Mr. Lackington hurried out to the pavement to greet them and was soon surrounded like a lame antelope on the savannah. He somehow fought his way out of it and led them through the front doors.
Percy heard them all chattering up the stairs. Poor Mr. Lackington was making a heroic effort to hear them all, though they all spoke at once.
He’d really better rescue the fellow. He stepped out of the aisle he had concealed himself in. “Lady Felicity, how fortuitous that I encounter you here.”
Lady Felicity went red as a ripe apple. Lady Grace said, “We did say we were coming, Mr. Stratton.”
Of course they did say that, but a lady was not to point out the lack of coincidence in a coincidence.
“Indeed you did, of course I could not be sure of the time, so a happy turn of events. Do let me show you into a sitting room of sorts. There, Mr. Lackington will send for tea and you can tell him what you’re after.”
Mr. Lackington had given him a grateful look. They filed into the room overlooking the square as the proprietor sent one of his assistants off for a tea tray.
“Mr. Lackington,” Percy said, “May I introduce you to Mrs. Right, Lady Felicity, Lady Grace, Lady Patience, Lady Serenity, Lady Winsome, Lady Verity, and Lady Valor.”
“All the graces,” Mr. Lackington said, with a flourishing bow.
All the graces indeed.
“Please do be seated and I welcome you to Lackington & Allen,” Mr. Lackington said.
“Ought we to sit, though?” Lady Felicity asked. “Should we not be roaming the aisles?”
“No need, my lady! No need at all,” Mr. Lackington said hurriedly. “Anything you require can be brought to you.”
“Now that’s a comfortable idea,” Mrs. Right said. “I did wonder how I was going to keep track of all my girls.”
“I tend to run off,” Valor said matter-of-factly.
The ladies arranged themselves on the sofas. Mr. Lackington said, “Now, what are your interests? What sort of books are you looking for? Lady Felicity?”
Percy had been sure Lady Felicity would ask for a gothic novel of some sort. It was his understanding that was all the rage with young ladies—they liked to terrify themselves before retiring for the night.
“Do you have any literature on stoats, Mr. Lackington?” Lady Felicity asked. “We are thinking of acquiring a pair to join our household.”
“We’d like to know what we’re getting ourselves into on the stoats’ front,” Mrs. Right said.
That had been surprising. Though, the next few minutes brought fewer surprises. The ladies Grace, Patience, Serenity, and Winsome were all in favor of gothic novels. As Lady Grace explained, the more frightening the better. Damsels in fear ofbeing murdered every moment, preferably in an old and dark castle, were preferred.
That just left Lady Valor.
“I do not wish for anything scary, Mr. Lackington,” she said gravely. “Might you have something about fairies? Nice fairies, you understand. Or nice ponies.”
Mr. Lackington said he was certain to find something for the young lady, and set off to locate a tome on stoats, four gothic novels, and one faerie book. Or failing that, nice ponies.
The tea tray came in and was expertly managed by Mrs. Right.
“I understand you will miss the Gandrians’ rout this evening, on account of a dinner Lady Marchfield mentioned?” Percy asked Lady Felicity.
“Lady Cyprion’s dinner,” Lady Felicity said.
For some reason, this caused Mrs. Right to snort.
“Felicity is not going, though,” Lady Serenity said.
“She will pretend to go,” Lady Grace said, “and then claim a headache at the very last possible moment. They will have to go without her.”
“We do not yet know why,” Lady Patience said. “Though we think it will be very amusing—you see, our papa and our aunt are like Punch and Judy.”
