Chapter Ten
Theo slid a look at Chandos as they joined their friends. “I forgot to ask. How did your evening go last night?”
The couple glanced at each other, and Sarah responded, “It was very enjoyable.”
“Er, yes. Very enjoyable. I am going to escort Lady and Miss Pettigrew to a private viewing this weekend.”
Theo slid Leo a quick look. “At Lady Thornhill’s?”
“Why, yes!” Sarah was clearly surprised. “How did you know?”
“We have been invited as well. Apparently, the viewing will have a number of participants.”
Chandos’s forehead wrinkled briefly. “I was about to ask how your mother knew her ladyship, but naturally, they would have kept up a correspondence.”
“They have.” Sarah’s expression was wistful. “I am glad they did, but it is a shame it has been so long since they have been able to visit.”
Suddenly, Theo had a thought. “Did your mother receive an invitation?”
His brows shot up. “I have no idea. It didn’t even occur to me to ask. However, I shall do so when I see her today.”
Mick took his watch out and glanced at it. That was the signal to go home. “I must be going.”
“We will all go,” Sarah said and smiled shyly at Lord Marrow, who returned the gesture. That was a good sign.
As they rode toward the gate, Theo sidled her mare up to Chandos’s stallion. “Would you like to join us for breakfast?”
“I would, but I’ll smell like horse.”
“That is nothing to worry about. Thorton will send for your valet while you bathe.” Fortunately, Matt had had pipes run to the two bathing chambers they now had in the house.
“Thank you.” Chandos appeared uncertain. “If you are sure it’s no trouble.”
“None at all. It has been done before.” She almost said that most of her brothers-in-law had broken their fast with them, but he was not looking to marry, and she did not want him to think that she was interested.
They had started a good friendship. There was no need to spoil it with misunderstandings.
A short while later, she showed him where the breakfast room was. Her sisters and their husbands, and her nieces and nephews were just taking their seats.
Hugh watched Chandos as if the boy was trying to work something out.
He opened his mouth, but Con put a hand over Hugh’s lips and shook his head.
It did not stop the looks he was casting the duke, but it did stop him from talking.
Theo would have to explain to the children that Chandos was just a friend and nothing more.
All of them were completely capable of asking if she was going to marry him.
They had, after all, been through this scenario before.
“Chandos,” Matt said. “We’re having a meeting to discuss legislation later this morning. Would you like to join us?”
“Thank you. I would. It’s high time I became an active member of the Lords.”
“Excellent. We will meet at eleven. We generally have luncheon here as well.”
“That sounds good. I’ll tell my staff not to expect me.”
That was odd. Theo thought he would go to his club for luncheon.
“We plan to be here for luncheon as well,” Charlotte said. “There are some things I must see to this morning.”
Theo drank the last of her tea. “Charlotte, if you are visiting the charity in Richmond today, I would like to accompany you.”
“Yes, I will be happy to have you join us.” She patted her lips with the serviette. “I will be back to pick you up within the hour.”
Chandos stood. “I should be on my way as well.” Theo started to push her chair back. “Allow me.”
“Thank you.” She smiled. “I shall walk you out.”
When they reached the front door, the butler opened it. Chandos looked as if he would take her hands, then he bowed. “I suppose I’ll see you at luncheon.”
“Yes, I suppose you will. Did you like breaking your fast with us?” For some reason, she was sorry to see him go.
“Yes, indeed. I had a lovely time.”
“I will see you later.”
He strolled out the door and down the steps.
Instead of his horse, his curricle had arrived.
Well, that made sense. He would not want to ride after having bathed and changed.
She turned and walked back into the house as the children were making their way up the stairs.
“Wait. There is something I want to tell you.”
They all stopped and turned to face her.
“Chandos is just a friend. Nothing more. So, there is no reason to ask if we are going to marry. We are not.”
Constance gazed at Theo. “We will not say a word.” She poked her twin’s side. “Will we, Hugh?”
“No. Now that I know, I won’t mention it.”
The other children nodded in agreement, then resumed their way to the schoolroom.
“Thank you.” Theo sighed softly. “Have a good day of classes.”
Once they had attained the first landing, she went to her chamber to change into a carriage gown. She had not been to the Richmond house since last year. Would anything be different?
Probably only the faces. As soon as they could, the residents who wished to leave were placed in jobs and suitable housing found.
Leo tooled his curricle out of the square.
If he was going to begin taking an interest in the Lords, he had to find a secretary.
It was a damned shame his father’s secretary had retired.
First, he’d ask his mother, then the gentlemen with whom he was meeting at Worthington House.
Leo pulled up in front of his house on Park Lane, and a groom came running to take his equipage.
The door opened as he went up the steps.
Hoover, his butler, bowed as he strode in. “Is her grace at home?”
“I believe she is still in the breakfast room, your grace.”
“Thank you.” That was one thing about Mama, she did not remain in her chambers to dine. A footman stationed at the door opened it. It had never before struck him how many servants he had opening and closing doors for him. “Mama.”
