The question was, should he? Miss Stern seemed as if she would like to be interested in him, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by pushing things along too quickly. At least not yet. “Perhaps it would be better if I see you there.”
Turley tilted his head to one side. “That might be a better strategy, at that.”
“Strategy?” Nate didn’t understand.
“Of course.” Turley seemed surprised. “One must have a plan of action if one wishes the lady he desires to return his affections. There is no use leaving it to fate.” Then he grimaced. “On the other hand, I was extremely happy when fate intervened with my plan.”
Nate hid his smile. “I take it your scheme was not working?”
“That would be one way of putting it.” Turley had a rueful smile on his face. “Fortunately, it all turned out well in the end.”
“The two of you look very happy.” As did Exeter and his lady. There were two more couples that had successful love matches to add to his count.
“We are. Of course, we would have been happier longer if I’d taken any advice, but I was determined to do it my way.” Turley pulled a face. “Do not make my mistake.”
“I will try not to.” Although other than Turley and Exeter and their ladies, Nate didn’t know who would bother to give him assistance. Rather the opposite. And he was extremely attracted to Miss Stern. He’d never met a lady quite like her. Or at all like her. Yet he had a feeling courting her would not be easy.
They reached his house and Turley bade him farewell.
As Nate climbed the steps, he wondered if any more of his clothing had been delivered. It hadn’t mattered before, but he did not wish to wear what he had on when it would only end up smelling like horse. And he didn’t want to wear an older suit.
Hulatt opened the door and bowed.
“Have Styles attend me,” Nate said as he passed by.
“I believe he is already in your dressing room, my lord. A package arrived, and he took it upstairs.”
“Excellent.” Or he hoped it was. Then again, she had already seen him in his country-made kit and hadn’t seemed to mind. In any event, how busy could the Park be? It was still two weeks until Easter.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Henrietta waited with Georgie while Dorie went to the nursery to tend to her baby. “I am very happy you arrived so early.”
“As am I. We would have been here sooner”—Georgie got a strange sort of smile on her face—“We were not far from London, but I was tired, and Turley insisted we stop for the night.” She gave a happy sigh and took Henrietta’s hands. “I have never been happier. He is all I could have dreamed of in a husband and more.”
“I am glad for you.” And for all her friends. “I will not be content until I find a gentleman who treats me as well as your husbands treat you, Adeline, Dorie, and Augusta.” It had surprised all of them that Augusta found marriage so much fun. Then again, she had wed a gentleman who was interested in the same things she was.
“You must think it might be Lord Fotherby.” A small line formed between Georgie’s brows. “I mean”—she bit down on her lower lip—“he appears to be a very nice man.”
“Yes.” And that was the crux of the problem. He was an extremely kind gentleman, and a responsible and caring one. “But he must also deal with his past. I spoke with Grace Worthington, and she told me how Merton had changed. Apparently none of the Vivers liked him at all. And I do believe Fotherby has changed from what he was before.”
“But?”
“But when my sister decided to marry Merton she was not going against her family.” Henrietta wondered what Dotty would have done if Mama and Papa had not liked Merton. “If he does not make peace with my sister and Merton, not to mention my parents, what would I do? I refuse to allow myself to grow fonder of him if it means breaking with my family.” They were too important to her. She could not imagine never being on good terms with them.
Georgie wrinkled her nose. “That is a point, and a good one. The only thing you can do is let him work it out.” She took up her cup, swirled the now-cold tea, and set it back down again. “If you decide you want to know him better, we will give you all the assistance we can.” She looked Henrietta in her eyes. “You know we will.”
She patted her friend’s hands. “I do know that. I would dearly love to be able to let this take its course, but I”—she what? Was afraid? She had never been fearful of anything before—“I must give it more thought.”
Georgie gave Henrietta a small smile. “It will all work out the way it is meant to. I firmly believe that. It has with the rest of us, even Augusta.”
Augusta, who had vowed not to wed until she had finished her studies, but had married Lord Phineas after all. “Then I suppose I must too.” The problem was, Henrietta did not like not being able to control a situation. “I think I hear Dorie.” She placed her bonnet on her head and attached it with a long hat-pin. “I cannot wait to see this new carriage.”
“Neither can I.” Georgie drew on her gloves. “Exeter has a talent for designing them.”
A moment later Dorie swept into the room smiling brightly. “My carriage is waiting for us.”
Exchanging a humorous glance, Henrietta and Georgie followed their friend out of the morning room and to the hall, where they retrieved their mantels, then strolled out of the house.
The barouche was almost a work of art. The body was Pompeian red, but flowers painted in multiple colors and gold piping decorated the body. The wheels and lines of the vehicle were also picked out in gold. The interior bench was black, but the squabs were the same red as the body and embroidered with flowers. The effect was stunning.
“I do not believe I have ever seen such an elaborately designed barouche.” Henrietta walked around the carriage. She looked for a door on the other side, but there was none. “What is inside?”
“Exeter had tables that fold out added.” Dorie was almost giddy. “Do you like it?”
Henrietta did. “I do. How did he come up with the idea?”
Her friend’s cheeks turned an interesting color red. “We were talking one night, and he asked me to describe the type of barouche I would like. I told him my fantasy of a carriage, but I never thought he would actually have one made to my specifications.”
“It seems he did.” Georgie reached for the handle, but a footman opened the door. “You will be the envy of every lady in Town.”
Henrietta agreed. “I predict flowers painted on carriages will become the newest rage.” Turley and Exeter trotted up on their horses. “It is time to test the cushions.”
The footman assisted her into the carriage, but the gentlemen dismounted and handed their wives in. Unexpectedly, the seat was long enough that the three of them could easily fit on one bench. Even being in the middle she did not feel crowded. It struck her forcefully that she truly did wish to wed. It was no fun at all being the sole unmarried female in a group of married couples. An image of Fotherby unhelpfully entered her mind. She was surprised he had not been invited to accompany them.
The carriage started forward, jerking her thoughts back to the luxury of the barouche. “The seat is extremely comfortable. I could almost take a nap.”