The duke had said no such thing, but she’d told him of it in the carriage on the way home and he named it a “grand idea.”
This morning, she’d sent a note to Felicity so she would have sisterly reinforcements. She’d been glancing out the window ever since.
“Is this to be it, then?” Felicity asked, watching her pull aside the curtain once more.
“Is what to be it?” Valor asked, though she thought she understood the question.
“Tramondeley?” Felicity said. “I had for a while thought you might be leaning toward the count.”
“Perhaps I was, on account of Lord Tramondeley’s night sailing. You know I would never be able to stand up to the terror of it. But then, Lord Ledderbey claims that he might give it up. As well, Papa is convinced that, sooner or later, the count will wish to return to his homeland. Can you imagine? I’d end up in a foreign land, far away from my people.”
“I see, so the pendulum swung the other way,” Felicity said.
“I think I was leaning toward the count, just a little bit, only out of fear. Hertfordshire sounded so safe and Cornwall and Lord Tramondeley setting off in the middle of the night was terrorizing.”
“But if not for that, you leaned toward Lord Tramondeley all along,” Felicity said with a smile.
Valor nodded. “Well really, you can see for yourself how glorious he is.”
“Positively glorious,” Felicity said laughing.
Mrs. Right came in with a tea tray and sat down with them. Valor peeked out the window again.
“Here he comes!” Valor said, smoothing her skirt. “He carries something, it must be flowers, it is wrapped in white paper.”
“Shall I stay or go, Poppet?” Mrs. Right asked.
“You must stay, of course,” Valor said. “You are a member of the family and Lord Tramondeley is Papa’s heir. The sooner he understands you belong in here with us, the better.”
“Quite right,” Felicity said, nodding in approval.
Valor had dropped the curtain and picked up her sewing, which was the same sewing she’d been carrying around for months. It was embroidery and if she would make progress it would eventually be a charming pillow for Sir Galahad’s bed. That darling dog was just now lounging on the sofa, as it was one of his usual naptimes.
Felicity picked up a book that was laying on the table. Mrs. Right occupied herself with the tea tray. Valor supposed they would appear very serene when Lord Tramondeley was led in.
