He appeared pleased and continued in the same vein. They reached the Park and fortunately, there were enough people they had to greet to stop his flow of royal information. He pulled up beside Lady Bellamny’s carriage. “My lady.” Alice smiled. “I am glad to see you.”
Her ladyship gave her a wry look. “I am happy to see you as well, my dear. I trust your family is well.”
“They are, thank you.”
“St. Albans,” her ladyship said. “I approve of your curricle. Shall I see you and the duchess at Lady Markham’s ball this evening?”
“Indeed, my lady. We will be there.”
“Excellent.” Lady Bellamny waved them along, and he moved forward.
By the time they reached the gate, Lord St. Albans had finished with the royal family and started telling Alice about Lord Byron absconding with a young wife of an Italian count. Alice was fairly certain that was not proper conversation for a lady just making her come out. And she could not imagine running off with Lord Byron. The curricle finally came to a stop in front of Worthington House, and she almost jumped down by herself. But Lord St. Albans was there ready to help her. She held out her hand, but he wrapped his hands around her waist instead.Drat. There was that feeling again. The prickling. It must be because she was irritated with the man. And to think she had promised him the supper dance this evening.
Alice gave him a polite smile as he escorted her to the door, then curtseyed. “Thank you for the ride, my lord.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. Thank goodness for gloves. “The pleasure was all mine.”
The door opened, and she forced herself to keep a measured pace into the house. How could Georgie Turley have thought he was amusing? “Are either Eleanor or Madeine here?”
“No, my lady. They have not returned yet. And her ladyship is meeting with Mrs. Thorton.”
“Thank you.” Alice climbed the stairs to her room, took off her bonnet, and threw herself down on the bed. Between the ride and the dance this evening, this was going to be the longest day of her life.
CHAPTERTEN
Giff climbed back into his carriage. That had gone well. The only problem was that he now had nothing to discuss with Alice during their dance and at supper this evening. He wished she had been a little more talkative, but he now knew she was an excellent listener. He’d have to read some more news sheets. Try as he might, Giff could not work out why making conversation with her was so hard. Words should flow easily from his lips as they always had before.
He’d planned to time his arrival at Lady Markham’s ball to coincide with the set before the supper dance, thus avoiding having to stand up with another lady. But he wanted to see Alice and arrived with his mother. The moment he stepped into the ballroom his gaze was drawn to her. She seemed to glow. It could have been the gold in her cream-colored gown or the way the light made her hair shine. His first thought was to join her and remain by her side, but every time he stared toward her another gentleman claimed her attention. The fribble with whom she was now speaking said something and she laughed. She’d never laughed at anything Giff said. He started toward her when the sound of the next set started, and she went off with the other man. Who the devil was he, and what had he said to her? When the gentleman turned, Giff recognized Hereford and let out a relieved breath. As far as he knew, Hereford wasn’t looking for a wife. Giff had finished his second circumference when he noticed Montagu holding onto one of the many potted trees decorating the room.
Giff lifted his quizzing glass. “Dancing with trees?
His friend dropped his hand as if it had been burnt. “I wanted to see how sturdy it was.”
After scanning the room, he saw what he thought had distracted Montagu. “It had nothing at all to do with Lady Eleanor standing up with Bolingbroke, I suppose.”
“Nothing at all.” That was a lie.
“Of course not.” Giff polished his quizzing glass with a handkerchief. “That would indicate some sort of jealousy. One doesn’t experience that emotion unless one is falling in love.” He caught a glimpse of Alice dancing with a gentleman he didn’t recognize. His jaw tightened. It took an effort to loosen it again.
“I would think gazing at a lady standing up with another gentleman is the same thing.” There was laughter in Montagu’s tone.
Giff raised a brow and drawled, “I beg your pardon. Did you say something?”
“Nothing.” The man’s lips twitched. “Nothing at all.”
It was time for a change of subject. “Your mother, sister, and Lytton arrived quite a while ago. What made you decide to come later?”
“I had some business to finish.”
A large part of Giff was envious of his friend, but soon he’d have responsibilities with which to occupy himself.
“Lord St. Albans.” Lady Markham strolled up to them. They were caught now. He knew better than to stop long enough to be noticed. “Please make your friend known to me.”
Giff smiled and bowed. “With pleasure. My lady, allow me to present Lord Montagu. Montagu, Lady Markham.”
His friend bowed. “Good evening, my lady. I trust my mother told you I would be a bit late.”
“She did.” Her ladyship’s smile reminded him of a cat’s that had caught her prey. “Now that you are here, I shall introduce you to a young lady who is in need of a dance partner.” She raised a brow a Giff. “You may come along as well, my lord.”
