“Well, Stratton, have you brought more pots and pans for our girl?” the duke asked.
“Why did you send the pans, Mr. Stratton?” Lady Patience asked.
“Lady Felicity mentioned that she might, at some point, wish to learn how to bake cakes.”
“Oh, she never said…” Lady Serenity said.
“Do you suppose that would be fun?” Lady Winsome asked. “I hadn’t thought…”
The duke was shaking with laughter. “Never mind the cake pans. What are you doing here, Stratton?”
“Yes, Mr. Stratton,” Lady Valor said. “After the stern scolding from me and Mrs. Wendover, I am surprised to see you here.”Lady Valor paused. “Though, Mrs. Wendover’s feelings might have gone a little soft over the India shawl.”
Percy could see for himself that Mrs. Wendover found favor with the shawl as she was just now wrapped in it. And really, considering the dilapidated shape that stuffed rabbit was in, the shawl did something well for its appearance.
“Yes, Lady Valor,” Percy said, “that was quite the rousing letter from you and your friend. I sent the shawl as I thought Mrs. Wendover might need some soothing after expressing her feelings so violently. I suppose you received the letter I sent back, too?”
Lady Valor nodded. “Yes, but Felicity took it and none of us have seen it. She’s hidden it very well; I looked all over her room.” The little girl paused, and then as if she remembered something, she said, “Snooping was very wrong, I won’t do it again, I feel terrible about it.”
“Don’t make promises you cannot keep,” the duke advised his youngest daughter.
“That’s true, Papa,” Lady Valor said. “Iwilldo it again, but I really will try to feel terrible over it next time, if that helps.”
“What did the letter say?” Lady Grace asked. “Felicity has not breathed a word of it, except for your approbation of Valor’s conversation about the weather.”
Percy had no intention of advertising the details beyond what was known. “That conversation had to be mentioned, it was one of the finest about the weather I have ever taken part in.”
Lady Valor was evidently much struck by this compliment. She blushed, then she whispered furiously to Mrs. Wendover, as if alerting her to this news. Percy hoped she and Mrs. Wendover had finally given up wishing him chained and thrown in a lake.
“Your Grace, I am here to see Lady Felicity. And to ask an important question.”
“I see, so no more gifts, then?”
“Actually, I brought a horse,” Percy said. Now that he’d just said it out loud to the duke, it did not sound as rational as it had initially seemed.
The duke doubled over in laughter. The five sisters raced to the windows and pulled the curtains.
“Hehasbrought a horse,” Lady Grace exclaimed.
“She is no Dales pony, but she looks to be very fine all the same,” Lady Patience said.
“There’s really a horse out there?” the duke said, heaving with laughter. “Oh this is too good.”
“I happened to be nearby Tattersall’s,” Percy said, by way of a ridiculous explanation.
Just then, Percy heard the front doors open. He turned, very much in the hopes that it was Lady Felicity making an appearance.
From the hall, Mrs. Right called, “I know I am late in returning, but the housekeeper was keen to hear about the cyprian party. We laughed and laughed.”
Mrs. Right came into the room, handing her bonnet to a footman. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Percy.
“Mrs. Right, you’ll never guess,” the duke said, “Stratton here has brought a horse for Felicity!”
“Why should she need a horse?” Mrs. Right asked. “I took her in one of the carriages.”
“No, no,” the duke said, “it’s not to ride now. He’s brought her a horse to keep for her own.”
“Has he now?” Mrs. Right asked suspiciously.
