She drew in a deep breath. Could this really be happening? The duke was a constant topic of discussion in drawing rooms all across the city, which meant news of this drive would travel quickly. Even if he wasn’t intending to court her, Alice’s social stock would climb several points just from being seen with him.

Which sounded callous, yet that was the way of these things. Society judged a woman by the company she kept, hence the bevy of callers at Mrs. Astor’s house each afternoon. They were all clamoring for the right attention from the right people as a way to guarantee acceptance. Alice had never breached this upper echelon of High Society. Her mother wasn’t well liked and Alice hadn’t fallen in with the right crowd of debutantes. Instead, she’d remained on the outskirts, biding her time and waiting for someone to notice her.

Perhaps someone finally had.

She cast a surreptitious glance at Lockwood as he handed her up into the carriage. Classically handsome, people said about him. One of the houseguests in Newport suggested he had a face that belonged on coins. Alice didn’t care about looks as much as finding a man who was kind. Thoughtful and caring. Someone who made her laugh. A cruel husband would be worse than none at all. So, what kind of man was the Duke of Lockwood?

They settled on the seat, with Lockwood pressed tight to her right side. The June air was warm but not stifling and there was a soft breeze. The wheels began turning, taking them uptown toward the park.

“How is your mother?” he asked. “I trust she is well.”

“She’s in Boston. My father asked her to come home for a few days.”

“And she left you alone?” His voice sharpened with disapproval. “That hardly seems appropriate. Or safe.”

“As you saw, everyone in the hotel watches out for me. I’m in no danger.”

“That is ridiculous. An elevator operator or domestic won’t protect you in the corridors or, God forbid, if someone breaks into your room.”

He genuinely seemed concerned about her safety, which touched her. “I keep my door locked at all times and never open it to a stranger. And my maid is there, of course.”

“She wasn’t around today, and I found you wandering the halls.”

Was he worried she was engaged in scandalous behavior? Of course, she had been an hour ago . . . but that was a rarity. Alice wasn’t like Maddie—or worse, Nellie Young. She wasn’t a rule-breaker. Propriety was of the utmost importance to a duke, so she must impress on him her understanding of the conventions. “Your Grace, I am not one to spit in the eye of etiquette. I would never risk my safety—or my reputation.”