“Do you think Mrs. Roberts could remain with her, and that we could send them to Richmond?”
Dotty raised a brow. “Could I finish my tea before we have this conversation? Get your breakfast. I’ll be done by the time you sit back down.”
Henrietta went to the sideboard and selected two baked eggs. Once she had regained her seat, she took a piece of toast from the rack, then waited for her sister to finish the cup of tea.
“Now I am ready for this conversation.” Dotty rubbed her stomach. “The baby was quite active last night.”
“Ah.” It wasn’t until then that Henrietta noticed dark smudges under her sister’s eyes. No wonder Dotty was a bit surly. “Forgive me. I seem to have had nothing on my mind but Meggie.”
“That is understandable.” Dotty poured another cup of tea and placed a piece of toast on her plate. “I’m not happy with what occurred, but you behaved just as you ought. Merton went out early this morning to discover what he could about the man you shot.”
After hearing about Meggie’s condition, Henrietta had no regrets over shooting the man. “I hope I did not kill him.”
“We shall find out sooner or later.” For a few minutes they were silent as they ate. Then her sister said, “You have an appointment at the modiste today.”
“I remember.” What she had forgotten to do was send a message around to her friend, Dorie, who she had met a year ago and was now married to the Marquis of Exeter, asking if she would like to join her. “At eleven.”
Dotty nodded. “I might go back to bed for a while. I do not remember Vivi being this active. I feel as if I am being beaten up from inside.”
Unable to offer an opinion, Henrietta applied herself to her breakfast.
Her sister rose first. “Take the town coach and a footman. I will see you when you return.”
She nodded and finished her second cup of tea before writing to Dorie.
By eleven they were at Madame Lisette’s shop, looking at the latest styles inLa Belle Assembleé.
“The skirts are much wider at the bottom,” Henrietta mused, wondering if she was too short to wear them.
“They are,” Dorie, who was a few inches taller, agreed.
“Bonjour.” Madame was a slim, fashionable Frenchwoman with dark hair and eyes. She glanced at the gown Dorie and Henrietta were studying. “It will be very nice on Lady Exeter, but Miss Stern, we must do something else for you.”
It was nice to be proven right even if she would not be dressed in the newest of fashion. “That is exactly what I had thought.”
“Never fear.Moi,I know what I am doing.” Madame ushered Henrietta behind a curtain into a room where one of her workers waited. “I do not believe your measurements have changed much, but we will see.”
After her measurements were confirmed, Madame took Henrietta to a room where she had drawings stacked on a long table. The sketches depicted everything from day dresses to evening gowns. There was another stack of fabric samples. Not that Henrietta had much choice in colors. They all had to be pale. As far as she was concerned, she had enough day dresses, but it was important to have new clothing for entertainments, walking, and carriage rides. In the end, the order was larger than she expected it would be. But the time it took to order all the gowns was not nearly as long as it had been at the beginning of last Season.
She joined Dorie in the waiting area. “Are you ready to visit Hatchards?”
“Yes. I forgot to tell you that I heard from Georgie. She and Turley will arrive within a few days or a week if not sooner.” Dorie grinned. “She complained that Turley is treating her as if she is an invalid.”
“There is no surprise there.” Exeter had done the same with Dorie, and Littleton had been almost as bad with Adeline. “It will be good to see her again.” At least they would have three of the original five of them together. “I suppose there is no point in even attempting to talk Adeline into coming to Town.”
“That would be a waste of time and effort.” Dorie rose and shook out her deep pink skirts.
Lady Adeline Wivenly had married Lord Littleton late last spring. Since then the only time they had come to Town was when Georgie Featherton had wed Viscount Turley in the autumn. Now Adeline was the mother of twins, a boy and a girl, and Georgie was in a delicate condition. Until they had gradually married, the five of them had been inseparable. This Season would be much different. Henrietta was the only unmarried one. And seeing how happy her friends were, she hoped she would find a gentleman she could envision herself living with for the rest of her life. But that would mean someone new would have to come to Town. None of the gentlemen she had met last Season had interested her. Once again, her mind reflected back on the country gentleman. It was too bad that he was not likely to be here for the Season. She would have enjoyed getting to know him better. Henrietta considered telling her friend about the gentleman she had met, but what was the point when he was not in Town?
* * *
Sometime after luncheon, a dog’s bark roused Nate, and he strode to the hall. His butler, secretary, valet, and Padraig were gathered there.
“Cook is here with us. Her ladyship will be here tomorrow,” Hulatt said. “Her ladyship decided to use the smaller carriage, but stopped in Stevenage when we saw your coach.”
“Very well.” Nate wondered why she hadn’t waited. As much as he loved his mother and enjoyed her company, he had wanted a day or two to settle in before she arrived. Padraig leaned against Nate’s leg, and he stroked the dog’s head. His valet, carrying two satchels, had one foot on the stairs. “Styles.”
“Yes, my lord.”
