“I am not sure you could accomplish more than delaying the marriage.” Dotty kissed her husband. “I must send Grace a note.”
Dotty took a sip of porter, then took out a piece of pressed paper, ink, and a pen. Her best friends were not yet in Town, but Grace was. Dotty had known Grace Worthington all her life. It was because Grace had agreed to sponsor her when her younger sister, Dotty’s closest friend, Charlotte, came out that Dotty had met Dom. If anyone knew what she should do, it was Grace.
Dear Grace,
I need to speak with you as soon as you have time. Please give your answer to the messenger.”
Your friend,
D. M.
Less than fifteen minutes had passed when her butler knocked on the open door. “Lady Worthington said she is available now if you would like to visit her.”
“Thank you. Please bring the town coach around.”
“Yes, my lady.”
It did not take long to reach Worthington House in Berkeley Square. Dotty had strolled up the steps to Worthington House and raised her hand to knock on the door when it opened and Royston bowed.
“Her ladyship is waiting for you.”
“Thank you. Is she in her study?”
“Yes, my lady. She is.”
“Please do not announce me.” Dotty forced herself to give him a smile. “I know the way.”
“As you wish, my lady.” Royston bowed again.
She walked slowly, trying to organize her thoughts. She had acted on a sudden need to talk to Grace, but Dotty had not considered what she would say once she arrived. Words, arguments, jumbled around in her head, but when she stepped through the open door, instead of greeting her friend like the calm person she always prided herself in being, she burst into tears. “I’m go-go-going to lose my sister.”
The next thing she knew she was sobbing in Grace’s comforting arms. “Shush, now. Everything will be fine. Come and sit with me. We’ll have a nice cup of tea and a talk, and you will feel better.”
Putting her arm around Dotty’s shoulders, Grace led her to a sofa facing the fireplace, which had been lit, and Dotty let herself be gently guided to sit on the sofa.
“Now,” Grace said as she poured two cups of tea, fixing one cup exactly the way Dotty liked it. “I suppose this is about Henrietta and Lord Fotherby.”
Dotty blew her nose and, not yet trusting her voice, nodded, then picked up the cup of tea and drank, letting the warmth of the liquid soothe her. Everyone seemed to know about them long before she did. “Yes. She is determined to have him. He says he loves her. Even Merton has grudgingly given his approval, as have my mother and grandmother.” She drained her cup and set it down. “But I cannot think of him without being reminded of his callous disregard for me when he abducted me. I do not want my sister to marry him. I never want to see him again! But she says she loves him, and that the man she knows is nothing like I have described him. Grandmamma gave them permission to marry, and I don’t know what to do.” That last part ended on a wail Dotty never thought could come from her. She thought of what she had said to Henrietta, and the stern set of her face. “I behaved badly when Henrietta told me.” Tears clogged Dotty’s throat and Daisy, Grace’s Great Dane, shoved her head under one of Dotty’s hands. For a few moments she stroked the dog. “I do not want to be estranged from her.”
Grace poured another cup of tea and handed it to Dotty. “I have a fair idea of what you are going through.” Grace gave a wry smile. “After all, I was also abducted. Even though I knew Matt would rescue me, it was terrifying.”
Dotty remembered hearing the story. If Matt had not been there almost immediately, Grace would have suffered much more than she had. At least after Dotty had discovered her kidnapper was Fotherby, she knew she would not be physically harmed. Although her reputation would have been in tatters if anyone found out. “You were fortunate to be rescued so soon.”
“Indeed I was. However, what you suffered was not unimportant,” Grace said gently.
“No. It was not.” Ever since then, she had carried sufficient funds at all times to enable her to get home from as far away as France if need be.
Grace set down her cup and raised a questioning brow. “But despite everything, Henrietta loves him?”
“Yes.” Another lump had formed in Dotty’s throat and getting the word out hurt.
“I had a feeling that might be the case.” Grace made up a plate of ginger biscuits and a lemon tart and handed it to Dotty. “She came to speak to me when she discovered who he was. She also said the same thing she said to you, that he was nothing like the man you and Merton told her about.”
“When was that?” The query came out sharper than Dotty had wanted it to.
“A few weeks ago.” Grace gave Dotty a sympathetic smile. “She was concerned that if she liked him it would cause problems with you.” She opened her mouth, but Grace held up a hand. “You, of all people, must know that hearts are difficult if not impossible to control.”
Dotty snapped her mouth shut. “Merton.”
