She was between two of the ices. “If you select the melon. I will have lavender.”
“Excellent. Lavender and melon,” he ordered. “This should be interesting.”
“I hope they both taste good.” Not that she thought they would not be. Gunter’s had wonderful ices.
“It is Gunter’s. I’m certain they will.” Alice had never noticed how much they thought alike. “Although, I am not particularly fond of the cheese ices.”
“I seem to remember Harry saying the same thing.” Alice wondered how he and Madeline were enjoying their honeymoon. It was sad Alice’s children would not be born around the same time as her sisters’ but wanting that too much had caused her to make the mistake with Normanby.
“Here they are.” St. Albans took the cups from the waiter, handed them to her, and paid the man. She gave him the melon and he ate a bite. “Very good. Try yours.”
She did, and it was excellent. “You should try this.”
He dipped his spoon into her ice and tasted it. “You’re right. It is much better than I thought it would be. Try the melon.”
She felt like a child again as they each ate some of the other’s ice. She had not shared like this in years. “We should do this more often.” Alice slapped her hand over her mouth. “I should not have said that.”
He looked at her in surprise. “I don’t know why not? I enjoy your company a great deal and would be happy to accompany you to Gunter’s anytime you desire.”
That was nice of him to say. “Thank you.”
She was not ready for the day to end. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
“I would. What time should I present myself?”
“We dine at six-thirty. It used to be earlier, but it is hard to get back from the Park in time.”
“I must send for my kit.”
“There is no need. We do not dress when we are dining with the children.”
St. Albans tilted his head and stared at her. Did he not like the idea of being so informal? And why was she so tense? “What an excellent idea. I have often wondered why one must dress to have the evening meal with one’s family.”
She immediately relaxed. The prickles started again. What on earth did they mean? “We should go.”
They arrived at Worthington House and strolled into the hall. “Thorton, Lord St. Albans will be dining with us.”
“Yes, my lady. I shall inform her ladyship and Cook.” He glanced at St. Albans. “My lord, if you will follow me. I will show you where you can freshen yourself.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
Grace was with the toddlers and Matt when they received the message that Lord St. Albans was joining them for dinner. “I like him. What do you think?”
Matt bounced their youngest son on his knee. “He’s a much better choice than Normanby. I blame myself for letting that happen. I should have followed my instincts.”
“Sweetheart.” She placed her hand on his arm. “Even you are not all seeing. According to what the duchess said, he hid his financial difficulties extremely well along with his betrothal.”
He grimaced. “At least St. Albans is an open book, so to speak.”
Grace held Gaia up for a kiss. “What an interesting way to put it. I have never heard that saying before.”
“One of the gentlemen at Brooks said it, and it seemed apt.”
“I do hope something develops between Alice and St. Albans. She seems to think he is interested in another lady, but he has not been seen with anyone else. Do you think he might have said that because of the set-down she gave him?”
“I believe that is entirely possible. The story gives him a way of spending time with her without her knowing he is still interested. The night Normanby was carried out of the ball, I asked St. Albans if he was still wanted to marry her, and he told me he did.”
