The rest of the gentlemen kissed their wives, stood, and headed for the door.
“Do we have anything we need to discuss?” Lady Worthington asked.
The ladies shook their heads.
“Not at present,” the Duchess of Rothwell said.
Lady Worthington rose. “In that case, we should be about our days.”
Giff stood at the same time as Alice and held out his arm. She escorted him to the front door. “If you are going to Hatchards later this morning, I will see you there.”
“I will be. I must become knowledgeable about the selling of produce and other things.”
She grinned. “As long as you are not concerned with whisky, I have some expertise.”
He bowed and took her hand. “Excellent. I’ll see you there.”
Having sent his carriage home, Giff decided to walk back to Cleveland House.
As soon as he entered his chamber, he opened the note Lady Mary had given to him and unfolded it.
Intelligent
Kind
Like house animals
Like children
Make us laugh, and think we are funny
Interested in the plight of the poor and unfortunate
Must support us in our charities and other ventures
Passable looking
Allow us to be ourselves
Be able to support a family
Must love us in return
Be a friend
Alice’s list!
She’d been telling the truth when she said being a duchess or marrying a duke, or any peer for that matter, was not important to her. Giff fancied he met all the qualifications but one. Was he in love with her. He’d been in lust for a while, but even he knew that was not the same thing as love. How would he know? And could she love him? The only person he could talk to about it was his mother. Even though they didn’t always agree, his parents did have a love match. That gave him pause. Why had he not wanted one when everyone in his family had married for love? He folded the paper and put it in a secret drawer in his desk, then went to his mother’s parlor and knocked.
“Enter.”
“Madainn mhath, Mamma.”
“I see you are practicing your Gallic.” She grinned.“Madainn mhath, bhobain.”
He never knew if she was calling him her darling or her rascal. Both could apply at different times. “I need to know how I’ll know if I’m in love.”
She raised her brows. “Could we start at the beginning?”
