They found one group discussing music, another debating poets, and four older men comparing their Grand Tours to their recent travel. Most of those present were her parents and grandmother’s age. “I do not see anyone I know.”
“I’m surprised there is no one discussing politics.”
“That is because the Lords is in session, and the other interested parties are not yet in Town.” She glanced up at him, once again struck by his blue-green eyes. They had to be the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Henrietta led him to a window seat. If they were not interested in any of the other conversations, they could have their own. “Why did Toby come to fetch you yesterday?”
If he was startled by her question, he did not show it. “I went to see Mrs. Perriman to find out how the babe was doing and ended up offering to help when she needed it.” He gave Henrietta a rueful smile. “I did not, though, give her my current name. I told her I was Mr. Meadows. The name I had before I became a peer.”
“I assume you did that to avoid my sister and brother-in-law discovering you are in Town.”
“Yes. You might not think it was well done of me”—he paused and stared out the window for a few moments—“but I believe Merton will remember when I was Mr. Meadows. In any event I am attending a vote in the Lords tomorrow and shall probably see him then.”
Fotherby was a perfectly nice gentleman, and eligible if her family could forgive him. Then again, her grandmother apparently had pardoned him. “If he still doesn’t recognize you, will you make yourself known?”
“I don’t know. On one hand, he would not make a scene in public.” He grimaced. “On the other hand, he could give me the cut direct.”
That was very true, and it would cause a great deal of difficulty for Lord Fotherby. “I wonder what the best way to approach him would be.” Unfortunately, she had no idea. Even if he was not the gentleman for her, he did not deserve to be pilloried for the rest of his life for even extremely stupid behavior.
“Perhaps my mother or your grandmother will know.”
“Perhaps.” Henrietta’s curiosity about yesterday prodded her. “Who did you rescue?”
“A small child and her mother. A man, probably the one who had beaten the young woman, chased after us, shouting threats. The coachman took a roundabout route back to the house, and Mrs. Perriman had the coach pass by the mews, where I got out. She continued on. She wanted to get them out of London.”
“She most likely took them to the house in Richmond. It is far enough away they will be safe, but not so far that she could not travel back that evening.”
“That house has never done so much good. It sat empty for years before I was made to lease it to Merton.”
“That is your property?” Henrietta was shocked. She had never even thought about to whom it belonged. Yet, if she had, she would have believed either Merton or the Phoenix Society owned it.
Fotherby nodded. “Yes.” He gave a quick smile. “For my sins, I was to lease it to Merton for use as a home for widows, orphans, and who knows who else, for a period of ten years. But now, after seeing the good it is doing, I might just give it to the Phoenix Society.”
That was generous indeed. “You will not miss it?”
“How could I when I never truly used it? It was left to me by a relative.” He shrugged. “Houses shouldn’t sit vacant, and that’s what was happening.”
“I am certain the gift will be appreciated.” He smiled down at her, and she wanted to discover what, other than saving people, riding, and politics they had in common. “Are you looking forward to the Season?”
He took a breath and blew it out. “I don’t know. My only plan was to take things one day at a time and see what happened.” He flashed a grin, and Henrietta was again struck by how handsome he was, and how he did not appear to hide himself behind a polite mask. “My mother has put herself in charge of seeing that I am invited to the right entertainments and that I receive vouchers for Almack’s.”
Henrietta couldn’t stop from laughing. “You sound like any young lady making her come out.”
“I suppose I do.” He had a chagrined look on his face. “But I’m not young enough to fritter my time away while I’m here, and it is time I find a wife.”
“I had not thought of it that way for a gentleman. Exeter is the only gentleman of my acquaintance who was in dire need of a wife the moment he returned home.” She told Fotherby about Exeter being shocked that his two younger sisters had been left in his care because his mother had remarried and not taken the girls with her. “Even though Dorie did not originally wish to marry him, she came around. I always thought it would be a good match.”
“It sounds like it made the Season interesting.”
“You have no idea. Littleton and Adeline had their difficulties as well . . . and then we had Turley and Georgie dancing around each other until the autumn Season.” By the time she had relayed everyone’s stories, Fotherby was laughing.
“I had no idea a Season could be so entertaining. We must see what this one brings.”
“Yes, we should.” Except this time perhaps Henrietta would be the one who married. The only question was to which gentleman. After all, she had three prospects.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
As Nate listened to Miss Stern, he acquired a growing appreciation for the possible complications involved in finding a mate. Compared to her friends, Merton’s courtship and marriage to his wife seemed relatively straightforward. Or it would have been if it hadn’t been for Nate. He wondered if he could ever truly forgive himself for what he’d done. He thought he had, but it had become clear that he really hadn’t. If he could only bring himself to approach his former friend. He still had to summon the courage to do so. If he continued to court Miss Stern, the matter must be resolved sooner rather than later.
“I am surprised you are not at the Lords.” Miss Stern’s sudden question took him by surprise.
