“She can do that as well.”
As they stood before the hippopotamus, Freddy frowned. “What is it, Mr. Cunningham?”
“I heard Byron likened this fellow to Lord Liverpool. By Jove, I believe I do see the resemblance!”
At the end was a creature known as an elephant named Chunee.
“Chunee does not sound like a bold enough name for such a large creature,” Lord Westwood remarked as they watched the enormous grey beast toying with Lord Rotham’s hat, much to her sisters’ amusement. “You are quiet. What do you make of this?”
“A mixture of fascination between seeing the exotic creatures, and disliking the small cages to which they are confined,” Faith replied.
“Rather more humane than my thoughts,” he answered.
After they had seen every animal at the menagerie, they wandered back through some of the shops at the arcade below, but Joy was immediately drawn away. Before Faith realized what was happening, Joy was sitting on the dirty pavement with several kittens on her lap.
“Look, Faith!” She held up one with stripes like a tiger.
“Tigers seem to be the theme of the day. I suppose this was destined to be,” Lord Westwood murmured.
Soon, all of her sisters were holding one, cooing and fawning over the little beasts.
“Please say we may have one!” Joy pleaded before Faith could tell her it was impossible.
“We do not have a home of our own, dearest. Perhaps, when we remove to the country again, we may have a mouser as we did at Halbury Hall.”
“But I will be so lonely while you are at your entertainments! Surely we could have at least one?” Faith could see Joy’s eyes filling with tears and her lower lip beginning to protrude.
“Come along now, we cannot bring kittens to Lady Westwood’s home!”
Joy allowed herself to be brought to her feet and Faith watched as her sisters handed the kittens back to the boy who was trying to sell them for a shilling apiece. What she did not see was Mr. Cunningham’s heartstrings being pulled by the little imp, and giving her the shilling to pay for the miniature tiger, then telling her to hide it under her pelisse.
* * *
Dominic foundhe was enjoying himself. At first, he thought it would be amusing, but he was surprised that none of his wards were simpering misses. Equally, none of them seemed the least bit affected or aware of the attention they were drawing.
However, he realized they would need a great deal of entertainment until they were brought out. Apparently, country girls were not used to being confined indoors.
They rode from the Strand to Berkeley Square, where the famous Gunter’s happened to be near his Town residence. He suspected during his wards’ stay in London there would be a great many visits to the confectionery. While he did not care for sweetmeats himself, it was a rare lady that did not.
The square was crowded in the late afternoon and he prepared himself for an invasion. He was not to be disappointed. No sooner had they drawn up their vehicles, and the waiters had come to take their selections, than a barrage of people made their way over for introductions on the slimmest of pretences.
“Everyone in Town is certainly friendlier than I expected,” Faith remarked in a small pause between visitors.
“Curious, more like.”
“I will never remember all of their names.”
“Think of some silly things to help you. Poodle Byng is easy, of course, because he always has that silly dog with him. But I find there are often idiosyncrasies with everyone if you can but find them. Take your new acquaintance, Lady Jersey, for instance. Her nickname is Silence because she never stops talking.”
“Oh, that is too cruel!” Faith protested.
“That is too true,” he countered, making her laugh.
“Tell me some more,” she begged as a waiter brought their ices. He had selected the Gruyère for her and could not wait to see what she thought of it.
“My, how dainty these are!” she said, looking at the little dish with a mound of creamed ice and a tiny silver spoon in it.
“It is best to taste them before they melt, you know. They are not only to be admired for their looks.”
