Alice’s heartbeat more rapidly. “What would that be?”
“As you must know, I am searching for a wife. Would you allow me to speak with you a bit later?”
He was going to propose! “Yes, I would.”
Nothing more was said on the subject, but she knew it was settled. He would ask for her hand, and she would accept. Alice wanted to skip like a girl. Finally, she would be wed.
They finished their walk, and he returned her to Worthington House. She reviewed the list in her head, but hardly remembered what was on it. If he wanted to marry her, he must love her. That she could not forget. When he asked, she would tell him how she felt and wait for him to respond. She did love him. She must. Why else would she be excited that he was going to ask her to be his wife?
“I will see you this evening,” Lord Normanby’s tone was lower than usual causing butterflies to dash around in her stomach.
“I look forward to it.” She entered the house, and he left, glancing back over his shoulder as he did.
When would he ask her to marry him? Would it be this evening at the ball? Alice practically floated up the stairs. Soon he would propose, and she would be married just like her sisters.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Later that afternoon, Mamma summoned Giff to her parlor. He entered and bowed. “Mamma?”
She pointed at the chair across from her. “Come and sit. I have had some news.”
His mother appeared both apprehensive and excited at the same time. “What is it?”
She poured him a dram of whisky from the bottle on the small table at her elbow. “You asked me to look into Normanby. I did, and I finally have an answer that is reliable.”
Giff took a sip. “And.”
“He is broke.” His mother took a drink as well. “His father beggared the estates and mortgaged everything that he could. If he doesn’t marry for money soon, the loans will be called in.”
“Only on the property that is not part of the entail.” That’s the reason he was courting Alice. He knew the blackguard was up to no good.
“Which is most of the holdings. His father did not continue in entail on anything other than their main estate.”
Her dowry would go a long way to paying off those loans. “I take it he has put it about that he will soon wed Lady Alice. But how has he kept anyone from finding out?”
“He is betrothed to a young woman from the City. The daughter of a wealthy merchant,” Mamma stated flatly.
Giff couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “He’s betrothed,andhe’s courting Alice?” He’d murder him. There was another question. “You do not have contacts in the City. How did you discover this?”
Mamma took another small sip. “I might not have contacts, but I have friends who do. The first of the banns was called at a church this past Sunday. My friend also told me about his finances.”
Something wasn’t making sense. “Why the deuce is he courting Alice?”
One of his mother’s brows rose in an extremely haughty way. “Blood.”
Bloody, Bloody hell-hounds. He had to get Alice away from the scoundrel. “Betrothed himself to a Cit’s daughter to keep the banks happy but court a lady for her dowry and her bloodlines. He needs to be shot.”
“I agree, but not by you.” Mamma downed half of her glass. “If anyone is going to challenge him to a duel it must be someone from her family.”
Giff would rather just run him through. That was much neater than shooting the scoundrel. “You’re right, of course. But something must be done. I’ll speak to Worthington this evening.”
“That would be for the best.” She finished the whisky. “I shall accompany you to the ball.”
“I will be honored by your presence.” Giff stood. “Thank you for the information.”
His mother gave him a sly smile. “I admire Lady Alice a great deal and would be most pleased to call her daughter.”
He inclined his head and strolled slowly back to his parlor. He could write to Worthington, but even if he sent the letter by messenger, it might not be read until tomorrow. No. The best thing to do was to inform him what Normanby was up to and let Worthington take care of it. He would tell Alice, who would be hurt and furious. Yet, she would have her family and Giff for comfort. He would not be able to ask her to marry him as soon as he would like. But propose he would, and hopefully she’d have him. But what if the devil was going to ask her tonight? He’d have to find a way to keep her away from the cur. The only way to do that was to remain close to her all evening. Giff grinned to himself. That would be no hardship at all.
