“Yes, indeed.” She opened a frilly parasol, tilting it to shade her face. “I hope that this weather will continue.”
“I just arrived in Town late yesterday,” St. Albans said. “Do you know if any entertainments have been planned?”
“Not anything large,” Dorie responded. “Easter is a few weeks away. Although, judging by the number of people here today, there are sure to be smaller entertainments.”
“Please keep me in mind if you plan anything.” St. Albans smiled, and even though he spoke to Lady Exeter, Nate was certain his smile was for Miss Stern, who, as an unmarried lady, could not hold an entertainment.
“I, as well, would appreciate an invitation.” Bolingbroke directed his smile at her too.
She glanced at Nate, and it felt as if a vice had suddenly gripped his heart. A small smile played around the corners of her lips. “Lord Fotherby, would you also like invitations?”
“Naturally, I would be honored to attend any event at which you will be present.” That came out better than he’d thought it would. “My mother is in Town and planning to host a few small entertainments before the Season begins. May I ask her to invite all of you?”
Miss Stern’s smile froze on her luscious red lips, but both the other ladies nodded.
“That would be delightful,” Lady Exeter said approvingly.
“I agree.” The look Lady Turley gave him made him feel like a boy who had done something right.
Still, he wanted to hear from Miss Stern. He held his breath until she nodded. “I would be happy to receive an invitation.”
“I say,” Lord St. Albans broke in. “I believe m’mother is due to arrive within the next week or so. I’ll have to speak with her about her plans for the Season.”
“Mine as well. I’m certain she’ll be here soon,” Lord Bolingbroke said.
Nate kept his grin to himself. If the ladies did not have plans to travel to the metropolis, they would as soon as their sons wrote to them.
He was about to make his excuses when the boy he’d seen at the Phoenix Society ran up to him. “Sir, the butler told me I’d find you ’ere. Can you come? We need some ’elp.”
Someone had clearly been working on the lad’s diction, even if he did still drop his Hs. “Yes. I will go with you now.” He bowed to the ladies and inclined his head to the gentlemen. “If you will excuse me. I hope to see you another time.”
Henrietta’s shapely black brows slammed together, and her head tilted as if she was trying to work out a problem. If he hadn’t been on horseback, he would have offered to take her with him. Yet, as it was . . .
“Sir, please hurry,” the youth urged.
He turned his horse toward the far gate and reached his hand down. “Shall I meet you there, or do you wish to ride behind me?”
“I’ll ride with you.” The lad grabbed Nate’s hand and swung himself onto the back of his horse.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Henrietta watched Lord Fotherby ride off with Toby. Mrs. Perriman must be short-handed again. Had the boy gone to Merton House and been informed she was out?
“I wonder who that young lad was?” Georgie mused.
“It must be someone who works for him.” Lord St. Albans seemed to easily dismiss it all as he turned his smile back to Henrietta.
“That must be it.” Lord Bolingbroke started his horse as the coach rolled forward, and their uninvited escort moved with it.
Dorie poked Henrietta in the side, but she shook her head. This was not a subject she would discuss now. Still, it was unexpected that Lord Fotherby had been summoned by Mrs. Perriman. That was the only reason she would send Toby to Fotherby. For some reason she had needed assistance. But what impressed Henrietta was that he had not hesitated in the least to answer the call for help. She wondered if her sister knew. Well, there was only one way to find out. She would have to ask.
The rest of the ride around the carriage way and home was filled with what passed for fashionable talk, when she would much rather have been assisting in the rescue. By the time they reached her house, she was heartily sick of polite chatter. It was one thing to put up with it in snatches during a dance, but it was quite another thing to be fed a steady stream of it without respite. Goodness, what was wrong with her? Polite conversation had never irritated her before.
Lords Bolingbroke and St. Albans quibbled good naturedly about which one of them should be allowed to hand her down from the barouche. It was rather childish behavior, but when she slid a glance to Dorie and Georgie, they were laughing lightly, clearly entertained. Perhaps Henrietta should consider their behavior as lighthearted flirting. Bolingbroke won the honor of handing her down to the pavement. But he could not stop St. Albans from following them to her door.
“I hope, Miss Stern,” Lord Bolingbroke said, “that I may be allowed to call on you.”
“Yes, of course.” He bowed over her hand and kissed the air above her fingers. Despite her earlier irritation, she began to be amused. This might be a more interesting Season than she thought it would be.
“Miss Stern.” Lord St. Albans bowed as well. “I am looking forward to our ride tomorrow.”
“As am I.” Once again the air over her fingers was kissed. Much more interesting. She should not have been so out of sorts earlier.
The door had opened at some point during their farewells, and Parkin gave the gentlemen a wry look as they took themselves down the steps to their horses. “I see it is going to be a lively Season, Miss Henrietta.”
She tried not to laugh. “Apparently it is.” Poor Parkin. He was obviously not looking forward to it. “Is my sister in?”
“Yes. She is in her parlor. The weekly report from the Phoenix Society arrived not long ago.”
If Fotherby had gone to help Mrs. Perriman, Henrietta wondered who had been left to bring it around. “Thank you.”
She made her way to Dotty’s parlor, where she found her sister staring at a pile of banknotes. Had Dotty made a large withdrawal? No. If that was the case, she wouldn’t be staring at the money as if she had never seen it before.
“Good afternoon.” Henrietta strolled into the room. “Where did that come from?”
“Mrs. Perriman sent it over with the report.” Her sister raised her head, revealing a perplexed look. “It is a donation.”
Henrietta gazed down at the banknotes. “How much is it?”
Dotty took a breath. “One thousand pounds. Mrs. Perriman hired a constable to bring it over.”
“One thousand pounds?” Henrietta’s heart almost stopped, and she dropped into the chair next to the desk. They had never received such a large donation before. “Who is it from?”
Dotty shook her head. “That’s just it. I have no idea. The person wished to remain anonymous.” She smoothed out a letter that had been partially folded and picked it up. “She said a youngish gentleman brought it by on the instruction of his employer.” She glanced at Henrietta. “She also said that the gentleman who helped you came to speak to her as well. He wanted to know how the baby was doing. His name is Mr. Meadows, and he offered to be of assistance should she need help in the future.”
“That was kind of him.” She knew Fotherby would not give his true name. He was not ready for her sister or Merton to know he had met her. And she agreed with that sentiment. But she had not thought he would tell an outright lie. Then Henrietta remembered that he had been Mr. Meadows for much longer than he’d been Lord Fotherby. Therefore, not a complete falsehood, and it was for a good cause. And now she knew why he had been summoned. Could he also be the unknown benefactor? Based on what he told Mrs. Perriman, it stood to reason that he would want to help the society continue.