St. Albans had gone to Lady Alice and said something that made her laugh. John needed to think of something witty to say. Once again, he wished he’d spent time on the Town. But he hadn’t wanted to leave his father as Papa’s health declined. “Are you up to another gallop?”

“Yes.” Finally she gave him a real smile. “I’d like that. To the willow.” She took off again, fluidly moving as one with her horse.

“Drat the woman,” he muttered to himself as he rushed to catch up with her again. This was going to be a lot more work than he thought it would be.

She pulled up to the tree and her eyes widened as he arrived on her tail. “Back again? I must take advantage of the fact that few people are in the Park. At some point my sisters and I will have to come earlier.”

John patted Aramus’s neck. “I hadn’t thought of it, but I daresay you are correct.” Even he knew that ladies were not supposed to gallop when Polite Society was present. But he was becoming tired of being left in her wake. “On the count of three?”

“Very well.” She settled more securely on her horse. “One, two, three.”

This time he was ready, and Aramus kept pace with her mare until they reached the chestnut tree again, but the others were not there. “Where did they go?”

“The Serpentine.” Lady Eleanor pointed toward the river. “Here they come now. We frequently ride that way as well.”

He wondered if she preferred the country to Town. “You must ride a great deal when in the country.”

“We ride every day.” She appeared a little wistful. “That is one of the things I miss when we’re in Town. Yet there are many things we can do here that we cannot do there.”

She probably meant shopping. According to both his sister and mother, the shopping in London was far superior to any other city in England. “Such as shopping?”

“That is always fun.” Her rosy lips tilted at the corners. “I especially like the bazaars. There are so many different vendors. It is almost like a fair but inside and always there.” She tilted her head slightly and regarded him. “Aside from that, there are museums, theaters, and, of course, bookstores. What do you like to do when in Town?”

“I haven’t been here for a few years.” John was not going to discuss his father with her. Not yet. “I too needed to do a bit of shopping. And I remember visiting the theaters and the British Museum and Hatchards when I was younger. But now I have duties in the Lords to which I must attend.”

“My brother and brothers-in-law do as well.” Lady Eleanor gave him a look he couldn’t interpret. “They seem to derive a great deal of pleasure from it.”