“I beg your pardon?” His eyes widened a bit. “Marrow?”
She nodded.
“Ah, well. I returned home last night to find he’d left a card. I thought an early ride would be just the thing to recover from a long coach ride to Town.”
“That was nice of you.” She might have to revise her view of the duke.
He gave her a rueful look. “Despite your obviously poor opinion of me, I am considered to be a good friend and an excellent all round fellow.”
Theo raised her brows to express her doubts.
“Lady Theo, I realize that we got off to a bad start, and you tolerate me only because I am Stanwood’s friend, but I would like to be your friend as well. I can be very useful.”
She was not quite sure what to make of his offer. Then again, he had agreed to help find her friend a husband. “Let us see how this goes, shall we?”
“I will endeavor to prove myself to you.” He glanced up. “Race you to the large oak tree.”
She urged her mare into a trot. “Go!” Her horse started to gallop. Chandos quickly caught up to her, but did not draw ahead. They reached the tree at the same time. “Did you not want to win?”
“It appears that my horse did not wish to.” He gave his hack a disgusted look.
“That is the silliest thing I’ve heard.” Horses not wanting to win a race.
“What can I say?” He lightly shrugged. “Stallions have their own minds at times, especially when a pretty mare is present.”
Theo had not actually been around that many stallions. Most of her brothers rode geldings in Town. “You might have a point.” She turned in her saddle to look for Sarah and found her with Marrow cantering toward the Serpentine. “Shall we join Miss Pettigrew and Lord Marrow?”
Chandos inclined his head. “If you wish.”
What was that about? He was the one who brought the viscount. Theo started toward her friend and his lordship, and the duke followed. “I know she has a groom with her, but I would feel better if I did not leave her alone too long. She has never been in Town before.”
“Ah. I understand. Playing gooseberry.”
“Well, someone has to. She is not what I would call up to snuff.”
“This from a lady just out?” Chandos said teasingly.
“I might be in my first Season, but I have a great deal of experience gained from watching my sisters.” Theo fixed him with a look. “Who do you think helped St. Albans convince Alice to wed him? And that is just one example.”
“I wasn’t aware he’d needed help.”
“Indeed, he did. Mary and I came up with a scheme. We also assisted our sister Madeline be able to wed Harry Stern.”
Leo had no idea Theo had been so busy. No wonder she was confident beyond her years. Not at all like some of the other ladies just out or even in their second year. It was her self-assurance that had originally drawn him to her. If Theo hadn’t had her hair down until just recently, he would have thought she was older than eighteen. “I will take you at your word.”
She gave him one of her suspicious looks. “How exactly?”
“By helping you, of course.” He had to show her that he was dependable. It was clear she would not be enamored by any of his rakish charm. “I will also have a word with Marrow.”
Her eyes flew wide. “Do not tell me he is a rake.”
“No. No. Not at all. But he is a man. And by the way he is paying attention to Miss Pettigrew, he finds her interesting.”
Theo’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the couple. “You might be correct.” Miss Pettigrew laughed at something Marrow said. “She certainly seems to be having fun talking with him.”
“There you see.” Leo mentally congratulated himself. “I might have found a suitable match for her.”
“That remains to be seen.” She brought her mare to a halt. “How are his finances? Is he able to support a wife and family?”
