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“I…I…I tried but she wasn’t at home.”
Strange, he could have sworn she’d said her friend could not get out since she was with child. “When you have a moment, I would like to speak with you in my study.”
She looked down at her clothing and gasped. “I really must change before dinner.”
“Very well. But I would like to talk before dinner.”
“I will be down presently,” she answered, and then walked toward her room.
He turned to go to his study when his butler stopped him.
“Your Grace, I placed the post on your desk. There is quite an amount today. I believe word of your arrival has found its way through the ton.”
“Thank you, Jeffers.” At least reading the mail would give him something to do while he waited for Elizabeth.
He walked into the study and his mouth gaped. His previously empty desk was now littered with letters and invitations. Never in his twenty-eight years had he seen so much nonsense. He opened the first invitation and shrugged. The note was from the dowager Countess of Cantwell. He could only assume such a ball would be an important occasion, but he really didn’t know if they would be ready to attend.
After dropping it into the “read” pile, he moved on to the next one. Another ball, this one held by the Earl of Hereshire and his wife. He tossed it into the same pile as the previous invitation. The next one contained vouchers for a place called Almack’s.
Elizabeth walked into the room, then looked at the vouchers and laughed. “Well, that didn’t take Lady Jersey long.”
“Excuse me?”
“Almack’s. You and your sisters need vouchers to attend on Wednesdays.”
“So, it’s like a club?” he asked, confused.
“Well, the ladies would never say such a thing, but truly, it’s not that different. The patronesses decide who is acceptable based on social position and titles. However, even a duke can have his vouchers lost if one of the ladies deems you inappropriate.”
Will just rolled his eyes. “Yet another example of why this country is crumbling.”
She placed her hands on her hips and scowled at him. “There is nothing wrong with this country. I believe we proved ourselves quite nicely at Waterloo.”
“Elizabeth, sit down,” he said, pointing to the seat across the desk from him. “I didn’t call you down here to argue about your country.”
“Our country,” she corrected.
Will barely restrained a growl. He refused to tell her this would never be his country.
“So why did you call me into your study?” she asked as she finally took her seat.
“I’ve been thinking about the boys. I know the tutor will start on Friday with them, but they are not getting enough physical activity.”
“You can take them riding every morning,” she suggested.
“Yes, but they still need more. I was thinking we should go to one of the estates for a while. That would give them space to wear themselves out every day, and the girls and I would have a quiet space for our daily etiquette lessons.”
Her face drew pale. “You want to go to the estate?”
“Yes, I do believe it is a sound decision. Don’t you agree?”
“Actually, I think it is far better to stay in town. I mean, here you can slowly immerse yourself into Society without attending every function. At the estate you would be sequestered, except for the local squires who would, no doubt, pester you tirelessly to com
e to their soirees and musicals, put on solely for your benefit.”
How did she get that all out in what sounded like one sentence? Her eyes darted from him to the papers on his desk as if she were suddenly nervous around him.
“Elizabeth, what is the real reason you don’t wish to go to the estate?”
