“You will not have to worry about being well entertained.” Matt’s tone seemed almost unhappy.
Well, he need not worry about them. “We will not give you any trouble at all.”
He raised both brows and pinned her with a stern look. “I’ve heard that before.”
“It was not Dotty’s fault those ladies mistook what she and Dom were doing.” Madeline said. Although, that ended up well. “Or that Charlotte was kidnapped. Or that Louisa announced her marriage a bit too soon. Or that Augusta wanted to attend university.” In fact, they all had happy endings.
Matt dragged a hand down his face. “Be that as it may, I would like to get through this Season without any of those things occurring again.”
Her sisters, brothers-in-law, brothers, and cousins joined them for the supper Grace had planned. While everyone was getting settled, Alice decided to voice her opposition about St. Albans coming tomorrow morning. “Grace, did you have to invite St. Albans to breakfast?” Alice took a glass of wine from Thorton and was tempted to toss it down. “I am not at all certain I want him there.”
“She did not have much of a choice,” Matt pointed out. “He was rather like a hungry puppy.”
“I suppose so.” If one could call such an elegantly dressed and experienced gentleman a puppy. Alice sat down next to Charlotte and Con on one of the two large sofas in the drawing room.
“What has put your back up about St. Albans?” Con asked.
“He does not appear to care about anything. When I asked him about charitable works, he was not at all interested.”
Con’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “When Charlotte and I met, I was the same. I cared only for my own entertainment.”
Alice had not known that. Then again, she had only been twelve years old. And he was nothing like that now. “But you changed.”
“Very true. I did. Something happened that proved to me Charlotte was right about an argument we had been having. It caused me to step back and look at the life I was leading.”
Were most gentlemen like that? Matt had not seemed to be, but he was responsible for his sisters. “Maybe I could talk to Lord St. Albans and make him understand how important it is to do even small acts of charity.”
“You can always try. Although, I believe a gentleman must have something happen in order to effect lasting change.” He glanced at Matt. “Take Worthington. He led much the same type of life I did until he decided to marry and found the lady he wanted to wed.” Con’s brows drew together. “I might even remember when it happened. We’d both been invited to a hunting party, and he suddenly left saying something about needing to go to Town.” Con glanced at her and shrugged. “The next thing I knew he had wed.”
Alice had not known that about Matt. And she did not know how she could create an event that would change someone. She should take Georgie’s advice and simply enjoy Lord St. Albans’s company. Yet something told Alice that it was not something she was likely to do. “Surely, he must do something other than have fun. How can one live like that? He must have some purpose in life.”
Con raised a brow. “If he does, I don’t know what it is. I do know he doesn’t have any horrible habits.”
Which habits was he thinking about? “Such as?”
He stared at her as if he did not know what he should tell her. “Gambling for instance. He hardly gambles at all, and I have only once seen him drink to excess.”
Well, that was something. However, not wasting money on cards or drinking moderately did not seem such a great thing. Then again, thetonwas full of people who ruined their families engaging in those habits. Alice nodded. “Thank you for telling me.”
Con inclined his head. “It’s my pleasure. Just ask if there is anything I can do to help.”
Louisa suddenly broke out into laughter. “She is setting a test for him.”
What was going on?
Charlotte leaned over Con. “Eleanor thinks we should bring the children to breakfast tomorrow.”
Alice had to smile. That would give both her and her sister more insight into the gentlemen.
Rothwell groaned. “He’s in for it now.” He glanced at Eleanor. “If you are sure that is what you want, we’ll bring them.”
“I for one think it is a very good idea,” Dotty said. “After all, if he cannot deal with the whole family, then what good is he?”
“I agree.” Charlie said. “We are an extremely close family. As evidenced”—he grinned—“by the extra trunk I had to purchase to hold all the letters I received from you.”
“One does not marry the person, but the family.” Rothwell appeared chagrinned. “As I have reason to know.”
“It was not that bad.” Louisa looked at him lovingly.
