“He is.” The girl’s dark blond brows rose. “Now, do you want to hear what I have to say, or am I wasting my time?”
Good Lord! She sounded like Lady Bellamny. How old was she? “Yes. I wish to listen.”
“Good.” Still keeping her back straight, she seemed to settle more deeply into the chair. “You need to become Alice’s friend.”
Giff had never had a female friend. “How do I do that?”
Lady Mary appeared as if she’d like to roll her eyes. “How does one become anyone’s friend? You do things with her that you both enjoy. You are there to listen to her when she needs to talk. And you are there to help her when she requires it.”
“I can’t very well take her to Tats or meet her at a club or coffee house.” Giff knew one thing he and Alice would enjoy, but it would involve getting her into his bed.
“No, of course not.” Lady Mary let out what sounded like an exasperated breath.
He dragged his thoughts back to what she most likely meant. “Go shopping?”
“That is one activity. Many gentlemen do enjoy shopping with ladies. Youdoread?” The last part was said with a high degree of skepticism.
“I do. Naturally, I read.” Although, he’d never read any of the romance novels of which the ladies were so fond. And currently he was wading through books on estate management.
“Have you read Anna Maria Porter? Alice enjoyed her latest book and is looking forward to readingThe Village of Mariendorptquite a lot. She has also read the American author James Fenimore Cooper’sPrecaution. It was interesting in that it tried to copy the works of more successful English female authors.”
Giff had heard of the book. “I thought that was written by a woman?”
Lady Mary waved her hand as if it was of no importance. “It was originally published under a pseudonym. The point is that you could read it and discuss it with her. She also likes Miss Austen’s books. Such a shame that she died.”
He had the feeling she was not only mourning the woman, but the books that would no longer be forthcoming. As to Fenimore, Mamma had enjoyedPrecaution. He could borrow her copy. “I could discover which other books she likes.” They still rode together in the morning. “That’s a start, I suppose.”
“I assume you must know something about running an estate. Alice is very interested in the subject.” Lady Mary turned her head sharply, and there was the sound of someone entering the hall. “And no hyacinths. She is allergic to them. I must go.”
Damn him for an idiot. He didn’t even know the flowers Alice liked. He hadn’t ever bothered to find out.
Lady Mary left the parlor as quietly as she had entered it. From the hall he heard her say, “Good morning, my lord.”
Giff went to the door to better listen to what was being said. Something told him the girl had a plan.
“Good morning.” It was Normanby, and he grumbled at her. That was not well done of him.
She, on the other hand, sounded cheerful. “How did your meeting with my brother go?”
“As well as it could, I suppose. Although, why anyone would allow a lady to choose her own husband is beyond me.”
Giff wished he could see Lady Mary’s reaction to that.
“It is a family tradition.” There was a bite in her tone. “Just as there is a tradition of keeping our family close even after one marries.”
“I must suppose that would depend upon who one marries.”
“Not at all. Have a good day.”
The door closed, and the butler entered the room. “My lord, his lordship will see you now.”
When Giff followed the butler into the hall, Lady Mary was gone. What she had said about the family maintaining close ties struck him. He’d seen it at the breakfast he’d attended. If he wanted Alice, he had to be prepared to accept the rest of her family as well. Even the children. Especially the children. Blast it all. He should have asked Lady Mary about the list.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Alice awoke to rain, meaning she would not be able to ride today. However, Lord Normanby had asked her to walk with him this afternoon. Throwing her legs over the side of the bed, she donned her robe, crossed the corridor into the parlor, and took out the list she and her sisters had written.
Intelligent
