Alice exchanged a glance with St. Albans. His lips twitched, and she almost went into whoops. How mistaken she had been about him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Giff was surprised, but not overly so, to see the same members of Alice’s family as he had the first time he’d been invited to breakfast. She flashed him an apologetic smile while everyone said their greetings. Apparently, this gathering hadn’t been planned. Still, he was happy they were all present. It would give him an opportunity to do what he had not done the last time. Come to know her better and her family. He might also have a chance to show her he deserved her notice as more than a friend.
The little boy—was his name Hugh?—who was always getting into trouble proudly escorted Alice into the breakfast room. However, he not being tall enough to pull out the chair ran into a bit of a problem in helping her take her seat.
“Allow me to assist you, if I may.” Giff pitched his tone to be appropriately sober.
“Thank you, sir.” The child inclined his head. “I will have to grow taller.”
“I have no doubt that in a few years you will be as tall as your father.”
Hugh’s grave demeaner slipped as he grinned. “I will leave you to it.”
The adults at the table as well as Ladies Mary and Theo were doing a credible job of not laughing.
“I had no idea everyone would be here this morning. I do not even know why they are here,” Alice whispered as Giff held Alice’s chair and he pushed her toward the table.
Worthington helped his lady take her seat, and said, “In my study after we break our fast.”
“What will you be discussing?” Alice asked.
“The Enclosure Acts. Another one has been introduced,” Worthington said. “There is a vote in the Lords this afternoon. We have been assembling supporters to defeat the bill.”
Interesting. Naturally, Giff knew they took their positions in the Lords seriously, but he hadn’t really understood how politically active they were and how they worked together gathering votes for their causes. He recalled Montagu telling Giff that it was a shame he was not a member of the Lords. He finally understood what his friend had meant. From some of the things Alice had said, Giff surmised she and her sisters were active in not only charities but politics as well.
As before, footmen came around with pots of tea for each of them, various types of eggs, meats, cheeses, fruits, and racks of toast. Alice selected a baked egg, ham, and a bowl of berries. He took a dish of buttered eggs, rare beef, and berries as well.
“Lord St. Albans,” Lady Merton said. “I am having a political soirée next week. Would you be interested in attending?”
He swallowed a piece of toast. “I would. Although, I don’t know what I can contribute.”
She gave him a sly look. “You would be surprised. Lord Hawksworth, another duke-in-waiting, has become extremely politically active. He and his wife are attending. I will introduce you.” She raised one black brow. “After all, you need not wait for your father to die to contribute to society.”
“Dotty is known for plain speaking,” Alice whispered.
Her ladyship looked like the type of person who would be straightforward. “That is good to know. Will you be at her soirée?”
“I do not know yet. Balls and other more social events are being given priority.”
“These Enclosure Acts have got out of hand,” Lady Kenilworth said. “There are thousands of them.”
Giff knew how badly the laws had affected small farmers in Scotland, but he’d had no idea it was the same in England.
“You are correct, my lady.” Giff was glad he could contribute. “The new farming methods have made them profitable for landowners and their tenants. The larger problem is that they are supposed to have been publicly debated and agreed to at the local level. I understand that requirement is being bypassed.”
“Indeed, it is,” Worthington said. “That is the case with this bill.”
At the same time the adults were discussing politics, the children were holding their own conversation apart from the adults. But, somehow, neither discussion interfered nor interrupted the other. Occasionally, one of the adults would drop into the children’s conversation to explain something or correct a misapprehension.
Alice pressed her lips together. “Forcing families to leave their homes because of these acts ought not to be allowed. There must be a way to pass a bill requiring landlords and even villages and small towns to take into account the harm the enclosure would cause and require them to ensure a family does not lose their home.”
“That would certainly alleviate the hardship many of these acts are causing,” Merton said.
“An excellent idea.” Kenilworth lifted his cup to her. “Draft something, and we will see what can be done.”
Giff was dumbstruck. He knew Alice had opinions on a number of subjects, but it never occurred to him her points would be taken so seriously by the gentlemen in her family. And to expect her to write up a proposal was a complete surprise.
“No, Wellington was the younger brother,” Lady Mary said quietly correcting an assertion one of the children had made. She glanced up. “I find it shocking that such requirements can be disregarded.”
“I agree,” Lady Theo said.
Apparently, they had been following both discussions at the same time. Then again, nothing they did should surprise him.
Giff felt as if he’d entered a different world. At one point, Kenilworth caught Giff’s eye and gave him a look that seemed to say he knew what Giff was feeling. It was no wonder Alice had not been interested in his attempts at gossip when she was engaged in much more serious subjects at the breakfast table. If all families did this, society would be in much better shape. He glanced around the table. If he could convince Alice to marry him, this is what their breakfast table would look like.
Ladies Mary and Theo were the first to rise. “Gideon, Elizabeth, and the rest of you must get ready for your lessons.”
The children rose and started wishing their parents a good day. Lady Mary passed by Giff and Alice and under the guise of hugging her sister, slipped him a folded piece of paper. He’d like to know how she learned that trick.
Worthington stood. “It is time for our meeting.”
The rest of the gentlemen kissed their wives, stood, and headed for the door.
“Do we have anything we need to discuss?” Lady Worthington asked.
The ladies shook their heads.
