Fortunately, Dorie was already mounted. “It looks like rain.”
Henrietta glanced at the sky. “All the more reason to hurry.”
They urged their horses into trots and in a few minutes entered the Park.
“Gallop?” Dorie asked.
“Yes.” Henrietta had fidgets she was unable to get rid of, and she did not even know the cause of them.
They flew down the carriage way, then off though the trees, coming to a halt near the Serpentine. She leaned down and patted Lilly’s neck. “That was fun.”
“It was,” Dorie agreed, turning her horse. “We should probably head back. Our stable master sent word with my groom that he thought it would be raining within the hour.”
“That is what I thought as well. I hope this is not going to be a wet year.” Only three years before, they did not even have a summer, and that was the least of it. Crops had failed all over England. “How is your son?”
Dorie glanced at Henrietta with her marchioness look on her countenance. “I had a discussion with Nurse, and we have come to a resolution. She will do as I wish unless she believes it threatens David’s health. Then we will discuss the matter.”
“A fair compromise.” Although Henrietta could not for the life of her think of anything her friend would do to harm her own child.
“I agree.” Dorie nodded. “Other than feeding him when he is hungry, we have agreed on a schedule of sorts. Nurse firmly believes that children need to know what to expect in order to be happy.”
“That makes sense too.” Were children raised in other ways? If so, Henrietta did not know of it.
“It does.” Dorie glanced at Henrietta. “I did manage to convince her that my milk was the best for him. My sister-in-law was a great help. Apparently, she had to have the same discussion with my old nurse.”
Henrietta chuckled at an image of nurses rising up to protect the status quo. “It sounds like a revolution of modern mothers. Or perhaps I mean mothers from a certain set. My mother nursed us, and my father supported her fully.”
“Yes, but your father is a Radical,” Dorie pointed out. “I doubt Exeter had given it a second’s thought.”
“True.” If it was up to Henrietta’s father, the peerage would no longer exist. Every citizen would have the right to vote, male and female, and the right to run for office. He would also abolish the laws pertaining to a married woman’s property and identity.
“Who is that?” Dorie was staring across the way. “And what kind of beast is with him?”
Henrietta swung her head around. “An Irish Wolfhound.” Her heart started to beat a rapid tattoo as she took in the dark-haired gentleman on a chestnut horse. It must be the man Merton had seen. But was it her gentleman? “Can we ride a little closer to him without attracting his attention?”
“You think it is him?” Dorie’s eyes seemed riveted on the rider.
“I think it might be.” Henrietta turned her horse toward the man. “Come, we do not need to get very close. I should be able to recognize him.”
Her friend followed suit. “How wonderful if it does turn out to be him. It is a pity that there is still no one to introduce you.”
They closed the distance until she had a better look at the gentleman. “I believe it is the same gentleman.”
“That suit was definitely not made in Town.”
She had to agree with her friend’s opinion. “It was not.”
“He has an excellent seat,” Dorie opined. “I wish I could see his face.”
“If we ride a little to the right, and he is going toward the Grosvenor gate, then we should be able to catch a glimpse of his face.” Or Henrietta hoped they would.
Dorie laughed and clasped a hand over her mouth. “Forgive me. It simply struck me as ridiculous that we are trailing a gentleman. There must be a better way to do this.”
“I am all ears, if you are able to think of one.” Henrietta could not quite keep the sarcasm from her tone.
Just then he turned, and her heart stopped. It was him! She held out her hand to halt her friend, but Dorie had already stopped. “Yes.”
“You are sure?”
“I would know him anywhere.” Now what? Dorie was correct. Henrietta had no one to introduce him to her.
“If we knew who he was or where he lived, I could ask Exeter to discover more about him,” her friend suggested.
“Do you think we could follow him without being seen?” It would be embarrassing in the extreme to be caught following the gentleman.
“It is not as if we are the only ones out.” As if to prove her point, a milk wagon passed by on the road.
“My lady?” Dorie’s groom, who was so discreet Henrietta always forgot he was there, motioned toward the sky. “We need to be going if you don’t want to get wet.”
“There, you see?” She smiled slyly. “We have a perfect excuse.”
“I suppose so.” Why am I so shy about him seeing me? “Of course we do.”
They had almost got right behind him when the heavens opened, and they made a dash into Grosvenor Square and to their respective houses. But when Dorie passed by, the groom was not in sight. Henrietta glanced to her right and saw the servant behind the gentleman. It looked as if she was going to know the identity of her mystery gentleman sooner rather than later.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Nate rose just before dawn and looked out the window. In the east the sky was growing lighter, but clouds impeded the sun’s progress. If he was going riding it was now or never. Padraig shifted in his sleep while Nate donned the clothing his valet had left out.
He slipped his watch into his pocket. “Come on, boy. Let’s go get Darragh.”
The Wolfhound lifted his head and stretched before getting to his feet and stretching again and going to the door. Whoever he married would have to like having dogs in the house. He hoped Miss Stern liked dogs. When they reached the stable, he waved away the stable boy, who was already mucking out the stalls, and saddled his horse.
“Have a good ride, my lord.”
“I only hope I don’t get too wet.” Darragh’s hooves clattered on the cobblestone street.
Soon his little group entered the Park. Nate paused for a moment and gazed around. Most of the trees had buds but wouldn’t be in full leaf for another few weeks. Early spring flowers dotted the lawn, and birds flitted from place to place searching for food. It was the first time he’d been here this early, when no one else was around. He moved the horse forward and let Darragh set the pace. For several minutes the horse went no faster than a walk. Traveling in a wagon must be as tiring on a horse as it was on a human. Perhaps Nate should have waited another day or so. Padraig amused himself by chasing the birds and came back looking pleased with himself.
Now that Nate had a suit of clothes he could go to one of his clubs, but he was undecided as to which one he wanted to visit. White’s would be the most obvious choice. Or would have been. He had a membership at Brooks’s as well, but he’d never been there. He supposed he’d have to decide whether he wanted to brave the chance of running into Worthington or Merton. Early in his time at home, Nate had received letters complaining that his old friend had changed parties and was now a Whig. That was a decision he’d have to make as well. He doubted his current views agreed with the Tories. Most of the laws they passed seemed to benefit themselves and not the populace in general.