“Excellent.” Eleanor glanced at Alice and Madeline. “That makes three sets for which we have partners.”
Now, at least, Madeline would have a partner for one set that did not include her sisters’ suitors. Then another thought occurred to her. If he was attending Almack’s, did that mean he was also looking for a wife? That thought prompted her next one. She had just met a gentleman who did not meet her mother’s requirements. Madeline gave herself a mental shake. He was handsome and obviously intelligent, but that did not mean she was attracted to him.
The tea tray arrived, and Eleanor poured. “Have you attended any of the sessions yet?”
Harry took a cup from Eleanor and handed Lady Madeline one as well. Keeping busy was the only thing that was stopping him from staring at her. Even the word “beautiful” did not seem to be sufficient. And how should he address her? Should he call her Lady Madeline? After all, he had not been raised around her, as he had been with the twins and the rest of the Carpenter family. On the other hand, the Viverses and Carpenters had made themselves into one family and expected to be treated as such. “Yes. I’ve been fortunate that I didn’t have to immediately look for lodgings and could start attending directly.” He grimaced slightly. “I will have to find a place soon, though. As much as I enjoy staying with Merton and Dotty, it is only temporary.”
Madeline tilted her head, and her nicely shaped brows wrinkled. “I must suppose that you have the freedom to come and go as you wish.”
“Oh, yes. But that is not the issue. I do not feel as if I should take over their house by inviting colleagues to meet there.” Should he tell her he was also looking for a wife? His grandmother had explained how helpful it would be for him to have one. Then again, that might make things awkward. He didn’t know her as well as he did the twins, and he was almost certain he didn’t want to know her in the same manner. The twins were like younger sisters to him.
“I understand.” She took a sip of tea. “Hopefully, you will soon find something to your taste.”
“I share your wish. Merton has his secretary helping me.” As she bit into a lemon biscuit, and when her tongue peeked out to catch a crumb, Harry became distracted by the deep pink of her lips. “Have you done anything interesting yet?”
Madeline shook her head. “The Season is just starting. We have developed the habit of riding early in the morning. It is the only time we can get in a good gallop.”
That was interesting. “What time do you go?”
She swallowed the last of her biscuit and delicately wiped her hands on the serviette. “As it is just getting light.”
That would give him enough time to ride and arrive on time at Parliament. And to get to know her. He glanced at the twins and Dotty. They were involved in their own conversation and not paying any attention at all to him and Lady Madeline. When she’d first entered the parlor, he was stunned at how lovely she was. Chestnut curls framed her perfectly oval face, and those eyes. They shone like polished lapis. Then he’d reminded himself that she was the same age as the twins, and for the life of him, he could not think of them as of an age to wed. Still, he was attracted to Madeline in a way he hadn’t been to another lady, and he’d met plenty of them in Bristol. Riding would be a perfect way to learn more about her.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. “Would you mind if I joined you?”
Her brows rose slightly. “Not at all. Two other gentlemen ride with us when they can rise in time.” That last part was said in a rather disgusted tone. “You are welcome to join us.”
Harry could see there would be no shirkers for Lady Madeline. “Thank you.” Dotty was putting on her gloves. “Should I call you Lady Madeline or Madeline?”
His question seemed to surprise her. “You do not use rank when you address Alice and Eleanor. We are sisters. Therefore, there is no reason to use rank with me.”
Except, perhaps, in a formal setting such as a ball or Almack’s. Still, the lack of formality would make his interactions with her easier. “Thank you.” Dotty rose and he stood. “I shall see you in the morning.”
Madeline gave him a curious look. “I look forward to it.”
His sister hugged the twins and Madeline. “Thank you for tea. We are making the rounds today.” Dotty gave them a conspiratorial look. “Grandmamma has ordered me to marry him off.”
Eleanor and Alice grinned wickedly, and Alice said, “You are welcome to join us in making your come out.”
Harry almost groaned. Leave it to Alice to make that comparison, and for his sister to tell everyone he was looking for a wife.
“Were you not on the Town before?” Eleanor frowned, as if she was trying to remember.
“For a short time after university.” Harry remembered his father saying that he’d not sponsor him to run wild and gamble in Town. “I was here for a month or so.” Just long enough to understand what his father meant. “But I already had an offer with a prestigious firm of barristers in Bristol and had to take up my position.”
“I am sure you will be fine,” Madeline said. “Dotty and Merton will be able to advise you.”
He bowed to her. “You are correct, of course. I am relying on them.”
“Come along.” His sister looped her arm though his. “We have a great many people to see today.”
The girls—he stopped himself; they were not girls any longer—the ladies accompanied them to the door, and he bowed to the three of them, but he found his gaze lingering on Madeline. “I enjoyed tea and spending some time with you.”
“I am sure we will see you soon,” Alice said.
“You will.” Harry wasn’t going to mention riding with them. “We’ll see you later.”
He helped Dotty into her high-perch phaeton and went around to the other side to climb in. “Is there any reason you decided to announce I was seeking a spouse?”
She patted his hand. “My dear brother, I rarely do anything without a reason.”
It was starting to occur to him that he didn’t know his sister as well as he thought he did. “Would you mind telling me what it was?”
She nodded to the groom to release the horses, and they started down the street and turned out of Berkeley Square. “You are not a peer and will probably never be one. You do not have a significant fortune, and you are a Member of Parliament.” That explained his situation succinctly. “Ergo, you must find a lady who is willing to accept you, not your status.” She glanced at him. “Your assets are that you are very good-looking, you are the grandson and nephew of a duke, and you are personable. You also have expectations.”
He nodded, more to himself than to her, as she was paying attention to her horses. “I can afford some of the elegancies of life, but not all of them.”
“Precisely,” Dotty said in a tone of approval. “That also means you do not have to marry an heiress.”
He hadn’t thought of that. “Thus making me more acceptable than not.”
She flashed him a quick smile. “It is better to separate the wheat from the chaff early on. The young ladies and their parents will know what they can expect from you.”
“In other words, I am eligible, but not highly eligible.” He shouldn’t feel disgruntled about that, but he did. “At least I won’t have to wonder if a lady is interested in me or my status.”