“I hope she asks us to visit.” Charlotte grinned. “She is such a grand old lady.”
“I wonder when she’ll arrive,” Dotty mused. “We never have any prior warning.”
Charlotte eyed the large stack of cards on the salver. “I suppose we should go through the invitations and choose the entertainments we wish to attend.”
They each took several of the notes.
“Lady Bellamny is having a Venetian breakfast,” Louisa said. “That should be fun.”
“Here is one for a masque.” Charlotte held up the card. “Do you think Grace will allow it?”
“Grace might.” Louisa grimaced. “Matt won’t.”
“No.” Charlotte sighed. “You are probably right.”
“Here is one from Baroness Merton, who has that lovely bluebell wood. She’s having a picnic next week,” Louisa said. “It’s such a shame she is not related to us. We’d be able to visit the garden at any time.”
“Merton is her family name?” Dotty asked.
Charlotte and Louisa nodded.
“We should accept in any event. Bluebells are always delightful.”
“I’ll add that to the acceptances.” Louisa placed the card on the appropriate stack.
Once they’d completed their task, they sent the list down to Grace for her approval.
A few minutes later, Dotty glanced at the clock and rose. “I’ll see you later. Lady Merton’s carriage will be here for me soon. We are going shopping.”
“How busy you are. We hardly see you anymore.” Charlotte hugged Dotty. “Are you happy?”
She wished she could confide her concerns to Charlotte, but it wasn’t possible. She had been much better about not criticizing Dom, but with any provocation, she’d take Dotty’s side against him. She gave her friend a smile. “Yes, I am. I think Lady Merton will be a wonderful mother-in-law, and I care for Merton a great deal.”
“Then I am happy for you.”
Dotty hugged her friend. “Perhaps you’ll be here when I return.”
She left the parlor quickly as tears pricked the back of her eyes. She was happy. Last evening, she had been sure that he was so close to telling her he loved her. If only Dom wouldn’t hide himself in his shell, everything would be perfect. She would take the time she and Lady Merton had alone to ask about his upbringing.
Dotty was descending the stairs when one of the footmen came to fetch her. But once in the town coach, she was told Lady Merton would like her to come to Merton House first so that she could resume the tour.
Tom greeted her by throwing his arms around her legs again. “You’ll never guess what I got today.”
Hugging him back, she said, “You’re right. I have no idea.”
“My toys.”
“Oh, Tom. That’s wonderful.” How kind of Mrs. Horton to send them over. “When I am finished with Mrs. Sorley, you shall have to show them to me.”
Taking Dotty’s hand, he led her toward the morning room. “And guess what else? Mrs. Sorley found Lord Merton’s toys, and he said I could play with them as well.”
Dotty’s heart filled with joy. Dom had not allowed Tom to go to the Park as he didn’t know if the scoundrels who had taken him might try to get the boy back. “That was very kind of him. Did you remember to thank Lord Merton?”
“Yes, miss, and he said I did a good job of it.”
Mrs. Sorley was with Lady Merton when Dotty entered the morning room.
“Have a seat, my dear.” Lady Merton indicated the chair next to her at a small table. “We are going over some of the household items that need to be replaced.”