She glanced up from a newssheet. “Yes, dear. Good morning.”
“Good morning. I must find a secretary. Do you have any ideas of who would be suitable?”
“That was not something I expected to be asked. Let me give it some thought. I am certain I must know of someone. How was your breakfast?”
“Thank you. Breakfast was interesting. I have been invited to a meeting with Worthington and his brothers-by-marriage concerning some bills. I intend to take my seat in the Lords.”
Her eyes widened in approval. “I am glad. It is what your father would have wanted.”
It’s what Theo would expect as well. “It occurred to me that if I’m going to be doing the political work as well as attend to my estates, I’ll need help.”
“I agree. It’s a shame your father’s secretary decided to retire.”
Exactly what he’d been thinking. “Mother, he was older than Father.”
She shrugged. “That’s true. I will go up now and see what I can do.”
“I’ll also ask at my meeting. One of the gentlemen must have an idea.” At least Leo hoped they did. “I’ll be in my study.”
Mama rose. “If I find anyone, I will send a note to you.”
“Thank you.” He walked over to her and bussed her cheek.
Striding into his study, he sighed at the amount of work to be done.
Unlike in previous years, he’d ordered that he be consulted on all decisions.
He might have taken on more than he could reasonably handle from here.
He sat behind the large oak desk his father had used and his father before him.
And probably more than that. Some enterprising lad had carved his initials into the top corner.
Leo had been promising himself that he’d find out who it was, but he hadn’t had an opportunity.
He was finishing up what he could do before his meeting, when his butler knocked on the door.
“Come.”
Hoover handed him a note. “Your grace said to give you this.”
Leo opened it.
Chandos,
There are two young men who might be suitable.
The first is Mr. Robert Howard, He is the son of Lord Howard.
Mr. Howard was supposed to have gone into the church and completed the education, but found it was not to his taste.
He is in Town now looking for tutoring positions.
The second is Mr. Horace Whiting. He is the son of Viscount Whiting.
He was acting as a secretary to one of the Foreign Office ministers, but did not want to leave England at this time because of his grandmother’s health. They are, apparently, very close.
Mama
Whiting sounded promising. Experience was helpful.
Leo would ask at the meeting if anyone knew him or the other gentleman for that matter.
He made neat stacks of the papers he still needed to read and tugged the bellpull for Hoover to send out the others and to bring his carriage around.
Then again, he could walk faster, and it might clear his head.
Hoover entered the study. “Your grace?”
“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.”
St. Albans cleared his throat. “Ah, you are in love with her. I know she won’t marry without that. It was on their list.”
Love? List? Leo’s cravat was suddenly too tight. “What list?”
“Alice, Eleanor, and Madeline had a list. I assume Theo must have one as well. It’s normal things. For them. But I do know that none of them will wed unless it’s a love match.”
Love. Leo hadn’t thought of being in love. He wanted her and admired her and would not wed another. Was that being in love? Who could tell him?
“I had to ask my mother about it.” St. Albans flushed as if he was embarrassed. “She called me a great fool for not knowing.”
Leo might have to ask his mother as well. “Once that’s established, I suppose the only other hurdle is the settlement agreement.”
“Don’t bother. Worthington has an agreement he uses for all the sisters. He won’t diverge from it.”
That was odd. “How is that possible? Everyone has different assets and levels of wealth.”
“It works on percentages. Trust me when I say that he will have a very good idea of your holdings and liabilities.”
He understood. “His man of business.”
St. Albans nodded. “And that’s not all. My father almost choked when he discovered that if we had a child and anything happened to me that Alice would have guardianship.”
As much as Leo’s father trusted his mother, he knew for a fact that she would not have had guardianship over him. From what Stanwood had said, Worthington’s father had not given his sisters’ mother guardianship over them. “How did that come about?”
“From what I’ve been told, it began with Merton and Dotty.”
“Dotty?”
“Lady Merton. I forgot that you aren’t in the habit of calling the ladies by their first names.
At any rate, Merton is a cousin and he and Worthington didn’t get on well at all.
Her father was still in the country, and Worthington was designated to draw up the agreements.
With Sir Henry consenting to certain parts.
” They turned a corner, and St. Albans stopped talking.
“Go on.”
“Worthington wanted to make sure that Dotty would be treated well. So, Merton had to sign the agreement if he wanted to wed Dotty. That is how it’s been ever since.”
“And in order for you to be able to wed your wife your father had to agree?” Leo couldn’t see it. St. Albans’s father was as difficult as they came.
“Had to if he wanted me to produce an heir. Alice and I made a decision that we’d present a united front. Along with Worthington, of course.”
“Interesting.” If Leo could win Theo, he didn’t care what was in the damned agreements. It was the love thing that bothered him.
Fortunately, they arrived at Worthington House and the conversation ended. Or was it fortunate? Leo still didn’t know if what he was feeling was love or not. He’d better work it out damned soon.