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Three days later, Bridget spent the morning answering correspondence from the women she’d remained friends with from school. All of them were married now, with two of them already embracing motherhood. She sighed. They were her age, barely past one and twenty. It was a shame that Society expected young girls to go directly from the schoolroom to the marriage bed.
That thought had her squirming in her seat. After the few kisses Cam had bestowed upon her, she would not mind discovering what the marriage bed was all about. She’d had no mother to provide information on how different it was for men and women, as opposed to how farm animals did it—please, God, she prayed it was—so she was left pretty much in the dark on that subject.
She laid her pen down and stared out the window. Yesterday Cam had had his appointment with Lord Davenport. Hopefully, the man had been threatened enough by what Cam had uncovered about this finances that he was already on a ship to somewhere else. Far away.
America, with any luck.
Tonight they were to attend a small soiree. Cam had indicated that social events were growing slim with most everyone of importance already retired to their country estates. Constance had indicated on the way home from the theater that she and Lord Dunmore were returning to his estate, where they would stay until the new babe was born.
When Bridget asked about Catherine, who had become a permanent part of the household, Constance had merely shrugged and said the child would remain with them until such time as the mother claimed her. Based on the terror on the woman’s face when she’d shoved the child at them, it was unlikely the child would ever be reclaimed. Despite losing a mother’s love, the child was much better off where she was.
She sighed and her thoughts drifted to Lord Campbell and where they were in their relationship. If there was a relationship at all. If he was remaining in London with the hope of marrying her off, it would be quite some time before that happened. Absolutely no man had appealed to her in a way that could result in marriage.
No one at all?
Liar.
With them so close to setting up a house for needy women, she did not want to leave London, anyway. Once the place was established and fully staffed, she could merely oversee her project and begin the business of soliciting funds from others. Maybe set up a board of directors to see to running the endeavor, so it did not fall completely on her shoulders.
However, every day the country beckoned her. Shooting, riding, fresh air, and long walks. Cam might be amenable to helping her finance the women’s house until her twenty-third birthday, but he would certainly not do the same for her to purchase a house outside of Town.
“My lady, you have a visitor.” Fiona stood at the door to the sitting room Constance generously shared with her. Her host and hostess, along with their entourage, had departed for the country the day before.
“Who is calling?” Bridget glanced at the dainty pink-and-white china clock on the fireplace mantel. Fifteen past one. Quite early for callers, and Fridays were not Constance’s normal calling days.
“Lord Davenport.”
“Indeed.” That was peculiar. Apparently, whatever had passed between the men yesterday, it had not encouraged the cad to hop on a ship. Perhaps something had come up and they hadn’t even had the meeting.
She really didn’t want to deal with him, but until she heard from Cam she would need to pretend all was well between them. “Very well. Put him in the front parlor, please, and tell him I will be right down.”
After returning to her bedchamber and taking very little time and effort with her appearance, she made her way downstairs.
Davenport studied her carefully as if searching for something, then smiled brightly and took her extended hand. Thank goodness he kissed only the air above it. “You look charming this morning, my lady. As always, I might add.”
No. Apparently Cam hadn’t told Davenport yet about his discoveries, so she must play along as the interested potential bride. “Good morning to you as well, Lord Davenport. Shall I send for tea?”
“That would be lovely, but I had in mind a nice ride in the park this morning. With the weather so delightful, I have my phaeton with me for our pleasure.”
She glanced out the window. “It is a bit chilly for a phaeton ride, is it not?”
“Ah, but the fresh air will do us good, and I have several nice woolen blankets to cover us.”
She almost lost her breakfast at the idea of being cozy under a blanket with Lord Davenport. The thought of leaving the house with him unnerved her, but he certainly did not behave like a man who was about to be ruined. She would do this one thing and send a note to Cam to find out when the meeting would take place. “Very well, I will get my things.”
She headed to her bedchamber. Fiona was in her room, going through clothes in her closet. “I will need my warm Bishop’s Blue redingote with the fur trim. Lord Davenport is insisting on a ride to the park in his phaeton, and I am sure it will be quite chilly.”
“Then you won’t need me to accompany you?”
“No. And even if I did, the vehicle seats only two.”
Taken by surprise by his visit and so certain that the meeting had taken place, it hadn’t occurred to her to claim a megrim and say that she was unable to receive him or go for a ride when he’d first arrived. But now that she had, it was better to take a short drive, plead a headache, and have him return her. Until she heard from Cam, she would not allow herself to be in Davenport’s company again.
She forced herself to hold onto Davenport’s arm as she made her way down the stairs to the phaeton, standing proudly—and most likely unpaid for—at the end of the pathway. He assisted her into the carriage, climbed into the other side, and snapped the ribbons for the two horses to move forward.
Despite her reluctance to take the ride and her disgust with the person accompanying her, it was quite nice outdoors, the pale sunlight adding some warmth to the cool November air. She breathed in deeply as they made their way through Mayfair and into Hyde Park. As expected, there was light traffic in the park, because those still in Town took their afternoon ride much later in the day.
“I should probably not speak of this yet, given that your guardian and I are still working out the settlements, but you must know I intend to claim you as my bride.” He turned to her, offering such a sweet smile that she was taken aback.
