“I may learn more from both Beaufort and Thompson this evening at the Lords,” Aaran murmured as he reread parts of Thompson’s message. “Dare I?” he asked himself, knowing Cunningham would start another Celtic war if Aaran dared to seek out the girl. “Yet, I am tempted.”
Freya was exitingthe park across from Madame Emmeline’s modiste shop when she noted Lady Annalise exiting the establishment, followed closely by one of the most beautiful women Freya had ever beheld, and, finally, by Miss Whitchurch. “At last,” Freya whispered before darting into the street to make her way to where the three stopped outside the shop’s door to adjust bonnets and so forth. The women were joyfully speaking over each other as Freya came to a halt before them. “Good day, my lady. Miss Whitchurch,” she said. “It is pleasant to encounter you again.”
Lady Annalise glanced to her friends before saying, “We have just been seeing to a few more necessities for Miss Whitchurch.”All three ladies giggled and Miss Whitchurch blushed, so Freya assumed they were items for the woman’s wedding night.
Miss Whitchurch said with a teasing smile directed upon Lady Beaufort, “And clothes for you as well.”
Freya was not confident what all the giggles meant, but she was satisfied simply to encounter the ladies and hopefully learn more of Lord Graham’s whereabouts and plans. “How delightful for both of you,” she replied as she eyed the third woman. Surely this was another of Lord Graham’s sisters. “May I beg the acquaintance of your friend?”
“I apologize,” Lady Annalise said with a blush marking her cheeks. “I have forgotten my manners. This is Lord Orson’s wife. She is another of Lord Duncan’s ‘daughters.’” Lady Annalise nodded to the woman before saying, “Lady Orson, might I give you the acquaintance of Lady Freya Cunningham. Beaufort and I took Lady Freya’s company when His Lordship and I traveled to Scotland with Lord Graham.”
Lady Orson asked playfully with a lift of her brows, “Did you witness Beaufort and Lady Annalise’s wedding? We were all quite sad to have missed the ceremony.”
“I fear I did not, though I wished to accept Lady Annalise’s offer to stand with her during the ceremony.” Freya frowned slightly. “My father wished to continue on to his home seat after our coach knew a repair.”
Lady Orson’s eyebrow lifted slightly higher this second time, but she said, “We were planning to have tea at a nearby tearoom. Would you care to join us? Lady Beaufort has promised to share a special secret with us. I am assured you would not wish to be denied what we all anticipate will be the loveliest of news.”
Lady Orson and Lady Beaufort locked arms and led the way along the boulevard, while Freya and Miss Whitchurch trailed behind them. “Is everything prepared for your special day?” Freya asked as she again crossed the busy traffic liningthe street. It was quite obvious Parliament was back in session and all the families had returned to London for the upcoming Season.
“It is a dream I never knew I wanted,” Miss Whitchurch responded in a wistful tone, totally ignoring the hustle and bustle all around her. Freya was envious. “Lord Thompson is so solicitous and most amiable. Young Ethan and I are blessed to have him in our lives.”
Freya was a bit jealous of all three women, but she said, “I am sincerely glad for you.” The other two women had stopped before a colorfully painted tearoom, so she and Miss Whitchurch hurried their steps.
Without prelude, Lady Orson reached for the door latch, and they entered together. Odd as it would be to admit it to the others, Freya had never been within a public tearoom. She glanced about her, unsure what was to come next. Immediately, a man dressed as an upper servant in a fine house bowed before them. “My ladies, may I serve you?”
Lady Orson kept control of the situation. “Yes, sir. We are desirous of your finest tea and cakes.”
“Absolutely, my lady. If you will follow me?” the man said politely.
He seated them at a large table off to the side, holding each of their chairs before rushing away to fetch their refreshments. Lady Orson continued to lead, “Now, Lady Annalise, we wish to know your news. No more secrets.”
Freya looked on as the young woman blushed thoroughly and cleared her throat. “Over Christmastide, my grandmother arranged for me to speak to a midwife, for I was quite ill for several weeks. The woman confirmed that I was likely with child. Even so, I did not tell Beaufort until we were in York for the trials, meaning an additional three weeks. When we returned toLondon, Beaufort sent for another midwife to confirm what we thought was a possibility. She, too, thought me with child.”
Freya watched the expressions of the other two women. Miss Whitchurch expressed her happiness first. “How very lovely for you and His Lordship. When might we greet the new Beaufort?”
Lady Annalise explained, “As both midwives believe I conceived the child within the first few days of our marriage, the child would arrive in late June or early July.”
Lady Emma finally offered her congratulations. What her delay said of the woman, Freya did not know, but there was an edge to Her Ladyship’s tone when she spoke. “Orson has always said that both Beaufort and Graham were the most broken of Lord Duncan’s sons. I imagine Beaufort is ecstatic and bursting with happiness.”
Freya wondered about Her Ladyship’s remark about Lord Graham, but she dared not ask for a clarification.
“My husband is walking about in some sort of cloud of happiness mixed with disbelief, but Navan is very methodical in how he addresses whatever comes his way.” Her Ladyship giggled. “Now you know why my measurements today were not the same as when I left for Ireland.”
“We are all very happy for you,” Miss Whitchurch declared. “We may have a celebration when our wedding party reaches Kent.”
“Kent?” The word slipped out before Freya had time to curb her curiosity. “I thought all of Lord Duncan’s sons had home estates in England’s northern shires, that is, except those belonging to Lord Graham.”
Lady Orson explained, “Were you not aware that there are two Lord Thompsons currently sitting in the Lords. One lives near the northern Yorkshire border, butourLord Thompson resides in Kent at Thom Manor.”
Freya simply murmured her gratitude for the explanation to the woman, for her mind was already churning. A means for her to encounter Lord Graham again might truly be in her reach.It will take careful planning,her reason cautioned.You must concoct a reason to spend time with your Aunt Felicity without letting on that Lord Graham would also be in Kent at the same time.When she returned home, Freya would seek out her father’s copy ofDebrett’s Peerageto learn how close her aunt might live to Lord Graham’s brother, Lord Thompson. Aunt Felicity was her mother’s younger sister, a woman who had married a man of the English gentry.Of course, Kent is quite large,her mind announced as Freya attempted to hide her enthusiasm,but it is a chance I did not have previously.
She came out of her thoughts when the table fell silent. She blushed thoroughly. “I apologize for becoming lost in my thoughts.”
“I asked, what say you?” Lady Orson repeated pointedly. “Our Annalise says you are to marry Sir Patrick Hodge, but not from choice.”
“What say I to what?” Freya replied cautiously.
Lady Orson smiled widely. “What say you to asking Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find you a husband—one better than Sir Patrick? I promise it will be great fun, and Mrs. Dove-Lyon has a known success rate in such matters.”
