“Yes, miss.” He gazed pointedly down at the floor. For the first time she understood why Merton wished his butler was more stoic. She had not needed to know a puddle was forming at her feet.
Taking the stairs as quickly as she could, she rushed to her chamber. “Spyer, I am a mess.”
“That’s not surprising in the least. As soon as it started to rain I pulled out the tub and sent for hot water. Let’s get you out of those clothes.”
Henrietta held up the hat. “Do you think it can be saved?”
“Not the feather.” Her maid took the bonnet. “Go wash your hands and face. I hope it comes off.”
She went behind the screen and grabbed the soap. It took a little scrubbing, but soon the red dye was gone. By the time she was done, hot water was in the bathtub and she was starting to shiver. Spyer had Henrietta undressed in almost no time and into the hot water.
“I hope you don’t take a chill.”
“We almost made it. It only started to pour when we reached the entrance to the square.”
Spyer’s tightly closed lips indicated that she was not impressed. “Next time—and I assume there will be a next time—try to pay a little more attention to the weather.”
“I will. I hope I did not ruin my habit.” It was her favorite one.
“I’ll do what I can.” Her maid’s tone was not promising.
“Thank you.” It was not fashionable to thank servants, even senior staff, but her mother, the daughter of a duchess, maintained that being kind and respectful to servants prompted them to give better service, and she liked thanking people for their work. Everyone should be appreciated for doing a good job. Henrietta sank into the warm water.
“You’re welcome, Miss Henrietta. You know I will always do my best for you.”
“I do know it”—she smiled to herself—“and I do not know what I would do without you.”
“Well, pray God we never find out.” Her maid gave a rare sniff.
She really could not complain. The only time Spyer was put out was when she thought Henrietta had endangered her health. Coming back cold and wet was high on the list of things being dangerous to one’s health. “I will not tell you there is no need to be concerned. Although I do think that I was able to get warm before any damage was done.”
Two buckets of hot water later, Henrietta’s skin was a rosy shade of pink. Standing, she stepped into a warm towel. She would be fine. But she did worry about Dorie. Although she was surely receiving the same treatment as Henrietta. Shortly after her hair was dried and pinned up, she dressed in a light, woolen day dress and went down to the breakfast room.
CHAPTER NINE
When Henrietta arrived for breakfast, only Merton was there. “Is Dotty not feeling well?”
He finished chewing and swallowed. “It’s the baby again. I suggested she take her breakfast in her chamber, and she agreed.” He pulled a face. “Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at convincing her she should remain in bed for the rest of the day.”
Poor Merton. He so much wanted to protect Dotty, and she would only allow a certain amount of coddling. “I’m sure she will be fine. This baby seems very different from the first one. Do you think it’s a sign of a boy?”
“It could be, but that means nothing to me if she is not well.” He picked up a piece of toast and frowned.
“Is there anyone you could ask?” Maybe being around one of his friends who had gone through this would help him.
He stared at Henrietta as if she were an aberration. “That’s an excellent idea. Kenilworth and Rothwell will be in Town soon. I’ll visit them when they arrive.” He frowned again. “I am right that Louisa had a boy, am I not?”
“Yes.” Henrietta hid her smile. “In December.”
“I thought Thea had mentioned it. It’s the off year when I have trouble keeping track of everyone.”
That confused Henrietta until she remembered that every other year Louisa and the Worthington family spent Christmas together, and last year everyone remained at their own homes. Dotty and Merton joined in the rota because the gathering was always at Stanwood House, Grace Worthington’s family home, which was close to Dotty and Henrietta’s family. But Henrietta wondered if they would go there this year; Charlie, Earl of Stanwood, would still be on his Grand Tour. She gave herself a shake. Her close and extended family was growing by the year. Not a month ago, her friend, Adeline Littleton, had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Dorie had a baby, and Georgie would have one this year. Of the five of them, only Henrietta and Augusta were not filling their nurseries. But at least Augusta was married.
Henrietta nibbled on a piece of toast. Stupidly, she had not thought it would affect her that her friends were all married, but she was definitely starting to feel left out. Of course, none of them purposely spent less time with her, but they had their own families. Had she been too hasty in rejecting the offers she received last Season? She speared a piece of her baked egg. No, none of them had been the right gentleman. And marrying simply to wed and have a family was not the answer. Not for her. Her mind drifted to the gentleman with the dog. Would he be the right one? He had not seemed to think it strange that she was rescuing children. And as it was something she was determined to continue to do after she married, any husband she had would have to agree.
Merton stood. “I must be off.”
“Have a good day.” She finished eating and went to the library. The room was almost two stories high with a balcony that went around the upper floor, and a spiral staircase connecting the balcony to the ground floor. Books dating back centuries could be found, and they were all shelved by subject and author. Two large fireplaces were kept lit, warming the room, until late in the evening because Merton, Dotty, Henrietta, and the Dowager Lady Merton when she was in residence frequented the room on a regular basis. Henrietta found a book she had loathed when she was still in the schoolroom a few years before written by Ovid, in Greek. Her father did not believe that ladies should be taught less than gentlemen. Which meant that in addition to all the things she and her sisters had to learn to be proper ladies, they also had to study Latin, Greek, and the higher maths. She remembered an argument she’d had with her sister, attempting to maintain that men did not want intelligent and educated females. It had not taken long for Henrietta to be proven wrong. At least about any gentleman she would want to wed.
She curled up in a large, brown velvet chair and opened the book, which had become an old friend. About a half hour later a tea tray arrived with slices of lemon cake and two ginger biscuits. The footman had entered the room and left before the scents reached her nose. She poured a cup of tea, selected a biscuit, and got lost in the story again.
“Miss,” Parkin said rather loudly. “A letter from Exeter House has arrived for you.”
“Thank you.” She held out her hand for the missive, written on finely pressed paper.
Placing the book on a small, round cherry table next to the chair, she popped open the seal.
My dearest Henrietta,
I had my groom follow “the gentleman.” He turned onto Charles Street and into the mews, and stopped at the first stables. According to my map, that puts him at Forty Grosvenor Street. That house has been occupied by the Fotherby family since it was built. I trust this information is helpful.