“I have many,” Miss Sutherland admitted, “but I don’t even know where to begin.”
“Do not worry. We will sort everything out,” Anette encouraged. “And I have the perfect ballgown for you to wear.”
“Thank you for doing this, and for everything,” Miss Sutherland said.
With an understanding smile on her lips, Anette responded, “Women in our positions must stick together. If we band together, we are stronger because of it.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to cultivate friendships,” Miss Sutherland admitted. “My first priority has always been to survive.”
“Well, that life is in your past and you now have the ability to thrive,” Anette said.
A silver-haired woman stepped into the drawing room and announced, “The dressmaker has arrived, Miss. She is setting up in the parlor.”
“Thank you,” Miss Sutherland acknowledged. “Will you inform the dressmaker that I will be there shortly?”
After the woman departed to do Miss Sutherland’s bidding, Anette rose and said, “We do not wish to keep you any longer, but I will return with reinforcements to help plan the ball.”
Rising, Fredrick joked, “That sounds terrifying.”
“It is a simple fact,” Anette said. “We shall create a team unlike any other team that has ever been formed before.”
Fredrick chuckled. He could see why Anette and his sister, Octavia, were such dear friends. They both said such outlandish things.
Miss Sutherland stood up, her hands clasped in front of her. “I can’t help but thank both of you for what you are doing.”
“You need to stop thanking us so profusely,” Anette chided lightly.
“I’m afraid I am not used to people doing such kind things for me,” Miss Sutherland admitted.
Anette’s eyes held understanding. “Your life is very different now. Embrace the change,” she encouraged.
Miss Sutherland bobbed her head. “I shall try.”
“We should go,” Fredrick said with a smile. “But it was a pleasure to further our acquaintance with one another, Miss Sutherland.”
She eyed him curiously. “May I ask you a question?”
“You may,” he responded.
In a hesitant voice, she asked, “Why did you not tell me who you truly were when we first spoke in Hyde Park?”
Fredrick should have known this question was coming, but he found he was no more prepared for it. He had many reasons why he hadn’t revealed his true identity to her, but he didn’t want to reveal too much.
“I suppose it was because I wanted to set your mind at ease and I thought you wouldn’t speak so freely knowing that I was an earl,” he said.
“You are right about that,” Miss Sutherland shared. “Prior to speaking to you, I had never spoken to a titled gentleman before.”
“Never?” Anette asked.
Miss Sutherland shook her head. “I did not mingle with lords and ladies when I lived in the countryside. The closest thing I got to that was when I spoke to someone that was landed gentry.”
“Well, that will most definitely change and you must prepare yourself for that,” Anette said.
With wide, vulnerable eyes, Miss Sutherland inquired, “How does one even converse with a lord?”
“You have been doing just fine,” Fredrick assured her. “I do not want to be treated any different than anyone else.”
Anette huffed. “Yes, but there are some lords that only wish to speak about their greatness and accomplishments.”
