were in the house. “How do you feel about charitable endeavors?”
Looking slightly amused, he said, “That they are necessary. I must suppose you are interested in them.”
“Yes, indeed.” This would be a good time to let Lord Normanby know that she intended to continue her work. “I give part of my pin money to a few charities. Although, I plan to become more involved in them.”
They entered the Park, and as usual it was full. She thought he had a moue of distaste on his mien, but it disappeared so quickly, she might have been wrong. “I would be interested in hearing about them.”
“My sister Worthington and my brother-in-law as well as other members of my family help war veterans, their children, and widows by providing training and positions. The children attend school. My sister Kenilworth is involved in aiding poor children as is my sister Rothwell and our cousin Merton.”
