With a wave of her hand, she asked, “What else do you do?”
“When it’s not raining, we ride in the Park early in the morning. We both like to race.”
“Do ye let her win?” Mamma’s brogue became more pronounced indicating she was taking more interest.
“I don’t have to. Her mare is equal to Hector.” As Alice was equal to Giff.
“Ye have nay mentioned feelings. You have them aye? The sort a mon has for a lass?”
They were going to be speaking in Gallic if this kept up. “Most definitely.”
She nodded. “Here’s the most important question. Do ye want to see her every day even when yer angry at her?”
He’d never thought of that. His parents could have massive arguments and later he’d see them kissing. One time his father had searched the house until he found her just to ensure she was well. Giff knew he wanted to see Alice at the breakfast table. Each morning when they rode, he felt as if the day would be better. Even when she’d given him that set down, he wanted to see her again. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
Mamma nodded sharply. “Then it seems to me you’re in love with the lass.”
“Thank you.” He just needed to discover if she could love him in return. “I’ll be at Hatchards.”
* * *
Charlotte caught up to Alice as she reached the hall. “Lord St. Albans seemed to enjoy himself. I was rather shocked to see him here.”
Considering the way she had felt about him before, that was not surprising. “He is much different than I thought he was.”
Her sister linked arms with Alice, and they started toward the morning room. “What happened?”
That was a good question. “I am not quite sure. One day I told him he was not qualified to be my husband. The next day, he was in Hatchards. He was looking for a book, and we started talking. For the first time, he was not trying to tell me all the gossip he’d learned.” He had, in short, been himself. “He told me he was glad I gave him a set-down. He had not liked reading the gossip either. We’ve started to become friends.”
They entered the morning room and stood at the window watching Zeus and Posy play. “Do you see him frequently at Hatchards?”
Alice turned around and leaned against the window. “Yes. He recently inherited an estate from an uncle, and he needs to understand how to run it.”
Her sister smiled. “And, naturally, you helped him.”
Alice returned the smile. “It was the least I could do.”
Con strolled into the parlor. “I thought I’d find you here.” He kissed Charlotte on the cheek. “Take the carriage home if you wish. This meeting will take a while.”
She nodded. “I will. We were discussing St. Albans.”
“He made several good points on how we could combine the new farming methods without running off small farmers.” Con rubbed his jaw. “We might not get them repealed. In fact, the Tories want to pass more enclosure laws. But at least we can limit the damage by talking with other landowners.” Con glanced at Alice. “He was much more relaxed than the last time he was here.”
“He was trying to find his way forward.” Charlotte’s attention was fixed on her husband.
“I know that feeling.” Con raised her hand to his lips. “Sometimes it takes a while to get the lay of the land with this family.” He turned to Alice. “Speaking of this family. Did you know that Mary and Theo are taking pickpocketing lessons?”
They had decided it might be a useful skill and one of the boys the family had taken in had made his living that way. “Yes. How did you know?”
He raised a brow and, in a tone as dry as sand, said, “She gave me back my watch.”
“Oh, dear.” Charlotte started to laugh. “I taught her how to pick locks as well.”
“Good Lord.” Con dropped his head into his palm. “There will be no stopping her.”
“That is what you said about us,” Alice reminded him.
“It is indeed.” He headed for the door. “I will see you later, my love.”
A marriage like theirs was what Alice wanted. Which reminded her she had to test Lord Normanby on the rest of the list. Unfortunately, she would not see him until tomorrow.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Normanby had woken to his mistress swearing as she dressed. She must have sensed he was awake. “When are you going to ask her to marry you?” Celeste’s tone was tense. She detested not being allowed to entertain him in her house. The one he’d given to her after telling his father’s mistress she had to leave the residence. Celeste hated even more dressing like a servant to travel to and from her home.
“Soon.” He would have already done it, but he wasn’t quite sure of Lady Alice yet. If only her guardian would have immediately agreed to the wedding. “I must ensure she will accept me.”
Her lips formed a moue, and she lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “You make love so charmingly. How could a young lady resist your kisses?”
“I haven’t kissed her.” He hadn’t even come close to touching more than her arm.
“You English. Always so correct. Send her letters declaring your love. I will tell you what you must say.”
Celeste knew nothing of young ladies of the ton. “And how would I explain the letter when her guardian read it?”
Her eyes widened in confusion. “But why would he?”
“All correspondence addressed to a young unmarried lady is read by her parents or guardian.”
