Alice’s heart stopped. Hugh dodged his way through the shallow crowd. Her brother-in-law had been right. “They should have put a lead on him.”
St. Albans held her hand. “You see people letting Kenilworth through. He’ll get to Hugh in time.”
Her nephew jumped for a loose line that was being pulled up into the basket. Con caught him mid leap. Hugh stared up at the balloon and started to cry. “I wanted to go, Papa. I wanted to fly.”
“That lad’s got a lot of pluck,” a man said. “You’ll get there boy. Give it a few years.”
Con handed Hugh into Charlotte’s landau and came over to St. Albans. “Thank you. He’s going to give me gray hairs.”
Gray hair? Hugh was going to do more than that. “He’s going to give us all heart attacks.” St. Alban’s released Alice’s hand and she missed the comfort and warmth. “What did you make him promise? He would never break one.”
Con racked his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t. I told him he could ride with me. I thought I’d be able to keep hold of him. I’ll never do that again.”
Alice stared up at the balloon. “You know, you cannot really blame him. I would like to fly as well.”
That was the second time she’d mentioned it. St. Albans nodded as he looked up. “I would too.” He took her hand again. “Maybe one day we’ll be able to.”
“Do it before you have children,” Con growled. He mounted his gelding. “I’m going home to have a large brandy. That child has taken years off my life.”
The balloon sailed toward Greenwich, and Alice hoped it did not accidentally go out to sea. That would be dangerous. Once it was out of sight, people started to leave. “We did not even have time to eat anything in our basket.”
St. Albans glanced at her with a frown. “You’re right.” A gleam entered his eyes. “Let’s drive the phaeton over toward the Serpentine and have an al fresco luncheon.”
“That is an excellent idea. Do you want to invite the others?”
“Yes, let’s do.”
“Charlotte, we have a basket and are going to the Serpentine to have an al fresco luncheon. Pass the word down to everyone else.”
“That is a lovely idea. We have a basket as well. It will also give the children a chance to run around.”
Soon they were all gathered together. Blankets were laid out as well as food, wine, ale, and lemonade. Alice watched St. Albans speaking with her brothers-in-law. That, of course, was not surprising. He knew most of them.
Charlotte came up. “He really is very nice.”
“He is.” Alice had to agree. Yet, she needed to disabuse her sister of the notion that he was interested in her. “Unfortunately, he is planning to wed another lady.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Who would that be?”
“I do not know.” Alice linked her arm with her sister’s. “Let us eat before the children leave us nothing but crumbs.”
Her sister laughed. “They can be rather ravenous.”
Grace called Charlotte away as St. Albans joined Alice. “You have an interesting family. I like them.” He had fixed himself a plate and one for her then poured the crisp white wine into glasses before sitting next to her. “I’m glad they all take care of each other.”
She had often thought the same. Alice took a sip of wine. “I am as well. I do not know what I would do without them.”
“I have a feeling you will never have to find out.” He made a sandwich out of slices of chicken and tomatoes. “You would like my family.” He grimaced. “Not my father’s side as much, but definitely my mother’s side.”
Alice grinned. “The Scots.”
“Yes.”
As if on cue, the duchess strode up to them. “You have had an exciting day. Who was the little boy who got away?”
St. Albans rose and helped his mother sit on the blanket. “That was Kenilworth’s son Hugh. He becomes a bit excited about things.”
“That is one way of putting it.” Alice’s tone was dryer than she wanted it to be. “Everyone thinks he is very much like his father.”
