Lady Alicia walked into the room and perched gingerly on a sofa; her brother sat beside her and held her hand.
“Are you truly here as friends?” she said, weakly.
“Yes,” Caroline said, firmly. “We all make mistakes, Lady Alicia. Society judges young ladies harshly for our mistakes, and if do not support one another, then what chance have we?”
“Exactly what I have been saying,” Mr. Lindsay contributed. “You make it worse by hiding away, Alicia.”
“Exactly right,” Miss Johnson insisted. “You must be seen, as often as possible. Teashops, museums, theaters. Yes, there will be snickers at first, and you will have to bear that, but the snickers will die down as soon as a new scandal comes to light.”
They fell silent as Lady Alicia stared at her slippers and then at her guests. “I was not kind to any of you at school,” she admitted. “I do not deserve your present kindness.”
“You most certainly were not!” Miss Johnson agreed. “But that is over and done.”
“Miss Bingley prompted us to visit you,” Miss Taylor said. “And she was right to do so.”
“Then I thank you, Miss Bingley,” Lady Alicia said. “And I thank each and every one of you for showing me kindness when I showed none.” Her voice was humble.
Plans were made then for the six of them to meet at a teashop in Mayfair in two days’ time. “May I be permitted the honour of joining you and treating all you ladies to tea and cakes?” Mr. Lindsay asked.
The ladies blushed and agreed eagerly. They rose to take their leave, and Mr. Lindsay bowed over each of their hands. It escaped no one’s attention that he lingered rather long over Miss Bingley’s hand.
Chapter Twenty
Caroline was well aware that being invited to have tea – in public! – with Lady Alicia and her brother, the Honourable Gregory Lindsay, was a wonderful opportunity. Who knows who might see her? Perhaps this would lead to even more important introductions!
She dressed carefully, heeding the advice of Alice – much to that young woman’s delighted surprise – and was certain that there would be no criticisms of her attire that day. She wore very little jewelry, which she now understood was the custom for daytime events.
She had asked for and received permission to take the Bingley carriage for the outing, but a note then arrived saying that Mr. Lindsay and Lady Alicia would come for her in their carriage. She showed the note to Jane, who smiled and hugged her.
Caroline began to recoil from the hug; she generally preferred not to be touched, particularly when not expecting it, but she found herself returning the gesture of affection.
“Where are you going?” Jane asked.
“We agreed to meet at Gunter’s, though I fear it will be too crowded.”
“It is a very popular place,” Jane agreed. “But it will be worth it, even if you have to wait for a table.”
When the Lindsay carriage pulled up in front of Bingley House, Caroline went out to meet it. Mr. Lindsay immediately exited the carriage so that he might help Caroline climb inside.
“It is very kind of you to come for me,” Caroline began.
“Oh, no, it is our pleasure,” Mr. Lindsay assured her.
Caroline looked at Lady Alicia, who was quite pale. Indeed, her hands were shaking! Spontaneously, Caroline took Lady Alicia’s gloved hands in her own and said, “Lady Alicia, you will get through this. Today will be difficult, no doubt, but you will be with a whole table full of friends.”
“Please call me Alicia,” the poor girl whispered, her voice shaking. She was clearly terrified of being out in public after her dreadful mistake.
Caroline could hardly believe that this was the proud, nose-in-the-air young lady she had known at school. Back then, she would have been delighted to see Lady Alicia humbled; but now, she only felt very sorry for her. “And I am Caroline,” she whispered back.
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” Mr. Lindsay said.
“I am happy to help her,” Caroline assured him.
“I understand the two of you were not well acquainted at school,” he continued.
Lady Alicia – Alicia, now! – almost laughed. “That is a kind way of putting it,” she said.
“Kind?” her brother prodded.
