It was a damn good thing he was now sober, or he’d never be able to work out what she meant. He was having a hard enough time as it was. “What else. You have two more fingers left.”
He rather enjoyed seeing her hands without gloves. “Oh, Good Lord grant me patience.” But she held up her fourth finger. “You would have to rise early.”
Not if he could keep her in bed. “Go on.”
“You are being ridiculous. Those are all my fingers. The other digit is called a thumb.”
She turned her back on him and left. He must speak with her brother, Stanwood, about her. Surely a match could be arranged.
Chandos Hall, Late March 1824
Leo opened his eyes. He could almost feel the water dripping down his face. Another dream of Lady Theo Vivers dousing him.
He’d been having the same dream for close to a year. During that time, he’d become more and more determined to marry her. To ensure he was correct in his choice of bride, he’d haunted the house of his friend Charlie, the Earl of Stanwood and Theo’s brother-in-law, when their enormous family met there and finagled invitations to Worthington Place, where she lived with her brother, also her guardian, Matt, the Earl of Worthington and his wife, Grace, the Countess of Worthington and children. All the while biding his time until she had her come out. And today was the day he’d go to Town and begin to court her. “Matson, what time is it?”
Leo’s valet poked his head from the dressing room into the bedchamber. “Just past five in the morning, your grace. We will depart at eight. The trunks have been packed; her grace, your mother, is prepared to depart. Everything is in order.”
For the first time in his life, Leo felt as if his being finally had purpose. He’d stopped drinking to excess, stopped gambling, although he’d never done much of that, and had not had a mistress since he’d left Town last June. He was ready to be the type of husband Theo deserved and her family demanded, and the type of man he wanted to be. “Excellent. I will break my fast in a half hour. Is Turner following us?”
Leo’s father’s secretary had changed his mind at least twenty times about whether to depart before or after Leo. “Mr. Turner will not be coming. He has decided to retire and left at sunrise. He said that he had prepared all the documents you required.”
“Damn.” Perhaps Leo didn’t need a secretary. Still, he couldn’t be bothered with it now. He trod to the wash basin. He didn’t think he’d ever been this excited to go to Town.
Precisely thirty minutes later, he entered the breakfast room to find his mother and her companion, a cousin, Mrs. Merryweather, already at the table. Mama glanced up. “Constance and I have decided to depart shortly. We will see you in Town. I have a great deal to do if you are to select a wife and wed this Season.”
Leo went to the sideboard, putting eggs and beef on his plate. Toast was already on the table. He took his customary seat. “Vouchers for Almack’s?”
“One of many things to which I must attend. I have heard from several of my friends, two of whom are Patronesses of Almack’s.” She chewed on a piece of toast and swallowed. “There is also Lady Bellamny’s soirée for young ladies just out. I will attend that to gather an idea of which ladies might be most suitable.”
Leo had debated whether to tell his mother about his decision regarding a bride, then decided against it. He’d come to know Theo over the past year and understood he must approach her with care. She would not fall into his arms simply because of his rank and wealth. He’d have to court her properly. He would attempt a shortcut via her brother Worthington, but that was likely to fail. “An excellent idea.”
“When we attend Almack’s do not forget that you can ask one of the Patronesses for permission to waltz with a lady who has not yet been approved.”
“What do you meanapproved?” It was the oddest thing he’d ever heard. “I’ll wager that all of them have waltzed at country balls and assemblies as well as private balls. How else are they to become proficient?”
“Yes, my dear.” She cast an exasperated look at the ceiling. “This is only for permission to waltz at Almack’s. Not other venues.”
That made more sense. In that case, he’d ask for Theo. He’d be damned if another gentleman would have the pleasure of securing her waltzing privileges with his soon-to-be wife. “It seems like an idea someone invented to make the Patronesses more powerful.”
His mother shrugged lightly. She was the most discreet person he knew. Not even in private would she be coaxed into a dangerous conversation. She patted her lips with a serviette and rose. “We will see you in a few days.”
Leo had jumped to his feet the second she pushed back her chair. “I will see you then. I intend to stop by Stanwood Place on my way.”
“Of course, dear.” She bussed his cheek. “Have fun.”
“I will. You as well.” He inclined his head to her companion. “Have a pleasant journey.”
Theo tried not to bounce in her seat, she was eighteen now, as they approached Stanwood Place. Since the former Lady Grace
Carpenter, Theo’s sister-in-law, and Matt, her brother had married ten years ago. The Carpenter siblings and Theo’s siblings had become one large family. From the beginning they had decided to be brothers and sisters without distinction of blood. Stanwood Place was the main estate of Charlie, the Earl of Stanwood, the head of the Carpenter side of the family, and his countess, Oriana. Theo, Grace, Matt and their children, Gideon, Elizabeth, nine and eight years old, Edward and Gaia who were almost five-year-old twins, arrived shortly before luncheon. Mary, Theo’s closest sister, had been visiting Charlie, and Oriana, and their new babies for a month now. Theo hoped Mary would be ready to travel to Town with them instead of waiting for Charlie and his family to make the journey.
Charlie’s Great Dane Apollo met them at the door and glanced at the carriages. Soon a bark from either Daisy or Zeus emitted from a carriage built especially to carry them, and Apollo dashed to it.
Grace planned for her, Matt, and Theo to stay here a few days before continuing to Worthington House which was situated in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London.
“Theo!” Mary rushed to them. “I am so glad to see you. You would not believe how much the twins have grown.”
Charlie and Oriana greeted Matt and Grace while Mary took Theo into the house.
