“White’s?”
Realizing she would have to tell them the whole sordid tale, she said, “While I was walking in front of White’s, I saw a man in the bow window watching me. I had heard that gentlemen do that and then rate the women who walk by with numbers, and I decided I wanted to know how I ranked, and so I marched up the steps to the front door—”
“You didn’t!” Anthony whispered in awe.
“Mother!” Andrew chimed in.
“I was... incensed. Angry. I asked to see whoever it was in the window, and the butler disappeared and your father came to the door with his coat and hat and acted as if he was expecting me. Called me ‘my sweeting’ and apologized to me for losing track of time.”
“What?” The twins exchanged curious glances.
“Exactly my reaction,” Diana countered, glad she wasn’t alone in her shock. “I’d never seen him before, but... well, he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my entire life. He escorts me down the street—”
“What was your number?”
Diana blinked. “What?”
“What was the number Father assigned to you?” Andrew asked, his features displaying his humor.
“He claimed ignorance of the practice,” she replied with a shrug. “But he has since said I am a ten.”
The twins displayed their disappointment with furrowed brows. “So then what happened?” Andrew asked.
Diana once again blushed. “Once he learned I wasn’t married or otherwise betrothed, he kissed me.”
Staring at her as if they expected she would continue with the story, Diana realized the comment about kissing didn’t seem as scandalous to them as it had been for her.
Well, it had been over two decades ago.
“He kissed me at the corner of St. James and Jermyn Streets,” she stated. “In front of everyone and the gods. And then, when he comes up for air, he calls out ‘She saidyes!’ as if he’d proposed marriage to me. Which he hadn’t.”
Although Andrew seemed thoroughly entertained by the story and chuckled at the last comment, Anthony’s brows had furrowed, and he seemed deep in thought.
“Oh, dear. What ever are you scheming?” Diana asked of her oldest son.
Anthony gave a start. “I was thinking that perhaps I should have made sure there were crowds of people about when I kissed Lady Dahlia on the lips. When I proposed,” he whispered. “Except there wasn’t anyone there but the Norwick House groom. At least, I didn’t think there was.”
His mother brightened. “You asked Lady Dahlia for her hand? Why, you must have done so whilst I was paying a call at Norwick House.”
Andrew glanced over at Anthony. “When didyoupropose to Dahlia?”
His brother rolled his eyes. “Right after you proposed to Danielle, at least, according to Lord Norwick.”
His eyes rounding in shock, Andrew stared at his brother a moment. “If you only just asked Lady Dahlia a few minutes ago—?”
“It’s been mayhap a half-hour,” Anthony corrected.
“Mayhap forty minutes for me,” Andrew countered, his mouth left open in shock. “How did he get to you so quickly? He didn’t have a horse with him. At least, I didn’t see one.”
Anthony considered his brother’s query and then scoffed. “He wasn’t on horseback when he stopped me under the arch,” he replied. “Maybe he has a twin,” he murmured.
Diana gave a start at hearing this last and then shook her head. Her dark brows furrowed, though, as her mouth dropped open. “I only just returned from speaking with Lady Norwick about a half-hour ago,” she murmured.
“So?” Anthony asked.
“Well, Lord Norwick was in his study. He saw me as I was taking my leave,” she said before she placed a hand over her middle.
Had she imagined the earl saying his greetings to her as she passed by the open door to his study? Perhaps the baby had her seeing things. She straightened on her chair and lifted her chin. “Now, you two didn’t come all the way up here to learn the story of how I met your father, so... besides letting me know you were home, why did you?”
