“Thank her grace for me and post the letters. I am having luncheon out.”
“Dinner, your grace?”
“I’m not certain.” He wanted to be invited to dine with Theo.
“I’ll be at Worthington House.”
“I shall inform her grace.”
“Ask her if she knows Lady Thornhill.” Perhaps Mama received an invitation as well. It would be an excellent time for her to come to know Theo and her family better.
“Yes, your grace.” His butler bowed.
Leo came across St. Albans on Park Lane. “Are you going to the meeting?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. As my father’s emissary. He’s not in Town yet, and he wanted to know what Worthington was thinking when it came to legislative efforts.”
That was interesting. “I thought he was a Tory.”
St. Alban’s grinned. “Not after Alice got done with him. He has been inching closer to the other side very year.”
“All the sisters are impressive. I’m surprised they don’t join the meetings.”
“That is what luncheons and dinners are for. We thresh out the broad strokes and they fill everything else in.”
Leo had listened to Theo expound upon legislative details. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
“How is it going with Theo?” St. Albans glanced over quickly.
“I have no idea. I think I am a friend. Whether I’m anything else is hard to guess.”
“We’re all on your side. That said—”
“I know. It’s up to her. How do I get her to see me as an eligible parti?”
“The first thing you’re going to have to do is rid yourself of your image as a rake.” St. Albans grimaced. “It’s not easy.”
“I have not taken a mistress and will not. That part of my life is over.” Leo didn’t know what else he could do.
“The problem, old chap, is that she heard some ladies talking about you and your mistresses.”
That wasn’t good. “When? I haven’t been anywhere. The only lady anyone could have seen me with is her.”
“At Lady Bellamny’s event.” St. Albans shrugged. “It will take time. It’s a damn shame we can’t have those kinds of conversations with our intended wife. It would have saved me a world of trouble.” They turned the corner onto South Street. “Stay close to her. Make sure you have sets reserved for Almack’s and any balls.”
“I’ve already asked to stand up with her at Almack’s. I plan to have my mother approach one of the Patronesses to recommend me as a partner for the waltz.”
“That’s a good first step.” They crossed over to Hill Street. “You’re doing better than I did. I refused to acknowledge how different Alice was from other ladies.”
“I learned that when Theo won every penny I had.”
St. Albans looked surprised. “When was that?”
“When I got back from my Grand Tour.” Leo smiled at the memory. “Stanwood left with his sister and her husband and came back. I arrived after the Season and visited him. As luck would have it, the family was there helping him settle into his home. Theo must have been about fifteen.”
“Is that when you made your decision about her?”
“Good Lord no! She was just a child. An impressive girl but completely out of bounds. I made that decision over the past year.”
