Lord Normanby glanced around. “Your maid?”
“My footman will accompany us.” She was rather impressed that he had asked about a chaperon. It spoke well for him.
As if he had just noticed Williams, his lordship nodded. “In that case, we are ready.” As they strolled down the street out of the square, his lordship looked down at her. “I suppose I should first ask how your Season has been going, but that seems rather trite. You would have to say that all is well. We can both see the weather is fine.” So far, so good. “I must tell you that the purpose of my asking you for this walk was to secure the supper dance at Lady Turley’s ball. I am only in Town for a short while. I leave for my home tomorrow.”
Alice had not even been told when Georgie’s ball was being held, but there was no reason she could not accept the supper dance. “Thank you. I accept your offer.”
He smiled. “Thank you. Lady Markham said you are much in demand, and I am very late coming to Town.”
That was odd. Why come to Town only to leave again? “How long have you been here?”
“I arrived two days ago.” He gave her a rueful grin. “My mother is remarrying, and I am in charge of securing the special license. I will return after the wedding.”
Alice remembered when Madeline’s mother, Matt’s stepmother, although they were very close in age, remarried. There had been a great deal to do. “I hope you like her choice of husband.”
“Oh, yes. He is a capital fellow. She is much happier with him than she was before.” He flushed slightly. “I should not have said that.”
She had thought his mother’s happiness was because she was no longer a widow, but apparently not. “I wish her happy.”
“Thank you. I think she will be.” He sounded thoughtful. “They are going to the Continent for their honeymoon.”
“That is where both my recently married sisters would like to make their wedding trips.” She wished they could have all taken their honeymoons together. Unfortunately, Alice had not met the gentleman for her and her sisters had.
“Lady Markham said you and your sisters had come out together.” He let the sentence hang.”
“We did.” She gave him a broad smile. No one would discover from her how quickly she was feeling. “Although, nothing has yet been decided, I expect them to be betrothed in the near future.”
“Yes, of course.” He grinned at her; his blue-gray eyes were a mix of sympathy and something else she could not place. “Very lucky. Are they love matches.”
“Yes. Everyone in the family has married for love.” For some reason Alice could not explain, she needed him to believe she was not sad about her sisters marrying before her. “I am very much like one of my older sisters. She came out with another of my sisters and a dear friend and was the last to wed. In the end, it turned out to be fortunate. Her husband is perfect for her.”
“That is good to know.” Lord Normanby kept his head turned attentively toward Alice. “Your family is very large I take it.”
She enjoyed his attention. And his interest in her and her family. “I know families who are much larger, however, our family continues to grow.”
He gave her a curious look that indicated he did not know if he believed it. “That sounds wonderful.”
“I think so.” She glanced around and saw that they had circled the Park without speaking with anyone. How had that happened? Who had she ignored? “Tell me, do you like large dogs?”
“Of course. I have always been intrigued by them.” Another mark in his favor.
“You will have to meet our Great Danes.”
He briefly inclined his head. “I am sure I will like them immensely.”
Alice would ask Grace to arrange a breakfast to see if Lord Normanby liked children as well. For their first engagement, it was going quite well.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Lord Normanby departed, but fortunately the next few weeks flew by. Alice had dreaded seeing the Duchess of Cleveland again, but her grace’s response to Lord St. Albans not being invited had been rather droll. She had been amused by it and blamed it on him. The next night, as they all expected, Montagu proposed to Eleanor and two weeks later they married.
Alice had come down with a bad cold and recovered just in time to attend the ceremony. Both Lord Normanby and Lord St. Albans as well as some other gentlemen had come by to leave small gifts for her ranging from bon bons to oranges and flowers. Unfortunately, just as she was feeling better, Lord St. Albans sent hyacinths that made her start sneezing again. Why could he not have asked someone which flowers she liked?
This evening was Georgie Turley’s ball, and Lord Normanby had asked for the supper dance. Finally, Alice would have an opportunity to stand up with him.
They took their places on the dance floor, and he placed one hand on her waist and clasped one of her hands with his other. She had expected to feel something that would indicate he was the right gentleman for her, but there was nothing.
“I’m glad the supper set is a waltz,” he said as he twirled her.
