George tipped his hat to the group. “Good day, ladies. A fine day for a walk, is it not?”
The trio curtseyed. “Good day, Lord Spenser,” the young woman with brown hair said.
“Miss Darvey, you look lovely today. Lady Collin, Lady Harriet, may I introduce Miss Darvey to you? She’s the daughter of Viscount Knight. Miss Darvey, this is Lady Collin and Lady Harriet.”
Harriet smiled. “Miss Darvey, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You as well. These are my friends, Miss Adams and Miss Burton,” Miss Darvey said, looking at her companions.
“Pleased to meet you both,” Harriet said.
“We’re on our way to the Pump Room for tea. Would you care to join us?” Eleanor asked.
All three young women nodded, and the group headed down the street. Once inside, George secured a table for everyone.
Harriet was delighted to meet women near her own age and hoped that she’d see them on a regular basis now that they’d been introduced.
“Ladies, are you enjoying your stay in Bath?” George asked after the tea had been served.
All three young lady’s heads swiveled toward the handsome lord. Harriet noticed that Miss Darvey leaned ever so slightly toward him and batted her eyelashes. She knew women considered Lord Spenser handsome, with his dark curly hair and strong jawline. It didn’t hurt that he was tall and broad-shouldered as well. His expressive brown eyes missed very little.
“It’s been quite pleasant so far. Tell me, my lord, do you plan to go to the Assembly Room dance in two days?” Miss Darvey asked.
Harriet noticed that Lord Spenser glanced at her mother a moment before he looked back at Miss Darvey. Why did he look so stricken? She’d seen him dance with lots of young ladies at the Assembly Room. She wondered if it had anything to do with his interest in Miss Weston.
Before he had to commit to the dance, her mother spoke up. “We’ve not settled our calendar as of yet. We must consult with Lady Dalling first.”
Miss Darvey pouted at Lady Collin before she turned and gave Lord Spenser a brilliant smile. “Well, if you do attend, my lord, I shall save you a dance.”
George nodded but didn’t commit to any dances with Miss Darvey or her friends.
“Ladies, I do hope you’ll come visit me soon. We’re living with my grandmother at Dalling Manor,” Harriet said.
Miss Darvey nodded. “Thank you. We’d be delighted.”
They all talked for a while longer before Eleanor stood. “Lovely to meet you all. Good day to you.”
The young women all stood and curtseyed. “Lady Collin, Lady Harriet, Lord Spenser,” Miss Darvey said.
After tea, George escorted Eleanor and Harriet to one of the modiste’s shops. “If you ladies will excuse me, I have a few things to take care of.”
“Of course. Thank you for escorting us, Lord Spenser. We’ll make our own way back to Dalling Manor,” Eleanor said.
George leaned toward Eleanor and whispered something, and her mother nodded. Harriet wondered what he’d said. Did it have anything to do with his stricken look when Miss Darvey asked for a dance? Perhaps his attachment to Miss Weston was more serious than she realized.
“We’ll see you at dinner. Enjoy your afternoon,” Eleanor said.
“Goodbye, Lord Spenser,” Harriet said. She watched him stride down the street. “Mama, was Lord Spenser distressed about Miss Darvey’s request for a dance?”
“Not at all, my darling.”
When her mother didn’t elaborate, she decided not to pursue the subject further. She had her own theory about what had happened and would wait to see if she was correct. They walked into the modiste’s shop and found one of the shop girls in the public room folding some gloves.
“Good day, how may I help you today?” the young woman asked.
“Good day to you,” Harriet said. “I need a new pair of kid gloves.”
“Of course, my lady. There are some lovely pieces to choose from.”
