Theo came forward and greeted him, followed by Lady Mary. “I am so glad you could join us.”
He bowed. “I am as well. It appears as if Whiting has everything under control. I must review what he’s done today and speak with him about some other matters, but that can be done in the morning.” He glanced at Lady Mary. “Good evening, my lady.”
She made an elegant curtsey and smiled. “It is good to see you, your grace.”
“I’m glad you were finally able to make it to Town. Your sister missed you.”
Kenilworth’s son, Hugh, brought Leo a glass of sherry. “My father said you would want this.”
“Thank you. He was correct.” Leo took a sip. “Who was ill, or was it something else?”
“Edward, one of the twins, fell and hit his head. The doctor examined him and said he would be fine. He has to be quiet for a few days,” Mary said. “He tried climbing the wall.”
“How old is he?” He was having trouble placing the younger ones. He didn’t see them that often.
“He is four and a half,” Theo said. “Next year he and Gaia will join us at the table.”
Thorton, the butler, came in and announced dinner. Leo winged out both of his arms, but Hugh came to escort Mary. That was when he noticed that Worthington’s eldest son, Gideon, was escorting two of the girls. “Impressive.”
“They are.” Theo smiled. “We are all proud of them.”
Leo could see why. She led them to the seats they had taken before at the table. He held out her chair. A sudden feeling of well-being filled him. He not only wanted Theo. He wanted to be part of this family. Not every gentleman could say that.
Lady Giselle poked Lana in the side. They were sitting across the barouche carriage from their mothers in the backward-facing seat. “The Duke of Chandos just got out of a hackney at Worthington House.”
“Do you suppose he is visiting Lady Theo?”
“What do you think? After all, he’s been driving with her and today she was driving that high-perched phaeton, and he was with her. It would not surprise me if they went for ices again.”
“I thought your brother was going to arrange an introduction.”
“He has not seen him at his club. And there have not been any events. Our mothers would not allow us to attend Lady Thornhill’s viewing today.”
“The first Almack’s assembly is this Wednesday,” Lana said.
“Yes, but more importantly, there is a ball before then. I will make sure my brother attends.”
“I almost forgot. Lady Penchly is having a ball on Monday.”
“Yes. Everyone will be there.” Giselle smiled. “I shall make sure that he asks me to stand up with him.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
When Leo arrived home, he was told his mother had retired with a sick headache, which is what his mother always did when she didn’t want to have a conversation. She’d never done it with him before, but she had with his father. He’d have to speak with her after his meeting with his secretary.
Early the next morning, he rode with Theo, Marrow, and Miss Pettigrew, broke his fast at Worthington House, and returned home. He would have lingered, but the Season had now begun in earnest. Theo had final fittings, the gentlemen had the Lords and Commons, and Leo had business to attend to as well before the luncheon meeting.
When he arrived home a groom took his horse, and he entered the house. “Hoover, please inform her grace that I wish to speak with her in an hour.”
“Yes, your grace.”
Whiting was already at his desk when Leo joined his secretary.
“Here are the letters I wrote yesterday.” Whiting handed over a short stack of missives.
Leo reviewed them. “Excellent. It’s amazing that knowing nothing about the estates, you were able to give cogent responses.”
“The answers were simple common sense. I knew, for example, that if the price of anything had risen, you would want to know the reason.” His secretary folded the letters and prepared them to be sealed. “These I was unable to respond to until I spoke with you.” Whiting handed Leo one of the missives.
