He was made known to a Miss Butterworth. The next set went to Lady Amelia Grant. Then it was time to dance with Alice. If she had been taking note of his previous partners, she did not give herself away. They took their places opposite each other, bowed and curtseyed, and the music began. He took her hand as they came together. “You look exceptionally lovely this evening.”
“You are very handsome.” The color of her cheeks deepened as they danced apart.
The next time he offered an invitation he thought she might like. “There is a balloon ascension in the Park on Thursday. Would you like to accompany me to it?”
“I would indeed,” she managed to say before the dance separated them again.
He’d conversed in snatches of conversation before, but they had never been important. This was. “I imagine some of the younger children would like to attend it they are allowed.”
“I am sure they would. I will have to ask if they may.”
Alice was amazed he had invited the children to the balloon ascension. At the breakfast he’d attended, she had the distinct impression he did not like children. However, perhaps that had been because he did not know how to approach her. She enjoyed his company much more now.
He escorted her back to her family and immediately led her to Matt. “My lord,” he greeted her brother-in-law. “I have asked Lady Alice to attend the balloon ascension with me. If it is possible, I would like to extend the invitation to the children.”
“Perhaps not all the children, but certainly Mary and Theo would like to accompany you.”
Alice thought how hurt her niece and nephew would be to be left out. “Gideon and Elizabeth would like it as well.”
Matt looked at her. “That would entail nursemaids. I doubt you’d have much fun trying to keep track of them in what I imagine will be a huge crowd.” He seemed to gather her other brothers-in-law and Merton with a look, and they made their way to him. “What would you think of taking the children to the balloon ascension on Thursday?”
Con grimaced. “The girls might be well behaved, but I’d have to keep Hugh on a leash. The first thing he’d do would be to try to climb into the basket just to get a better look.”
Matt gave him a sympathetic look. “I hadn’t thought of that. Even Gideon would be tempted.” He glanced at St. Albans. “It’s better if you just take Theo and Mary with you.”
He seemed a little disappointed but nodded. “I bow to your knowledge of the other children.” He turned to Alice. “If I do not see you before then, I shall collect you at one o’clock.”
“I shall be ready.” This was the most exciting thing she would have done while in Town.
“That was exceedingly kind of him,” Rothwell said. “If we could have limited it to the girls it would have been fine.”
Con gave him an exasperated look. “We’d have a mutiny on our hands.”
“Who would munity?” Grace asked.
“St. Albans invited Alice and the younger children to the balloon ascension on Thursday. I told him he could take Mary and Theo, but not the younger ones.”
Grace heaved a sigh. “Mary and Theo have already been invited to attend with Phoebe Evesham.”
“It looks like you will have to go with just St. Albans,” Matt said.
“It is not a problem. He simply wanted to ask the children as well.” It might actually be better being alone. Then they would not be responsible for anyone else in what was certain to be an enormous gathering.
Lord Normanby joined them. “Are you discussing the balloon ascension?”
“Yes.” Alice turned to him. “I have been invited to attend, and we were discussing taking some of the other children as they were asked as well.”
“How very nice of the person. However, I was going to ask you to accompany me.” His tone was glib, and, suddenly, she had the feeling he had not even heard of the event before then. Very odd. “Our set is next,” he said.
“It is.” She glanced around and saw St. Albans speaking with a matron and her daughter. Was that the lady in whom he was interested?
* * *
As it happened, the next morning was fair, and she saw St. Albans riding in the Park. For once, he was before her. She rode up next to him. “Good morning.”
“And to you.” He smiled and motioned his head in the direction of the large oak tree. “Do you care for a race?”
“I do.” Her mare stamped a foot. She was ready for a run as well. “On the count of three.”
