Madeline’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “You might find autumn does as well.”
He started the horses. “This is my first trip around the Park. I’ll need your advice.”
Her lapis-blue eyes widened, and he struggled to keep his eyes on the pair. “Depending on how many are in Town, it could be quite crowded. We might do well to make one trip around the carriage way.”
Harry wondered how long that would take, and if he could keep her with him longer. “Have you ever been to Gunter’s?”
“Yes, of course.” Her lips broadened into a wide smile.
“Excellent. Is it worth a visit?”
“Definitely. What a shame you have never gone. The ices are wonderful!”
Aha. He’d found something she liked. “If you do not mind, could we go after our ride today?”
Madeline clapped her hands together. “That would be perfect!”
She was perfect. He grinned at her. “That is exactly what we’ll do.”
By the time they had eaten their ices, he would’ve been able to discover which balls and other entertainments she was attending.
CHAPTER THREE
Madeline could almost taste the ices. How sad Harry had never had them. They entered the gates and, as she feared, it was crowded. “It will take us an age to get around.”
He gave her a surprised look. “Not if everyone keeps going.”
She almost laughed, but that would be unkind. His sisters ought to have warned him. “But that is the problem. We will be stopped a hundred times or more by people we know.”
“People you know.” His tone reminded her of dry sand. “You forget, I am acquainted with almost no one.”
He must truly think he would be an unknown. Madeline would be shocked if that was the case. “I think you will be surprised. You did attend school and university.”
“I didn’t know anyone in Bristol when I first arrived,” he mumbled.
“London is not Bristol.” It was an interesting and an almost delightful feeling to be more experienced than he was in something so commonplace. She almost added, “We shall see.” But that would sound too much like the older matrons.
“That is true.” He grimaced as a blond-haired gentleman on a gray gelding rode up and nodded to her. “Stern, is that you? I haven’t seen you since I left Oxford.”
“Salforth.” Harry’s clipped tone indicated he was not happy to see the gentleman. “I’m sorry to hear about your father.”
The duke’s smile disappeared. “As am I. He was a grand old gentleman.”
“Old” was the key word. The former duke had not married until he was past his fiftieth year. Madeline waited until Harry remembered the introduction.
He glanced at her and pulled a face. “My lady, allow me to introduce the Duke of Salforth. Harry turned to the duke. “Salforth, this is Lady Madeline Vivers.”
The duke’s brows came together as he bowed. “Lady Madeline, a pleasure.”
Why did he look as if he did not approve? “It is nice to meet you, your grace. I too am sorry about your father.”
“We must be off.” Harry picked up the ribbons before the duke could respond. “I’m with m’sister at Merton House for the time being.”
“Will I see you at White’s?” the duke asked.
“Not unless I want to be shot by my own father,” Harry retorted. “We must be going.”
The duke doffed his hat. “My lady.”
Her mother passed in a carriage and gave a little wiggle of her fingers. Madeline was suddenly glad she had seen the duke. Although to her he seemed a little strange. Almost as if he did not approve of Harry.
He started them forward again and groaned. “So much for me not being acquainted with anyone in Town. You were right.”
Two gentlemen approached the carriage on foot. One of medium height, with medium brown hair and brown eyes. The other was taller than his friend, with dark brown hair and medium blue eyes.
“I say, Stern,” the shorter gentleman said. “You here?”
“As you see.” Harry inclined his head. “Hereford, Bury, I haven’t seen you for a while.”
“Well, if you hadn’t buried”—he poked the taller man’s side with his elbow—”yourself in Bristol, was it? You would have.”
The gentlemen glanced at her, and Harry said, “My lady, may I present the Earl of Hereford and Viscount Bury?”
Madeline inclined her head. “Gentlemen, it is nice to meet you.”
“Hereford, Bury, Lady Madeline Vivers.”
“I say, Lady Madeline”—Lord Hereford stepped in front of Lord Bury, who returned the favor, and the argument began.
But before she heard much of it, Harry had started the horses again. “I’m not stopping the next time. They can all go to the devil.”
Madeline couldn’t hold back her laughter. She did manage to make sure it was not loud enough to cause anyone to look. “You have an interesting group of friends.”
“School.” His voice was full of loathing.
“Look!” She pointed her chin at the gate. “We’re almost there.”
“Henry Stern!”
His shoulders slumped. “Dotty, I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I do not know what you think you are doing, but you cannot race your—or rather my—carriage through the Park during the Grand Strut.” She glanced at Madeline. “Are you crying?”
She had taken out her handkerchief because she was laughing so hard. “No. Not at all. I am laughing. He has such—such . . .” Madeline searched for a good description of his friends. “School chums.”
“She met Salforth, Hereford, and Bury. I’m just glad Ashford wasn’t with them.”
Dotty’s brows inched up to her hairline. “In that case, do not look now. Shall I waylay him while you make your escape?”
“Yes, please.” He blew her a kiss. “Thank you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “No racing out of the Park.”
He kept to a sedate pace as Madeline worked on recovering her countenance. “Do you count them as friends or acquaintances?”
Harry slid her a look. “The more accurate description is the one you used, school chums. They were jolly good fun, and I needed some of that. I always knew I had to have a profession, and I’d disappoint my father if my grades weren’t to his standards.”
Knowing how high Sir Henry’s standards were, she understood the burden he’d carried. “They flittered their way through school while you had to actually study.”
“Indeed.” He gave her a rueful smile. “There were times I desperately needed the diversions they came up with. Salforth is a real friend, or was.” He shrugged. “We drifted apart after we left Oxford. Then he took offense after I won a case against him.”
It was a shame to allow possibly helpful friendships to fade away. “Would it not be worth it to rekindle your acquaintance? It is possible he might come over to your way of thinking.”
Harry pulled up to Gunter’s and signaled to one of the many servers dashing back and forth from the carriages and to others eating outside. “I could try. I should have Dotty invite him to dine with us one evening.”