Grace frowned. This was a surprise. “Is anything wrong?”
Aunt Almeria smiled gently. “No, no. Not wrong. It is just that your uncle is arriving home this evening, and I am always here to greet him when he returns. You have it well under control, and Lady Evesham will be with you. It is not necessary that I attend. I’ve already sent a note to Lady Bellamny. Do not fear. Once the Season is under way, I will help you decide which entertainments would be best to attend, and accompany Charlotte to all of them.”
How very sweet of Aunt Almeria to want to be home for her husband. At least this evening, there would be no chance of Worthington attending. It was ladies only. “I shall hold you to that. Come, Charlotte, we shall be off.”
“I’d like to walk. May I?” Charlotte asked.
“No, my dear, when I made the suggestion, I hadn’t considered. Aunt Almeria is right, if your slippers got wet, they’d be ruined. We shall take the coach.”
“Yes, of course.” Charlotte straightened her shoulders, looking every inch a young lady. “How silly of me. Will there be dancing at the soirée?”
“Not at a soirée,” Aunt Almeria said. “That is a party for mingling.”
Grace kissed her aunt and took Charlotte’s arm as they walked to the front door. “Besides which, dancing is not the purpose. It is for you girls just out to meet each other. That way when the balls begin after Easter, you will have friends.” And so the mamas can look over the competition, though her sister did not need to know that. “You must be on your best behavior. The patronesses of Almack’s will be there as well.”
Charlotte’s countenance became serious. “This is no longer practicing. It really is important.”
“Yes, it is.” Grace squeezed her sister’s fingers. “But do not allow it to worry you. You’ll be fine.”
Once at Dunwood House, she and Phoebe decided to take two carriages. One would return to Grosvenor Square and the other to Berkeley Square. When she and Charlotte were announced, Grace was surprised to see only Phoebe in the drawing room before dinner.
Phoebe came forward to greet them. “Since gentlemen are not expected at Lady Bellamny’s, I sent Marcus to dine with his friends. Sherry?”
“For me, please,” Grace responded. “Charlotte will have lemonade.”
Once they had their glasses, Phoebe led them to a seating area in front of the fireplace. “A toast then to Charlotte’s come out.”
After taking a sip of lemonade, Charlotte turned to Phoebe. “Why will there be no gentlemen?”
“There may be a few.” Phoebe grinned. “Yet not until later in the evening and only to escort the ladies home. Once the Season begins, you’ll meet gentlemen aplenty. At present, you are better served by meeting other ladies your age and a few that have already had a Season or two.”
Charlotte tilted her head to one side, considering. “Yes, I suppose you are right. There is so much to learn.”
Grace suddenly wished she could be with her sister at all her events. Perhaps Worthington would give up attempting to find her, and she could be.
* * *
Matt had been unable to speak with his stepmother the previous evening. He’d left a note to be given to her when she arrived home, desiring a meeting as soon as it was convenient. The following afternoon, she sent a message asking Matt to meet her in the drawing room before dinner.
When he stalked into the room she placed her glass on the small side table next to her. “What has got you in such a taking?”
Matt paced the room. “I saw her again to-day, and she hid from me.”
Patience frowned. “What did she do?”
He stopped and scowled. “She wore a deuced—a—one of those large hats that hides a lady’s face.”
“Well, Matt,” Patience laughed lightly, “they are fashionable.”
Rubbing a hand over his face, he tried to keep his frustration under control. It would do him no good to take it out on his stepmother. “She knew it was me and didn’t acknowledge me.”
“It seems to me you are taking a lot for granted.” Patience seemed to study him for a moment. “How, pray, do you know that she is avoiding you?”
When he opened his mouth to speak, she stopped him. “No, no, start at the beginning.”
Matt told her how the lady tripped over Duke’s feet when she’d tried to move closer to a house wall.
“Really, Worthington.” Patience cast an exasperated glance at the ceiling. “What lady wouldn’t have wanted to hide herself after that embarrassing incident? I think you may find it is not at all what it seems.”
