“Yes, of course.” He sounded flustered. “Shall I send the proposed details to Stanwood House?”
Merton’s behavior became stiffer. Perhaps hewasa little shy. She nodded. “Please do.”
They had reached the point at which she and her friends had entered the Park. Charlotte and Louisa, walking a couple of steps away, stopped and waited.
Dotty gazed up at Merton’s deep blue eyes. “I must go home now.”
“Yes, of course,” he said, but he did not let go of her hand. “Perhaps I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Stern?”
Dotty wanted to sigh when he kissed her fingers. “I shall look forward to it, my lord.”
He bowed again. She joined her friends, refusing to look back to see if he was still there.
“I wouldn’t have believed it.” Louisa stared at Merton as he made his way down Rotten Row.
“Believed what?” Dotty asked.
Louisa grinned wickedly. “I think Merton is taken with you. What a surprise he is going to have.”
Dotty shook her head. She was very attracted to him, yet it was much too soon to think of anything between them. Nevertheless, her heart gave a little flutter. “I do not understand you. We barely know each other. And what if he is? Even if he did propose, I would not accept him solely because he is a peer. Any man I marry must have principles and believe in the same values I do, and we must be in love.”
Charlotte chimed in. “Dotty and I have discussed the type of marriages we both wanted for years now. I can assure you, she is quite set in her beliefs.”
Louisa’s grin widened. “Exactly.”
* * *
As Merton strolled off, he resisted the urge to glance back at Miss Stern. He congratulated himself that their conversation had gone extremely well. He would invite her and his mother and . . . his mind blanked. Who else could he ask? If he had only Miss Stern and his mother in the party, it would be too singular. If he included Louisa and Lady Charlotte, he would have to invite two other gentlemen to keep the numbers even. Yet the only two he knew well were Alvanley and Fotherby. That would be a disaster of major proportions even if Worthington could be convinced to allow his sisters to attend. Alvanley spouted all the nonsense the Prince Regent did, and Fotherby thought of nothing but trying to distinguish himself in the most outlandish costumes. Charlotte was well behaved enough to put up with Fotherby, but Louisa would argue with Alvanley the entire evening. Dom considered every mix of people he knew, but couldn’t come up with either the right numbers or the right persons to make up his party.
He entered his house, giving his hat and cane to Paken. “Is her ladyship in?”
“Yes, my lord. I believe she is drinking tea in her parlor.”
Merton took the stairs two at a time, something he had not done since his youth when he’d been reprimanded for it by his uncle. A moment later, he burst into the parlor without knocking. “Mama.”
She turned, a shocked expression appeared on her face. “Dominic?”
Of course, he’d been too precipitant. “I’m terribly sorry, but I have a dilemma I cannot seem to solve.”
“My dear boy.” She patted the seat next to her. “Pray, what has got you so upset?”
“A lady. Well, rather a situation with a lady. I am trying to make up a party to the opera, and I can’t seem to find the appropriate mix.”
“Indeed.” She seemed a little let down. “Perhaps I can help. You would not want to bring too much notice to her.”
“Exactly what I thought.” He did not like bothering his mother and made a habit not to do so, still the tension he’d been experiencing lessened.
“Have I heard of this lady?” Mama smoothed her skirts. “I mean, is she one of the ladies on your list?”
“No. I found none of them actually suit me. Her name is Miss Stern. She is residing with Worthington for the Season.”
“Oh, I see.” His mother blinked. “Or rather I shall.”
“What do you mean?” Dom shook his head trying to clear it. His mother wasn’t usually so obtuse.
“I shall meet her on the night of the opera, of course, if not before. You must ask her to dine with us. In the meantime, I will put my mind to who else should be invited.”
He felt as if a weight had been removed from his shoulders. There was nothing to worry about after all, and he had been right in asking his mother. “Thank you. Do you plan to attend Almack’s this evening?”
