She made sure to keep up a string of worthless chatter, not allowing them to get a word in edgewise while almost dragging the man with her. Thank Heaven she had been in time to stop a brawl. Men! What would they think of next? Although she had no problem with Dominic hitting someone, it could not be his cousin. She and Grace must find a way to reconcile the families. This animosity had gone on long enough.
Good Lord, the distance to the morning room had never seemed so great before. Eunice was very glad for the information Grace had given her about Dotty. In fact, Eunice could hardly wait to officially meet the young lady. Though there still remained much work to be done to convince Dominic to start thinking for himself. Perhaps today was a beginning.
Grace glanced up sharply when Eunice entered the morning room. She gave an imperceptible nod, and Grace seemed to start breathing again. Men made things so much more difficult than they needed to be. However in this case, a little of the right sort of opposition might be just what Dominic needed to push him closer to Miss Stern.
* * *
That afternoon, Dotty, Louisa, and Charlotte were drinking tea in the morning room on the first floor in the back of Stanwood House. They had been discussing the changes being made to Worthington House, where they would reside after this Season.
Dotty swallowed another bite of the excellent ginger biscuits. “When will the renovations be far enough along for us to see them?”
“I think in about a month,” Charlotte said, placing her cup down. “They will not be finished until later in the summer.”
Apparently, the whole of the schoolroom floor and several other rooms had to be refurbished. “Will you still come to Stanwood Hall this summer?”
Charlotte’s smile was a little sad. “Yes, for at least most of the summer. Matt insists that Charlie remain conversant with his estate. We shall spend the rest of the year at Worthington Hall. She paused for a moment. “Even in this short time, Matt has made many things so much easier for us.”
Since their father’s death, Charlie, Charlotte’s brother, was the Earl of Stanwood, but he was just sixteen and still in school. Grace had been in charge of everything concerning the estate.
“We do not actually know when we’ll be at Worthington,” Louisa added. “With Grace increasing, and all the children, Matt is renovating the Hall as well. Perhaps we shall be at Stanwood for a much longer time.”
This was news. “Grace is having a baby?”
“Yes.” Charlotte laughed lightly. “Apparently our wedding wishes were answered. She is due in December.”
“Your wedding wishes?”
“I so wish you had been there.” Her eyes sparkled. “We made Charlie read a letter we had all written. It ended with the hope that there would be more children.”
“As if eleven were not enough!” Dotty couldn’t help but chuckle. “He may have to add a whole new wing.”
They talked of the changes being made to the estate and the parties they were due to attend that evening. Then Louisa directed her gaze at Dotty. “Are you really going driving with Merton this afternoon?”
She smiled and hoped the idea that Merton might court her did not drive a wedge between them. “I am. I have listened to all you have said, but until he shows himself to be someone I do not wish to know, I will allow him to squire me. He was truly very helpful last evening.”
Louisa frowned. “Only because he wanted to dance with you.”
“I won’t deny he benefited, but so did I, and then he did his duty by standing up with other young ladies.”
Charlotte sighed. “He is very handsome.”
“Charlotte,”Louisa and Dotty said at the same time. Dotty laughed. “Yes, but as Papa says, handsome is as handsome does. We shall see.”
“I don’t want to see you hurt,” Louisa said softly.
Dotty took her new friend’s hands. “Neither do I. Yet risk is part of life.”
A knock came on the door and a footman entered. “Miss, Lord Merton is waiting for you.”
“Please tell him I shall be down directly.”
“Yes, miss.”
Donning the bonnet and gloves she’d brought to the parlor, she glanced at her friends. “Perhaps I’ll see you at the Park?”
“You shall. After all, we would not desert you.” Louisa hugged Dotty. “We shall be along shortly. Charlotte is driving the carriage. If you need to be rescued, we can whisk you away.”
Dotty descended the stairs, surprised to find Merton gazing up at her. She had thought the butler would have put him in a parlor. His eyes were so warm, heat rose in her cheeks. Charlotte was right; he was very good-looking.
