She wondered how hard it was going to be to pry the information she wanted from him. “I understand Lady Eleanor and her sisters are early riders as well. Did you happen to see them?”

“We did indeed. They were on their way out of the Park as we were arriving. Montagu took the opportunity to introduce me to the ladies.” He sipped the cup of tea her mother had poured for him and took a piece of toast. “They are all lovely.”

Well, he definitely was not going to volunteer information. Maybe she could somehow give him permission to talk about John’s interest in Lady Eleanor. “My brother seemed taken by Lady Eleanor when he met her last evening.”

“That was the impression I got this morning.” St. Albans took a mouthful of scrambled eggs. Aurelia supposed he must be hungry after the morning exercise, but she had the information she wanted from him. “I am not one to betray a trust, but I believe Montagu is making a mistake.”

That was a surprise. “In being attracted to Lady Eleanor?”

“No.” He raised a brow. “In thinking he wants a wife of only moderate intelligence. He believes it will be calming. I think he’d be bored within a month, if that long.”

“I completely agree.” What in God’s name was her brother thinking? Then it struck her. “He wants a lady who is not like me.”

“I believe he did say something to that effect.” St. Albans quickly took a drink of tea.

“That does make a certain amount of sense, my dear,” Mama said. “We were all affected when your father died, but John most of all. You were rather hard on him.”

Aurelia had taken it upon herself to keep her twin from falling into melancholia. “Someone had to be. He needed to take up his duties. You and I could only do so much without his approval.” She turned her attention back to St. Albans. “Did you tell him what you thought?”

“Not I. There is no point in telling a gentleman something he must discover on his own.” An almost evil smile appeared on his face. “I did suggest that if he wanted a stupid woman, he must make sure not to show his own intelligence or it might frighten her away.”

That was the most ridiculous thing Aurelia had ever heard. She was about to say just that when her mother started to laugh.

“Oh my,” Mama said after a few moments. “This I cannot wait to see.”

It suddenly dawned on Aurelia the ramifications that might occur when it came to Lady Eleanor. “Oh dear. I have a feeling Lady Eleanor is not at all stupid, or of even moderate intelligence.”