Merton stood and bowed. Not an inkling of his consternation showed on his face. “Good day to you as well, Lady Theodora. I beg you to introduce me to your friend.”
“Mary, allow me to introduce Lord Merton. My lord, this is my friend, Lady Mary Carpenter.”
The two girls lost no time dashing behind the desk. Theo stood next to Matt, while he helped Mary climb onto his lap. He glanced from one girl to the other. “Now, what’s so important?”
Mary gazed up at him with her big, blue eyes. “Grace isn’t happy, and she won’t let anyone in.” She played with one of the buttons on his jacket. “And you wouldn’t let anyone in. We can’t go to the Park without permission, and we need to go run so we don’t drive everyone to Bedlam.”
“Ah-ha. Very well. I’ll take you.” He frowned. “Did you walk over here alone?”
His sister huffed. “No, we have a footman.”
“Good girls. Go back over and tell everyone to be ready in ten minutes.” He gave Mary a kiss on her head. Theo kissed his cheek. Once he’d set Mary down, he stood. “Merton, you may accompany us if you’d like.”
“There is one small matter.” Merton rose and addressed Matt tentatively. “I wondered if I might stay with you for a bit.”
Damn, damn, and double damn. “Why?”
Glancing down at his nails, Merton replied. “My mother is not coming to Town, and I don’t wish to open Merton House up so that I can rattle around in it alone.”
Matt’s jaw clenched.The devil!“How long?”
Refusing to meet his eyes, Merton responded, “I’m not exactly sure.”
“You may remain here for two nights. After that, we’ll discuss it. You haven’t picked the best time to visit, without even a letter letting me know.”
“Of course, thank you. If it doesn’t work out, I shall move to a hotel.”
If Merton stayed for very long, it may not be the children driving Matt and Grace to Bedlam. “We need to go.” He got Duke, strode out of the house and across the square. Merton trailed behind him. When he entered Stanwood House, the children were assembled in the entrance hall. Matt counted. “We’re missing two.”
Royston bowed. “No, my lord. Lady Charlotte and Lady Louisa have gone shopping.”
Matt raised a brow of inquiry.
“My lord, they have taken their maids and two footmen. I expect them back any moment now.”
He nodded. “Very well. Is Daisy ready?”
Daisy dashed into the hall and, in trying to come to a stop, slid on the polished marble tiles and landed inelegantly at his feet. Matt glanced down and was hard put not to laugh as she gazed up at him smiling. “Lead?”
“Here, my lord.” Harold handed it to Matt. “Thank you. You take Duke. I’ll see if I can teach this young lady some manners.” He turned to the others. “The rest of you, two by two, holding hands. I want four footmen.”
As the children filed out of the house, followed by the liveried footmen, Merton had a pained expression on his face. “Eight children?”
“Eleven. As you no doubt heard, the two eldest girls are shopping. Stanwood is at Eton.”
“Isn’t this type of outing rather below your dignity?”
“Not at all.” Matt grinned evilly. “And if you think it below yours, you may return to Worthington House, or do whatever else you’d like to do. Though you’ll probably be ostracized as chickenhearted.”
“I won’t cry off.” Merton ran a finger under his neckcloth. “A nice walk will be just the thing.”
By the time they reached the Park, Matt thought everything was going so well, he was even in charity with his cousin.
“Good girl, Daisy.” Matt patted the dog. Finally, she was heeling.
The children had paired off. Philip, Theo, and Mary were kicking a ball around. The boy who’d started the fight with Walter approached, said something, then held out his hand. He and Walter shook.Good lads.
Matt decided to spend some time training Daisy. After a few minutes, she pranced daintily beside him, showing off her new skill. Matt didn’t understand why Grace had so many problems with the Dane. All she needed was a firm hand.
