“I–I wasn’t quite sure what to do.” John frowned to himself. His behavior toward Lady Eleanor was not like him at all. “I’ve never been this attracted to a lady before.”

“Nothing odd in that.” His friend started his horse to a trot. “They are all very lovely women. There will be a great many gentlemen vying for their hands.”

“Yes.” Perhaps that was it. Some competitive part of him must have known he should be the first to impress her. But had he? John was trying to appear to be a man who was happy with small talk. Although now that he’d experienced it, he found it frustrating. If only he’d been on the Town when he was younger, he might have developed the knack. On the other hand, they had just met. No one would expect anything but simple conversation at this point. John gave himself a shake. He was worried about nothing.

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

“Dear me,” Madeline said teasingly as they came to a halt in front of Worthington House. “You two already have gentlemen interested in you and there is no one for me.”

“I am not sure about that,” Alice said, sliding down from her mare. “I think Lord St. Albans is a bit too, too”—her brows drew together as she thought—“I cannot find the right word. Worldly? That might be it. He seems too experienced in capturing a lady’s attention.”

Madeline glanced at Eleanor. “What do you think of Lord Montagu?”

What did she think of him? “He is very nice. He asked about our family and told me his is quite small. I think I would like to speak with someone who knows him. It is very easy for anyone to pretend to be something they are not.”

“What do you not like about him?” Madeline asked.

“It is silly of me to expect him to mention political interests at this point.” If he had them. His comment about having children around being fascinating was strange. Busy, yes. Maddening at times, naturally. But fascinating? Eleanor did not think that word applied. If he wanted a wife who was solely interested in her family, she was not the lady for him. It sounded almost as if he was saying something he thought she might like to hear. Yet perhaps she was being too hard on him. After all, she was not in the habit of conversing with gentlemen she did not know well. She and her sisters had practiced on their brothers-in-law, but they certainly were not trying to impress them, and they were not in the habit of saying silly things. That was what it was. He sounded silly.

Eleanor started up the stairs. “We should hurry. Breakfast will be served soon.”