“Tell him I have gone off on an adventure and will return soon.”
* * *
Giff kept Normanby’s coach in sight. Fortunately, it wasn’t difficult. After the first toll, it was clear the coachman was nursing the horses. If Giff could work out where the cad was likely to stop, he’d drive ahead of Normanby. But Giff didn’t and couldn’t take the chance of losing them. Fortunately, it was clear the blackguard didn’t even think to look if he was being followed. Giff hoped the message he’d left at the toll gate got to Worthington. When the bounder did finally stop, Giff would be there to help Alice escape. He had no doubt she was working on a plan. The only problem would be if someone they knew or who knew them saw her with the blackguard. Giff almost dropped the ribbons to slap his forehead. That was it. The cur was attempting to compromise her. He’d see that didn’t happen. The only gentleman Alice Carpenter was going to marry was him. He had been planning to propose to her in any event. He just hoped she would accept him. If necessary, he’d offer her a pretend betrothal until he could persuade her to make it real. The coach ahead was still traveling rather slowly. This was going to be a very long ride.
* * *
After three hours, the coach finally pulled into the yard of The Swan in Hatfield. The posting inn was well known and patronized by members of Polite Society. Various carriages and coaches were off to the side of the yard having their teams replaced. Normanby would require a new pair as well. Fortunately, most of the ton would still be in Town, and the chances of anyone Alice knew seeing her were slim. Still, there was always that possibility. People had begun to leave for the country. She closed her book, slipped it into her reticule, and waited. If necessary, she could swing the reticule at his head. The book would make it heavy enough to hurt. His lordship would no doubt depend upon her not saying a word. Which was a shame for him and a serious miscalculation on his part. She would be as loud as necessary. The door opened and he jumped down. He held out his hand for her, but Alice ignored it. No one was going to even think she welcomed his attentions. Instead, she lifted her skirts slightly and jumped down as well.
“That is no way to treat your betrothed.” He scowled.
“I do not know why you believe we are betrothed. I have no intention of ever marrying you. In fact, I can assure you that I will never wed you.”
He leered at her. “You will have to. You have been in a closed coach with me for three hours.”
“Do not look at me that way. It is disgusting. I know about your mistress.” Alice widened her eyes. “I have an idea. Marry her.”
“Lady Alice.”
Lady Bellamny. Thank God!
Alice could have fainted with relief. “My lady, I have—”
“Not here, my girl. I have a parlor.” Her ladyship linked her arm with Alice’s. “Come along.”
She allowed herself to be led to a comfortable private parlor. Once through the door, the sight of the other person in the room made her stop until her ladyship poked her in the back.
“St. Albans.” But what was he doing here? “How?”
He stepped to her and took her hands, enveloping them in warmth. “I saw what happened. I sent Williams to your house to notify your family and followed you here.” He glanced over his shoulder at Lady Bellamny. “I saw her ladyship and explained what happened. She convinced me it would be better for her to approach you and”—he glowered at Normanby who had apparently entered the parlor as well—“him.”
The cad raised his chin. “It won’t do any of you any good. I have been with her for enough time to thoroughly compromise her. She must marry me.”
Rage coursed through Alice’s veins. “You are obviously hard of hearing. I would not marry you if you were the last man on earth. I would rather spend the rest of my life as a spinster than another second in your company. You are a vile, rabid cur.”
“Nevertheless.” Lady Bellamny held up her hand, cutting him off. “My dear.” The sympathy in her voice and look she gave Alice made her want to weep. “I am afraid a few people might have seen you alight from the coach. You must think of Theo and Mary. This decision does not affect you alone.”
Alice bit down hard on her lip.
“Marry me.”
She turned on her heel to face St. Albans already on one knee. “You want to wed another lady.”
“No. I have always wanted to marry you. If you will recall, I said I had met the lady I wished to wed, and I thought I was making good progress.”
He was right. He had never mentioned who the lady was. And he met all the requirements of the list, including being her friend. Still, she needed to know why her. “Why do you want to marry me?”
A smile dawned on his handsome face. “You are intelligent, caring of others, even ones who could be considered below you. You are the bravest lady, woman, I have ever met. You care nothing about my present or future rank. You love dogs and children. And I love you.”
“Good God, how maudlin,” Normanby drawled.
As she turned, St. Albans released her hands. “I have had more than enough of you.” Stepping forward quickly, she punched Normanby on his jaw. To her absolute surprise, he dropped like a stone. “Did I kill him?”
“More is the pity, but no,” her ladyship drawled. “Please allow St. Albans to continue his proposal before he is interrupted again.”
Alice turned back to him. “Yes, please do continue.”
St. Albans, who had risen, resumed his position on his knee. “As I was saying. Alice, I love you. Will you do me the very great honor of being my wife and the mother of my children?”
Her heart wanted to burst from her chest. Tears choaked her throat. She loved him as well. “I will. I love you too.”
“Excellent.” Her ladyship smiled. “Now that that is settled, I suggest you repair to St. Albans’s estate not far from here. I assume your family will arrive within the hour. I shall leave a note directing them to”—she frowned—“what is that strange name of the estate?”
Alice grinned. “Whippoorwill Manor.”
Her ladyship nodded. “Yes. That is the one. I suggest you tell the staff to make enough rooms ready.”
St. Albans’s pointed at Lord Normanby. “What about him?”
Her ladyship’s lips flattened into a thin line, and she pushed his inert body with the tip of her shoe. “I will see to it.”
Alice tugged on St. Albans’s hand. “Let us depart.”
“You’re right. We are well rid of certain scum.” They strolled out of the inn and to his curricle. “I cannot wait to show you the manor.”
She could not wait to see it. “How far is it?”
As he lifted her into the curricle, Alice started to prickle all over. It was the feeling she had had before with him. How strange she had not recognized it for the sensations her sisters talked about. She had been attracted to him from the beginning and did not know it. “Around six miles.” He climbed up and took the ribbons. “How many of your family do you think will arrive? I believe there is only a reduced staff.”
