Grace was with the toddlers and Matt when they received the message that Lord St. Albans was joining them for dinner. “I like him. What do you think?”
Matt bounced their youngest son on his knee. “He’s a much better choice than Normanby. I blame myself for letting that happen. I should have followed my instincts.”
“Sweetheart.” She placed her hand on his arm. “Even you are not all seeing. According to what the duchess said, he hid his financial difficulties extremely well along with his betrothal.”
He grimaced. “At least St. Albans is an open book, so to speak.”
Grace held Gaia up for a kiss. “What an interesting way to put it. I have never heard that saying before.”
“One of the gentlemen at Brooks said it, and it seemed apt.”
“I do hope something develops between Alice and St. Albans. She seems to think he is interested in another lady, but he has not been seen with anyone else. Do you think he might have said that because of the set-down she gave him?”
“I believe that is entirely possible. The story gives him a way of spending time with her without her knowing he is still interested. The night Normanby was carried out of the ball, I asked St. Albans if he was still wanted to marry her, and he told me he did.”
That did not surprise Grace at all. “I have always thought there was something between them. A spark if you will.”
Matt’s gaze heated. “Like the one we have, my love?”
“Exactly like the one we have.” She put her daughter down. “I only worry that Alice will turn to him because she was hurt.”
“Before this morning, I would have agreed. But you saw the way he encouraged her to hit him as if he was Normanby. Sometimes that can be the perfect way to rid oneself of unwanted feelings.”
It had seemed to help a great deal. “An unusual method for a lady, but you might be correct. I never liked how she was rushing it with Normanby. In a way it seemed desperate. We should have planned for what would happen when two of them married and one was left behind.”
Matt nodded. “We have several years to come up with a plan for the next two. I am concerned about Theo coming out. She and Mary are so close, but the three years between them makes it impossible for them to come out together.”
Matt was right. Grace sighed. “Let us go down to dinner.”
“Ah yes.” He grinned. “Another meal with St. Albans today.”
“Hopefully, it will not be the last one. You remember Con coming to breakfast in his attempts to convince Charlotte to wed him.”
“I do indeed. Like St. Albans, he started on the wrong foot.” Matt tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “All we can do is help guide. That is especially true with Alice.”
“She never did take well to being pushed to do anything.” The worst thing about being a mother to her sisters was seeing them hurt. Grace straightened her shoulders. “It will all turn out well.”
Matt smiled. “It always has before.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The next afternoon Giff strolled to Worthington House so that he and Alice could take her high-perched phaeton to the balloon ascension. Alice’s carriage was parked outside the house. It had been joined by Lady Evesham’s landau as well as what he assumed to be Lady Worthington’s landau. It was the largest one he’d ever seen. He strode up to the open door and was greeted by a crowd of ladies and children.
“St. Albans.” Lady Evesham smiled and held out her hands. “It is good to see you again.”
“My lady. I am delighted to see you.”
She signaled to two children who were speaking with Gideon and Elizabeth and appeared to be the same ages. “Anna, I would like to introduce you to Lord St. Albans. St. Albans, my eldest daughter Lady Anna Finley.”
The girl made a credible curtsey. “I am pleased to meet you, my lord.”
Giff bowed. “It is my pleasure, my lady.”
“And this is my son Lord Finley.”
Giff held out his hand. “My lord. I’m pleased to meet you.”
The child took his hand. “I’m happy to make your acquaintance.”
He greeted Ladies Mary and Theo, Gideon, and Elizabeth, as well as Lady Worthington, and, finally, Alice. “Will we try to place the carriages all together?”
“Matt arranged to have our travel carriages taken to the Park to save the places for us.” She glanced at the corridor on the left. “Here he comes.” Alice scowled at him. “You are late.”
“I am.” He shook his head slightly. “I do apologize.” Worthington cut Giff a wry glance. “You, however, are on time.”
He took Alice’s hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm. “I have noticed Lady Alice is always prompt. A trait I greatly appreciate.”
“Wise of you.” Worthington surveyed the rest of the group. “It is time to depart.”
Maids and footmen who had been standing off to the side helped their charges into the carriages, then took their own places. Giff was slightly surprised at how orderly it all was. Then again, he was certain that having eleven children to move around made being orderly important. He helped Alice into the phaeton, then climbed up on the passenger side. “How is this going to work?”
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I am not exactly sure. Matt has been receiving reports all morning. We have baskets of food because we are arriving early. I was told to follow the landaus.”
Giff imagined the park full of carriages and people, and he was not disappointed. Rather than go through the crowd, landaus went around and were guided into place by grooms. As soon as they arrived, the large traveling coaches departed, leaving them more than enough space for their carriages. “That was a well-executed scheme.”
“It was.” Alice tilted her head as if thinking. “I assume our former military men came up with it.”
“That would make sense.” He wondered what else the former soldiers did.
