The Sport of Matchmaking by Jennie Goutet

Author:Jennie Goutet [GOUTET, Jennie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jennie Goutet

The next morning, Alice came downstairs, expecting to accompany her mother to Lady Jersey’s house, as was their custom. Her mother was not in the hall, so Alice went into the drawing room in search of her.

The duchess was seated, and she gestured to the sofa next to her. “Have a seat, Alice.”

Alice remained frozen, staring at her mother in puzzlement. “Why are we not paying morning calls?”

Her mother rested her hands on her lap. “I thought we would stay in today and receive people rather than go out on morning calls. Sit.”

She obeyed, her brow furrowed. “Mother, anyone who is on intimate-enough terms to pay us a morning call will expect that we are out, as we invariably pay morning calls the day after Almack’s.”

Her mother’s expression was impossible to read. “I have let it be known that we are entertaining today, so I expect that some will come and visit us.”

Alice knit her brows, absorbing this highly unusual turn of events. She wondered who her mother considered close enough to visit. She doubted Miss Chauncey would be on the list, and Alice had not had time to beg Cleda to come.

A knock sounded on the front door, and her mother’s expression grew tight, so that she was almost frowning with anticipation. A frisson of nerves coursed through Alice. This was unusual-enough behavior from her mother that a sense of foreboding struck her.

Horace entered the room and announced, “Lord Hicks to see you, Your Grace.”

Alice turned a stunned gaze to her mother, who stood. Alice stood as well. Surely, he could not be here on her mother’s invitation. Her mother had never spoken of the earl before.

Lord Hicks bowed before the duchess and then before Alice with murmurs of, “Your Grace” and “My lady.” Her mother invited him to take a seat, which he did. He looked around the drawing room. “Very tastefully done, Your Grace.”

Alice’s mother accepted the compliment with a nod. “It is a particular passion of mine, although I have not had this room done since my early days as duchess. I shall have to redecorate it soon.”

“There is no need to make any change, Your Grace,” Lord Hicks assured her. “It is perfect as it is.”

Alice looked from one to the other, barely able to conceal her surprise. What was Lord Hicks doing here?

Her mother stood. “I shall see that the tea is brought. I won’t be but a moment.”

Although her mother always rang for tea, in this instant, she left the room, to Alice’s considerable dismay.

Lord Hicks turned in his chair to face her, a smile pasted on his lips. She looked at him, attempting to master her growing alarm so it would not be apparent in her rigid features. An awkward silence fell as he studied her. At last, he sat back and put his hands together.

“It appears to me you are not aware of my objective in calling today.”

“I am afraid I am not, my lord.” Alice glanced at him, now fearing—almost knowing—what it would be.

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