Albert's stomach twisted into knots. If Penworth disagreed and did not wish him to court his sister, he was unsure what he would do. Would he go against one of the highest-placed peers in England? Would he court Victoria anyway? A rod of steel threaded up his spine, and Albert knew the answer to his own question. Yes, he would.
"We have been friends for many years, and I would welcome your suit toward her. Victoria, however," Penworth grimaced, "is of a mind never to marry again. After Armstrong, I’m sure I do not need to explain that he injured her most severely, both her heart and in society. She has grown more outspoken since the scandal, is lively, and with many hobbies. She has dogs, did you know that?"
Albert knew she had a dog, but he had assumed that it wasn't plural. "I was under the impression she had one."
Penworth chuckled, leaving his chair to pour himself another glass. He offered to Albert, and he shook his head, still drinking his first.
"She has two wolfhounds and seems to think it appropriate that both of them sleep indoors. Not to mention her horses. She has six of those. Are your stables even large enough to house her animals along with yours?"
Six horses. Two dogs. Albert felt his mouth open and close several times before a vision of her entered his mind's eye, and the numbers no longer became a concern for him. "I can always build larger stables, and as for her dogs, I can allocate a room should she wish for them to sleep indoors."
Penworth raised his brow, a wide grin lifting his lips. "Let me assure you the dogs are housetrained. Even so, what of Victoria? I would not like her to be tucked away in the country, away from town every season simply because you prefer your own company. I know we are friends, and I understand that you are not always comfortable in large crowds, but she is. You would not try to keep her here, isolated with only you for company."
"I will tolerate town if that is what she hopes for, but your assumptions are traveling a little too far ahead. I have not declared any intentions toward Victoria, and she hasn't in any way shown an interest in me in a romantic sense. I will breach the conversation with her, but not until I'm certain that there may be some hope for me."
"What will you do if she isn't looking at you with a romantic bent? Armstrong duped her before all society. Married her and fled within weeks of saying ‘I do’. I fear such treatment may make others courting her difficult," the duke stated, finishing his second glass of whiskey.
"I shall be content to be her friend, as I have been, if not a very absent one." Not that Albert wanted to be such a benign gentleman to Victoria, but she was so vivacious, so different to his character, that the thought of them together even made his head spin at times.
Would they suit? That he did not know and could not say, but with her here a few days, he could gauge if there was a possibility for them. He certainly hoped that was the case.
Penworth stood, coming over to the desk and reaching out his hand. Albert shook it in turn. "Then I wish you well, my friend, and I’d be very happy should you secure my sister's affection. Victoria is a wonderful sister and will make a superb wife. You could not have picked better for yourself. Armstrong was a fool to have let her go."
Albert smiled, hope filling him at Penworth's words. Now he just needed to push down the little voice that told him he was imagining such a match and learn how to court a lady. And not just any lady, but the one for him.
Lady Victoria.
Chapter 7
The following day Victoria walked out onto the grounds of Rosedale, heading toward the lake where Lord Melvin was preparing two boats to go out on the water. The day was warm, the air fragrant, no doubt from the beautiful garden that grew off the terrace. She looked back at the house and saw that her mama was comfortably positioned on a small wrought iron chair in the shade of the wisteria, drinking tea and reading the morning's paper.
"Lord Melvin," she called out, waving to him.
He stood, waving back, and for a moment, she studied him. He was dressed in tan buckskin breeches and highly polished hessian boots. His shirt and cravat were highly starched, but the jacket seemed to make him appear casual due to his lack of a waistcoat.
Victoria had long thought him attractive, but seeing him outside of London, outside of everyone's grand home, there was something different about him. His casual appearance, his welcoming smile made her question keeping him as merely a friend. She had known him for several years, her brother's friendship with him had enabled that, but she'd never looked at him with anything but banality.
She hoped to find out if he were the famous writer Elbert Retsek. She wasn't here to try to win a husband, Paul had put paid to such absurd notions, but that did not mean there were not other things she could do. Other options open to her as a widow…
"Lady Victoria, I hope you slept well and enjoyed your breakfast."
Victoria had slept in late and had decided to break her fast in her room and had not seen anyone in the morning. "I did, thank you. The guest beds are very comfortable. I almost forgot where I was sleeping."
He smiled at her, placing two oars in the boat. "I thought we could go boating today if you wish. I have already asked your mama, and she said I might escort you over
