“There is a footman here, Mrs. Gorman, the housekeeper’s nephew, who wishes to train as a valet. Would you mind if he studied under you?”
“Not at all, my lord.” Styles nodded slowly. “There will be plenty to do now that we’re in Town.”
“Thank you.” Nate scratched his dog’s head. “Let’s take you for a walk.” It would feel good to stretch his legs.
“My lord,” Chetwin said. “Did all go well with Mr. and Mrs. Odell?”
“Yes, it did. Very well indeed. They left this morning. You probably passed them on the road.” Nate took his dog’s lead. As he attached it, he had an idea. “Could you discover the names of charities that save children in places like Whitechapel and other poor areas?”
“If you wish.” Unlike his valet and butler, his secretary didn’t hide his expressions. And the man was more than a little bemused.
Nate grinned. “I do.” He led Padraig out the door and down the three shallow steps, then mumbled to himself, “The real question is what my mother is going to say when I find her.”
It was still much too early for the Grand Strut, which was fine with him. He walked his Wolfhound past the entrance to Grosvenor Square, where Merton House was clearly visible. Seeing Merton again was a bridge Nate would cross when he got there. The man used to be his closest friend, but he hadn’t seen him since he had abducted Merton’s betrothed. Granted, Nate had had his friend’s best interests at heart. At least that was what he’d told himself. Albeit, if he’d been less busy worrying about losing his friend and more interested in seeing how happy Miss Stern made Merton, Nate never would have made such a horrible mistake. His folly had led to a rift between them that he regretted and didn’t know could be healed. The punishment had been leasing his house in Richmond to Merton for a period of ten years and exile to the country. Yet for all he had resented the banishment at first, it finally made him grow up and take his responsibilities seriously. Surprisingly, he’d found that he liked them. Padraig paced beside Nate. He liked having a dog as well. Another thing he’d never looked for. To his eternal shame, he’d had a fear of dogs since he was young. Then, on a trip to Ireland to buy his horse, he’d seen the Wolfhound puppies, and Padraig had come right up to him demanding to be picked up. Once Nate did, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to have a dog. That had been just over three years ago.
They reached the Park, and he found a stick to throw for the dog. Being raised to hunt wolves, Wolfhounds were known as sighthounds. A stick wasn’t a wolf, and Padraig knew it. Nate was certain that the only reason the dog would bring the stick back to him at all was due to the resulting rewards. Still, four throws was all it took for the Wolfhound to tire of the game. Afterward, they strolled along The Serpentine until Nate turned them back toward Grosvenor gate. They had just crossed Park Street when he saw Merton drive by. Nate’s former friend glanced briefly his way and looked again with a confused expression on his mien, then faced forward. He didn’t think he’d been cut—although he wouldn’t blame Merton if he had— but Nate also did not think he’d been recognized. That was interesting.
He traced his way back to his house and was surprised to find his mother had arrived. He offered her his cheek to be kissed. “I didn’t think you were going to be here until tomorrow.”
“And that is exactly what I said, but after having a rather mediocre luncheon, I discovered I would much rather continue on.” She wrapped her hands around his arm. “Please tell me you have had the time to think about a new wardrobe.”
“I sent a note to Weston this morning, asking if he could wait on me.”
One dark brow rose. “Weston?” He nodded. “A very good choice. Much better than that other man. What was his name, Nagey or something like that?”
“Something like that.” Nate escorted her up the stairs. “I decided I no longer cared for his styles.”
His mother inclined her head. “I think Weston will do an excellent job.”
“I believe he will as well.” Nate just had to live through the fittings. To think that once he had reveled in that sort of activity.
The door opened and Hulatt bowed. “My lady, I am glad to see you safely arrived.”
“Thank you, Hulatt. I am glad to be here. Please inform Cook that there will be one more for dinner.” She turned a stricken look at Nate. “Dear me. I should have asked if you are dining in this evening.”
“I am.” He would make the round of his clubs, but not until after he’d refurbished his wardrobe. Despite how he normally dressed, he could not look like a provincial in Town.
“Good. I shall see you at seven. Or had you planned to dine earlier?”
“Seven is fine.” He’d have to get used to Town hours again and might as well begin now. “If you will excuse me, I have to see what Chetwin has brought me.”
“Of course, my dear.”
He walked down the corridor to his secretary’s study and entered. “I trust nothing of import occurred in the past day.”
“No, my lord, just the normal correspondence. I have sent out one of the London footmen to research charities and hope to have something soon.” He held up a card. “This arrived for you before I left. It is an invitation from a Lord Fallows inviting you to a small gathering.”
Fallows was one of the gentlemen Nate had been friendly with before. Even after he had been banished to the country, every year an invitation was sent to his London house. Had Fallows even known Nate wasn’t in Town? One would think that after he had stopped responding to the invitations, the invitations would have stopped as well. He wondered if the man still spent his time drinking and gambling. “Send my regrets. In fact, the only events I plan to attend are the ones chosen by my mother.”
Chetwin’s eyes widened. “You are really going to look for a wife?”
He took a breath. “I am. Drat”—he knew he’d forgotten something—“I must speak with my mother.”
She was probably going to think he was mad, but whether or not he found the lady he was looking for, she needed to know what he wanted in a wife. Otherwise, this would all be for naught. Nate strode to the hall and took the stairs two at a time, then turned down a corridor to the rooms his mother had taken after his father and older brother had died.
He knocked on the door, and her maid opened it.
“My lady, it is his lordship.”
