He told her about being invited to breakfast and the conversations. “It was unusual, but right at the same time.”
“Well, I am not surprised. If you were paying attention, you would have noticed the same thing going on at meals at your grandparents’ table. Although, the voices were probably a great deal louder.”
That was true. Everyone had their say at the tables. “You’re right. I just took it for granted there. It seemed so different here.”
She pressed her lips together. “I apologize for not setting the example. It was one of the subjects your father and I did not agree upon.”
Although Scotland and England were supposed to be one country, it really was mixing two different cultures. “How did you decide whose traditions to use?”
“We sorted it out as we went along. For example, there is no point in trying to keep much of Hogmanay in England when one is doing it by oneself.”
But they opened windows and burned herbs in the fireplaces. “We do chase out the evil spirits.”
“Aye, that we do, but there’s no dark-haired man to come to the door at midnight to give us luck.”
Giff grinned. He usually remained home for Christmas and went to his grandparents for New Year’s, and as a redhead, he was kept far away from the front door until the dark-haired man appeared. “We celebrate Christmas more than they do at my grandparents.”
“I must confess, I did not mind adding the Christmas celebrations,” she mused. “Enough of this for the moment. Tell me what has been going on?”
“We see each other at Hatchards a great deal and have been talking and helping one another. She knows a lot about estate management. Yesterday, she had questions about sheep I could answer.”
His mother fixed him with a look. “This is a very strange courtship. You should send her flowers.”
He returned her look. “I did. She was allergic to them.” Thankfully her sister had told him. “I think I made it up to her by explaining how they came about.”
With a wave of her hand, she asked, “What else do you do?”
“When it’s not raining, we ride in the Park early in the morning. We both like to race.”
“Do ye let her win?” Mamma’s brogue became more pronounced indicating she was taking more interest.
“I don’t have to. Her mare is equal to Hector.” As Alice was equal to Giff.
“Ye have nay mentioned feelings. You have them aye? The sort a mon has for a lass?”
They were going to be speaking in Gallic if this kept up. “Most definitely.”
She nodded. “Here’s the most important question. Do ye want to see her every day even when yer angry at her?”
He’d never thought of that. His parents could have massive arguments and later he’d see them kissing. One time his father had searched the house until he found her just to ensure she was well. Giff knew he wanted to see Alice at the breakfast table. Each morning when they rode, he felt as if the day would be better. Even when she’d given him that set down, he wanted to see her again. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
Mamma nodded sharply. “Then it seems to me you’re in love with the lass.”
“Thank you.” He just needed to discover if she could love him in return. “I’ll be at Hatchards.”
* * *
Charlotte caught up to Alice as she reached the hall. “Lord St. Albans seemed to enjoy himself. I was rather shocked to see him here.”
Considering the way she had felt about him before, that was not surprising. “He is much different than I thought he was.”
Her sister linked arms with Alice, and they started toward the morning room. “What happened?”
That was a good question. “I am not quite sure. One day I told him he was not qualified to be my husband. The next day, he was in Hatchards. He was looking for a book, and we started talking. For the first time, he was not trying to tell me all the gossip he’d learned.” He had, in short, been himself. “He told me he was glad I gave him a set-down. He had not liked reading the gossip either. We’ve started to become friends.”
They entered the morning room and stood at the window watching Zeus and Posy play. “Do you see him frequently at Hatchards?”
Alice turned around and leaned against the window. “Yes. He recently inherited an estate from an uncle, and he needs to understand how to run it.”
