Page 66 of The Muse of Maiden Lane

“A young lady?” Jenny asked, smiling. “Do tell.”

“It’s forward of her to write to you directly, is it not?” Lady Helena wondered aloud. “When I was a girl, young ladies weren’t allowed to correspond with unmarried gentlemen.”

“She’s not corresponding with my brother,” Laura said. “She’s corresponding with me.”

“Ah.” Jenny nodded her approval at the subterfuge. “An excellent compromise.”

Teddy ignored them. Their teasing grated, but he had no right to privacy, not when he’d willingly invited his sister into his plan to contact Stella. Laura had agreed, albeit reluctantly.

“If Miss Hobhouse doesn’t want to hear from you, we’re both going to look like dreadful people,” she’d warned him. “You for imposing yourself, and me for participating in such a devious trick.”

“She wants to hear from me,” Teddy had assured his sister.

But as the weeks wore on, he was no longer certain.

What if Stella had taken offense at his letter? Or what if—

Good God. What if she’d never received it at all?

Teddy hadn’t known the name of her village. He’d had to enlist Tom Finchley to discover it for him. Another violation of Teddy’s privacy. It went against the grain, asking his friends and family for help. He hadn’t liked to do it, but faced with the prospect of never hearing from Stella again, he’d been obliged to swallow his pride.

Tom was currently ensconced in the library reviewing some legal documents for Justin. Teddy briefly considered going to him to ask if he was perfectly sure he’d given Teddy the right address.

Honoria fretted loudly on Jenny’s lap, giving every indication she was about to cry.

“She’s due her nap,” Lady Helena said. “Shall I take her?”

“Oh, let me,” Jenny said.

“I wouldn’t mind singing her to sleep,” Clara offered. “She’s such a sweet little thing.”

Clara and Neville’s own baby, George, was already napping in the nursery. He had his parents’ placid disposition, and unlike Honoria, slept easily and often. Teddy had seen the golden-locked little chap only twice since he’d arrived.

“What about you, Laura?” Lady Helena asked. “You’re not going to argue for a chance to put my darling girl to bed?”

Laura stroked Honoria’s plump little cheek with the back of one finger. A strange, soft look came over her face. There was something almost wistful about it.

Catching sight of his sister’s expression, Teddy frowned.

“You go,” Laura said to the others. “It will give me a moment to speak with my brother.”

“Join us when you’re done,” Lady Helena said as the ladies stood. “Honoria is a stubborn soul, just like her father. It sometimes takes a long while to convince her that sleeping is a good idea.”

“Not her.” Clara smoothed a hand over the baby’s curly head as they departed the room. “I won’t believe she has a difficult bone in her body.”

“What’s wrong with being difficult?” Jenny asked.

The ladies laughed in reply, Jenny along with them. The sound trailed away as they departed, punctuated by the wails of the baby, leaving Laura behind.

Neville rose. “I’ve the horses to see to d-down at the stables.”

Laura walked to the window, wrapping her shawl more firmly about her. “Don’t let me drive you off.”

“I want to go. I’ll meet Alex and Justin on…on the path. They’ll be b-back soon.”

“Very well,” Laura said. “But do be careful, Neville.”

Teddy exchanged a commiserating glance with Neville before he left. Neville liked to be fussed over no more than Teddy did.