“Not at the moment.” She gave him a watery smile. “I’ll tell you on the way back.”
The coach followed him to the mews and turned around as he gave his horse to a groom.
He signaled to the footman in plain clothes to remain where he was and jumped into the coach sitting next to his betrothed. “Did Toby visit you?”
“He did.” Nate finally had a good look at Henrietta. Her eyes were a bit red and puffy, as if she had been crying. What had her sister said to her?
No matter what it was, now would be a good time to take her mind off it. “Do you have any idea how many children compose a mess?”
“I have no idea at all.” Henrietta’s lips curved into a crooked smile. He wished he could take her into his arms and tell her everything would be fine. “I suppose we will find out when we get there.”
When they turned onto Oxford Street the traffic became a heavy mix of coaches, carriages, drays, and other wagons. “I hope Mrs. Perriman does not expect us there immediately.”
“She must know how busy the streets are this time of day.” Henrietta reached out and took his hand. He closed his over her fingers.
If her sister had upset her, perhaps he’d be better off letting her tell him about the confrontation. She shouldn’t be distracted during a rescue. He tried again. “Did you speak with your sister?”
She bit down on her lower lip and nodded.
“I won’t pry, but if you tell me about it, you might feel better.”
She nodded again. “I told her that we loved each other and were going to marry. She became very angry. I had never seen her like that before.” Henrietta took a breath, and he handed her his handkerchief. “Thank you,” she said with a small smile. “It ended by me telling her that I would move to Exeter House until the wedding.”
He squeezed her hand. If she stayed with Dorie, it would cause talk. Merton wouldn’t like that. She could reasonably reside with her grandmother, but Nate didn’t know how the duchess would like the arrangement. Or he could invite her parents to stay with him. He had to write to her father in any event. He could broach the subject then. Nate glanced out the window. They would be there soon. “There are other options you can consider. I will support you whatever you decide. We can both leave Town and plan a country wedding.”
She squeezed his hand and smiled at him. “I knew I could depend upon you to understand.”
He’d understand anything that didn’t take her away from him. “Always. For the rest of our lives.”
They drove into the mews behind Phoenix House, and he got out, then lifted Henrietta down. It wasn’t until then that he noticed she wore the same gown she had when they first met. He was also in the same kit. He’d have to borrow the greatcoat and hat from Mrs. Perriman again.
Toby was there to unlock the garden gate, and the footman and another servant who’d sat with the coachman followed them to the house.
Mrs. Perriman came out of a parlor off the hall. “Miss Stern, Mr. Meadows, thank you for coming. I don’t know what I would do without you today.”
Henrietta waved her hand toward the footmen. “We brought reinforcements as well.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to borrow the greatcoat and hat, if I may,” Nate said. Mrs. Perriman almost rolled her eyes and he smiled. If he continued to do this, he’d have to find a suitably shabby coat and hat. “I did bring my own pistol.”
“Well, that’s something. I have the greatcoat, but not the hat. Wait here and I will get the garment.”
Henrietta was finally smiling. “What will we do with you?”
He gave her his I-am-a-peer look. “I don’t know about anyone else, but you, miss, are going to marry me.”
“Yes, I am.”
Mrs. Perriman was back in a matter of seconds. As he donned the coat, she told them what was going on. “I received five requests, and all the children are to be fetched today.”
Henrietta’s forehead creased. “Are they from the same person?”
Mrs. Perriman appeared a bit worried. “That is just it. I’m not certain. There is a lad by the name of Jack who keeps his ear to the ground about children who need help, or mothers who want to give their children up. I was not here when he told Tim about four of them. However, Jack came back yesterday and said there was another one.” She donned her coat and a plain bonnet. “Quite honestly, I was more concerned to have enough people to carry the children.” She glanced at Henrietta. “I have notified the house in Richmond.”
Henrietta nodded. “You will take them straight there?”
“Yes. All of you might have to come with me.”
“That is not a problem,” Henrietta assured the woman. “I have nothing planned this evening.”
