Page 46 of A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love

Ignoring the thought as best she could as they left the Norman home and stepped into the brisk air, Felicity let out a slow breath, still mulling over Mrs. Norman’s words. But before she could settle her thoughts, a familiar voice called out.

“Miss Price! Miss Daphne!”

Felicity turned to see Lady Kendal and Lady Louisa descending from their own elegant carriage, both dressed in the highest of fashion. The mother fairly glittered with tiny jewels at her throat and ears while her daughter’s ringlets bounced perfectly around her face.

Lady Kendal was all smooth authority, her gaze as sharp as ever as she approached. “What a fortunate coincidence,” she said with a faint smile. “We were discussing our meeting of the Ladies’ Charitable Society, and thought you and Miss Daphne might care to join us.”

Felicity hesitated, glancing toward Daphne, who looked between them with a mixture of interest and uncertainty.

The polite refusal formed swiftly in her mind, but before she could utter it, Lady Kendal added smoothly, “I am certain Colonel Halstead will not object. Indeed, according to my Louisa, he seems quite dedicated to ensuring Miss Daphne’s social engagements are appropriate. What better company than ourselves, and for such a good cause?”

Felicity’s spine stiffened. It was a challenge, lightly spoken but unmistakable. To refuse would seem ungracious, but to accept without consulting Edward could be construed as her overstepping.

It was a puzzle, but if she explained the situation to him later, she was certain he would understand. Turning away an invitation from a peeress was never a wise course of action.

“Of course, my lady. We would be honored.”

Lady Kendal’s smile widened just slightly. “Excellent. We are gathering at Lady Denton’s home this afternoon. Come, ride in our carriage with us. We are but a street away.”

Felicity turned to the coachman, giving quick murmured instructions. “Take our carriage to Colonel Halstead. Let him know where we are, and that we shall return home later.”

The man nodded, touching his hat before climbing into the driver’s seat.

As the ladies entered Lady Kendal’s carriage, Felicity forced down her dislike of the altered course of the afternoon. She was not one to throw out plans, and the impromptu invitation struck her as calculated in some way. And, if she was being truly honest, she was rather curious to see what Edward would do about it, given his need to remain informed and in control of Daphne’s comings and goings.

But she could not think of that now. When they arrived at the home of the countess hosting the committee, Felicity could not help admiring it. The drawing room of Lady Denton’s home was pleasantly warm, the scent of beeswax polish and freshly brewed tea mingling with the faint perfume of the well-dressed women gathered within made it feel like a haven of femininity. It made her long for her brother’s home, or her parents’. She could not help contrasting the welcoming decor with the sparseness of Briarwood.

Felicity sat beside Lady Kendal on a lovely scarlet settee, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she listened to an elderly dowager, Sarah, Countess Whitby, speak of charitable funds allocated to widows of war veterans. Daphne sat across from her, engaged in polite and demure conversation with Lady Louisa. Though her niece had initially seemed nervous about the visit, she now acted perfectly at ease, nodding attentively and offering quiet smiles.

Felicity should have felt content…and yet she could not shake the lingering tension in her chest.

Lady Kendal had made the invitation seem effortless, a mere polite suggestion. But Felicity knew better. The woman was testing her; testing how pliable she was, how well she understood the delicate games of Society.

Her fingers tightened around her teacup as she considered her position. As Daphne’s aunt, and a gentlewoman with her own income, albeit small, she ought to act as an equal in the company of fine women. Filling the role of companion to her niece put her lower in status, true, yet kept tongues from wagging about her living arrangement.

Was Lady Kendal prying? Or was her attention to the Price ladies innocent?

What was to be gained either way?

The rules of Society were often interpreted by the powerful in whatever way they wished. All she could truly do was wait and see what came next.

She did not have long to wait.

“I understand, from what Lady Kendal tells me,” a woman named Mrs. Plumpton said from another chair, “that you reside with your niece at the home of her guardian. Is that so, Miss Price?”

Felicity kept her hands delicately folded in her lap. “We do. My late brother’s will specified that I was to remain with my niece until she no longer had need of me.”

“Her guardian is a Mr. Edward Halstead, is he not?” another woman asked.

“Indeed, though he maintains his rank as his title. Colonel Halstead has been adamant about honoring my late brother’s wishes and has ensured only the best for my niece.” Felicity glanced to where Daphne sat, noting her niece was watching with a curious expression on her face. Dangerous ground indeed, but navigated well…so far.

Lady Kendal laughed airily and unnecessarily. “Of course he would. What man knows anything about launching a girl into Society? The man needs you, my dear.”

Although she had made that argument herself a number of times, it felt condescending when the Countess spoke that way. Felicity could hardly claim him capable on his own, though, without making her presence seem either superfluous or suspicious.

“Halstead,” the older dowager murmured. “Halstead. I know that name. His father had two sons, did he not? The elder inherited, of course. The first for the family, the second for the country, the third for God.” She seemed to drift away in thought. “That is what we always did, you know.”

Lady Kendal seemed impatient for the woman to finish speaking, as she quickly said, “Of course the name would be familiar, Lady Whitby. Were you not saying to me, a scant three days past, that you remembered some sort of rumor regarding that family?” She cut a sharp look at Felicity. “From ages and ages ago, I am certain.”