Her sister smiled. “And, naturally, you helped him.”
Alice returned the smile. “It was the least I could do.”
Con strolled into the parlor. “I thought I’d find you here.” He kissed Charlotte on the cheek. “Take the carriage home if you wish. This meeting will take a while.”
She nodded. “I will. We were discussing St. Albans.”
“He made several good points on how we could combine the new farming methods without running off small farmers.” Con rubbed his jaw. “We might not get them repealed. In fact, the Tories want to pass more enclosure laws. But at least we can limit the damage by talking with other landowners.” Con glanced at Alice. “He was much more relaxed than the last time he was here.”
“He was trying to find his way forward.” Charlotte’s attention was fixed on her husband.
“I know that feeling.” Con raised her hand to his lips. “Sometimes it takes a while to get the lay of the land with this family.” He turned to Alice. “Speaking of this family. Did you know that Mary and Theo are taking pickpocketing lessons?”
They had decided it might be a useful skill and one of the boys the family had taken in had made his living that way. “Yes. How did you know?”
He raised a brow and, in a tone as dry as sand, said, “She gave me back my watch.”
“Oh, dear.” Charlotte started to laugh. “I taught her how to pick locks as well.”
“Good Lord.” Con dropped his head into his palm. “There will be no stopping her.”
“That is what you said about us,” Alice reminded him.
“It is indeed.” He headed for the door. “I will see you later, my love.”
A marriage like theirs was what Alice wanted. Which reminded her she had to test Lord Normanby on the rest of the list. Unfortunately, she would not see him until tomorrow.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Normanby had woken to his mistress swearing as she dressed. She must have sensed he was awake. “When are you going to ask her to marry you?” Celeste’s tone was tense. She detested not being allowed to entertain him in her house. The one he’d given to her after telling his father’s mistress she had to leave the residence. Celeste hated even more dressing like a servant to travel to and from her home.
“Soon.” He would have already done it, but he wasn’t quite sure of Lady Alice yet. If only her guardian would have immediately agreed to the wedding. “I must ensure she will accept me.”
Her lips formed a moue, and she lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “You make love so charmingly. How could a young lady resist your kisses?”
“I haven’t kissed her.” He hadn’t even come close to touching more than her arm.
“You English. Always so correct. Send her letters declaring your love. I will tell you what you must say.”
Celeste knew nothing of young ladies of theton. “And how would I explain the letter when her guardian read it?”
Her eyes widened in confusion. “But why would he?”
“All correspondence addressed to a young unmarried lady is read by her parents or guardian.”
“Bah. In France it would not happen. I receivedles lettres d’amourall the time before we had to flee.”
The only thing he knew to be true about her was that she came from a titled family in France. That had been proudly confided to him by the Austrian diplomat he’d stolen her from. Normanby didn’t know, and doubted he ever would know, what had caused her to become a courtesan. Perhaps it had something to do with the love letters.
“Bah! Kiss her where everyone can see you. Then she will have to agree.”
“I would if we were ever alone. She’s more closely guarded than the crown jewels.”
She stamped her dainty foot now covered in a poorly made shoe. “Mon Dieu,Normanby! Can you not bribe her maid?”
“Footman.” The damned footman. “Her guardian does not allow her out with a maid. She has a footman who’s large enough to stop anything I might try.” He pulled Celeste into his arms. “It won’t be long. I promise. I am walking with her again today, and tomorrow evening I will ask her.”
Celeste pressed against him as sinuously as a cat. He wished she didn’t have to leave. “I shall wait.Mais,if this lady does not wed you, you must takela bourgeoise, oui? I am serious when I tell you this cannot last.”
