“You will be late to dinner if you do not leave now,” Lady Kenilworth said. She glanced at Leo. “You may join us if you like.”
“Thank you.” He really wanted to spend more time with Theo, but … “I must look in on my new secretary. It is his first full day.”
“Another time then.” Her ladyship picked up the reins.
“Meeting at Brooks’s during lunch tomorrow,” Kenilworth said.
“I’ll be there.” Now that he’d made a mull of it with Theo, Leo would definitely require more advice. He turned to her. “I can walk from your house.”
“Very well.”
It was a short drive from Gunter’s at one end of Berkeley Square to the other end where Worthington House was located. Mick was waiting to take the carriage when she arrived in front of her house. Leo jumped down and went around to help her alight by clutching her waist and lowering her slowly to the pavement. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Until then.” She smiled before striding into the house.
He was halfway home when St. Albans’s carriage stopped next to him, and St. Albans said, “Are you not joining the family for dinner?”
“I must see to some things at home. Another time. Will you be at the luncheon at Brooks’s tomorrow?”
“Haven’t heard about it yet. But most likely.”
“I’ll see you then.” Leo waved and walked on.
“If you change your mind,” Lady St. Albans said, “send a note, and we can hold dinner.”
“Thank you.” That would solve his problem. “If all is going well, I shall do that.” He just hoped Whiting didn’t have any difficulties.
He ran up the steps to his house and the door opened. A footman bowed. “Is Mr. Whiting in his study?”
“Yes, your grace. He asked about you not long ago.”
That didn’t sound good. “Thank you.”
Leo made his way quickly to his secretary’s office, knocked, then opened the door. “How has it been going?”
The man started to stand, and Leo motioned him to remain seated. “Well, I believe. I wanted you to review the responses I was able to make before I sent them out. I will need to discuss the others with you.”
Leo might make it to dinner with Theo yet. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” Whiting removed his spectacles. “Unless you require anything else, I was about ready to leave for the day.”
“Nothing at all. I will see you after breakfast.” Leo went to his study and penned a quick note, then gave it to the footman outside the door. “Have this delivered to Worthington House as fast as possible.”
“Yes, your grace.” The man strode quickly toward the hall. The next thing he heard was the front door opening and closing. When he arrived in the hall, his butler was there. “I am dining out.”
“At Worthington House, your grace?”
“Yes. I will not be late.”
“I shall inform her grace.”
“Tell her that I wish to speak with her when I return if she does not have another engagement.”
“She and Mrs. Merryweather are dining at home this evening. I have not been apprised of any other plans.”
“Excellent. I will see you later.” Leo was never more grateful that Theo’s family didn’t dress formally for dinner.
He hailed a hackney. When he arrived, the family was in the drawing room.
