“I’ll see you here just before five.” He rose and bowed over the hand she had held out.
“Yes. I am very glad you are supporting this cause.”
“It’s my pleasure to assist.” She started to rise. “I know my way out but thank you.”
Once he arrived home, he gave orders for his horse to be ready no later than quarter to five. Then he called for his butler.
“Your grace?”
“I need to know where the Earl of Bolingbroke resides.” Leo could send a note, but a personal visit might be better. If the man was even home.
“Straightaway, your grace.” A few minutes later, Hoover returned. “He has a house at number five, Upper Grosvenor Street.”
“Excellent work. Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure, your grace.” Hoover bowed.
Leo went to his chambers to change, and he didn’t have much time. It had taken almost fifteen minutes to walk from Worthington House to home.
He found his valet in the dressing room. “I’m going riding.”
“Yes, your grace. I will be just a moment.”
In the extremely short time of twenty minutes, Leo was descending the stairs.
“Your horse is ready, your grace,” a footman said.
“Thank you.” Several minutes later, he stopped in front of Bolingbroke House. As luck would have it, a horse was being brought around. “Is that for Lord Bolingbroke?”
“Yes, sir,” the groom replied.
“Tell him Chandos is here and would like to speak with him.”
“What do you have to tell me other than to stay away from Lady Theo?” Bolingbroke said as he approached.
“I would like to invite you to join me. Lady Theo, Miss Pettigrew, and a Miss Cunningham are taking a drive this afternoon. I was told you might be interested in joining us.”
At first his lordship had a blank expression on his face, then he smiled slightly. “I would indeed. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Bolingbroke mounted his gelding. “What made you think of me?”
“I was told you danced with her last night, and Lady Theo informed me that she was taking the lady on a ride in the Worthington landau.”
“Not her phaeton?”
“Er, no. There isn’t enough room for three of them in the phaeton.”
They rode toward Berkeley Square. “What are your intensions toward Lady Theo?”
“I wish to marry her, but I promised not to court her in earnest until after her come out ball.”
His lordship appeared surprised. “How long have your known her?”
“A few years now. I formed the decision to make her my wife last summer. I’ve just been waiting.”
“I would think her family would be ecstatic at the idea a duke was interested in marrying her.”
