What would the staff think of him bringing her with no notice? She straightened her shoulders. It was no matter. They were betrothed. Her family would be there soon. Alice would simply have to start as she meant to go on. “We will make do. My family will understand.”
We.
Giff loved how she already thought of them as a couple. “At some point, I would like to kiss you.”
She flashed him a smile. “I think that is an excellent idea. Where shall we live first?”
“Right away?” He hadn’t even considered it. Giff would like to take a jaunt to Scotland to see his estate.
“Yes. I thought we might want to go to Scotland.”
Once again, he was glad they thought along the same lines, but... “Do you not wish to have a honeymoon?”
“Yes.” She frowned. “Well, I suppose I do. Still, we have duties.”
She was amazing. He didn’t know another lady who would put her duty before such a normal pleasure. “I have an idea. My mother’s father has a ship. I can ask him to send it to the London docks or somewhere nearby, and we can sail to Scotland. After that, we will take it to France and join your sisters.”
Alice looked at him as if he was the most brilliant person in the world. “What a perfect solution!”
“Now that that’s settled, when would you like to marry?” He hoped she’d say immediately. But he remembered Montagu and Stern having to wait. All very well for them. They’d had work in the Lords and Commons. Giff would have to find something to occupy himself. He wouldn’t mind starting the changes at Whippoorwill Manor, but he didn’t want to be that far from Town, and he wanted Alice with him.
He was watching the road, but the burning on his cheek made him glance at her. She couldn’t have changed her mind. “What is it?”
“What do I call you? St. Albans?”
“I would like you to call me Giff. It is short for—”
“Gifford.” She laughed. “Very well. Giff it is. We shall wed in two weeks. Grace will not agree to a shorter period of time.”
“Two weeks.” It wasn’t that long he supposed. After all, he had to arrange the church, purchase the special license, write to his grandfather, and negotiate the settlement agreements. Lord save me. He could accomplish any contracts on his own property, but his father would have to negotiate the agreements regarding the dukedom. Knowing Papa, that could take more than two weeks. Giff would have to get his mother involved as soon as possible. He could feel Alice staring at him again. “Agreed.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Less than an hour later, Giff turned into the gate of Whippoorwill Manor. He was surprised to see the lawn had been scythed. The circular drive led to the front stairs had been groomed, and large urns with flowers flanked the entrance. The door opened before he stopped the carriage. A tall man in his middle years dressed in black, obviously the butler, walked down the steps. He was followed by the rest of the servants lining up in order of precedence. The butler bowed. “Welcome home, my lord.”
“Thank you . . . er.” Giff raised a brow.
“Cummings, my lord.” He waited until Giff went around to Alice.
“It appears someone notified the staff,” she whispered.
He lifted her down. “It had to have been my mother.”
“Most likely.” Alice shook out her skirts, turned to the servants and smiled.
Giff placed his palm on the small of her back. “Lady Alice Carpenter, my betrothed. Members of her family will be joining us in an hour or two.”
“I am pleased to meet all of you.” She glanced at Cummings. “Cummings, it is a pleasure to meet you. I trust we will work together well. Please carry on.”
“Yes, my lady.” He bowed. “I am honored to both introduce you to your staff and welcome you to your home. We wish you and his lordship happy.”
“Thank you.”
Giff followed behind her as she first met Mrs. Cummings the housekeeper, then the cook, footmen, and maids. Giff was intrigued there were so many servants. Once the housekeeper took Alice to her chamber, he turned to Cummings. “I was given to understand the manor had a reduced staff.”
“Until a few weeks ago, we were short staffed. His grace’s steward visited us and instructed me to hire the rest of the servants we needed. Her grace sent a rider to inform us of your imminent arrival. I hope you and her ladyship will be satisfied with the results.”
“I am certain we will.” Giff inclined his head. “I am already impressed with the manner in which you have kept the front of the house.”
“Thank you, my lord. Shall I have a light nuncheon served in an hour?”
Giff was glad his stomach hadn’t growled at the mention of food. Alice would be hungry as well. Would it take her an hour to freshen up? “Please serve it as soon as her ladyship is ready. I suspect that will be considerably less than an hour.”
“Yes, my lord.” Cummings bowed. “Shall I first take you to your chambers?”
Considering Giff hadn’t been here since he was a child and had stayed in the nursery then, that would be a good idea. “Yes, please. I remember the gardens better than I do the inside of the house.”
* * *
Alice had rarely seen such an interesting house. It had obviously been built during the Elizabethan period, but an early Georgian façade had been stuck on the front. Albeit the mullioned windows had been kept, giving the house a rather whimsical appearance. As the housekeeper led her to the family wing, Alice could see that although the residence had been enlarged, it was not a hodgepodge of halls, corridors, and rooms. From the main staircase, Mrs. Cummings turned down a corridor that ended with a door. She went to the room next to the end room and opened the door. The chamber was large and decorated in blues and greens. Long windows overlooked a garden, and a French door opened onto a small half-circle balcony.
“I hope it meets with your approval, my lady.”
“It is very nice.” She wondered if the master’s and mistress’s apartments were at the end of this wing. She would have to ask Giff. A pleasurable thrill shot through her at the thought of sleeping so near him.
“My lady.” Alice had the feeling Mrs. Cummings had said that more than once.
“Mrs. Cummings?”
