By the time Matt joined them Charlotte was pouring the tea.
He took the place next to Grace, drawing her attention. “I suppose they will overcome their nervousness at some point.”
Taking in the young men as they fiddled with their fobs, she hoped, for their sake, it was soon. “You are not to make a game of them and tell Charlie the same thing. They are being very courageous in trying to be the girls’ first suitors.”
He drew his brows together. “Do you suppose they stayed in Town because of Charlotte and Louisa?”
Grace looked at him over the rim of her cup. “A mere glance at theMorning Postwould have revealed to you that their parents are at their country estates hosting large house parties.”
“Which means they did.”
“I think that is a safe assumption.”
A loudwoofand thumping came from overhead. Matt glanced up. “If you’ve got it under control here, I’ll take the rest of the children and dogs to the Park.”
More thumping and another deeper bark echoed down the stairs. “Good idea.”
He left and a few moments later the sounds of the younger children, footmen, and dogs readying themselves could be heard. Matt strode back into the drawing room and brought her fingers to his lips lightly grazing her knuckles, before turning to leave.
“If you don’t mind saying,” Bentley asked, “what kind of dog is that?”
“Dogs. Two Great Danes. One is ours and the other is Grace’s family’s.” Louisa smiled. “I suppose I should say our dogs as we are one family now.”
“You don’t say?” Harrington glanced up. “I’d like to see them,” he said, adding nervously, “if you don’t mind, that is.”
Charlotte rose, a small smile tilting her lips. “No, we don’t mind at all. Worthington will be down with them and the children in a few minutes.”
“We usually all go to the Park together,” Louisa added.
In very short order, Daisy barreled into the room, and Matt’s deep voiced barked a command. “Daisy, halt.”
Well, if she didn’t actually stop, she did slow down. Grace smiled with relief. “Worthington, she is doing much better.”
Her husband muttered something under his breath that Grace assumed was a curse and strode into the room with Duke. Bentley and Harrington went to meet the dogs.
Grace thought it was to their credit that neither of the young men was worried about the dogs leaning against them.
Then Bentley, who was petting Daisy, said, “My grandfather had Danes. Wonderful dogs. She’s pretty young, isn’t she?”
Charlotte came over. “Yes, she’s just over a year. Duke is four.”
Harrington grinned. “You’ve got a couple of more years of trouble with her then.” Glancing at Bentley, he asked, “Would you mind if we accompanied you to the Park?”
Louisa and Charlotte exchanged excited glances, and Charlotte said, “We’ll just need a moment. Matt, will you wait for us?”
“Yes, of course. Just hurry.”
Before Grace followed the girls out of the room, she looked at Matt. “I think I’ll come as well.”
She was able to keep Louisa and Charlotte quiet until they reached Grace’s old room, where one of her bonnets was. It was a good thing Bolton had decided to keep some of Grace’s clothing here. “Now what is going on?”
“Grace,” Charlotte said excitedly, “they asked us to reserve a waltz for them at Lady Sale’s ball.”
Louisa’s eyes glowed. “I think that was very well done of them, coming here. They remained in Town just to ask us to dance.”
Grace was so happy for them. They would both be great successes this Season. “They certainly got the jump on the rest of the young gentlemen.”
As the children, Louisa, Charlotte, Charlie, and their guests, walked out of the square and down the street to the Park, Grace regarded the young men. Apparently both Harrington and Bentley intended to keep their lead on the competitors. They were attentive not only to the girls, but to their brothers and sisters as well as the dogs. Walter, though, had decided to have some fun by pulling faces and batting his eyes.
