“Enjoy the quiet.” She raised one finely shaped brow. “You will have more than enough to do soon.”
“That sounds daunting.” He’d been on the Town before, but had not really participated in the Season when it came to young ladies.
“It can be.” Her tone was dry, but her eyes twinkled. Was she still comparing him to a young lady making her come out? “At least you will not have to be approved to be able to waltz at Almack’s.”
He thought she would have said more, but they’d reached his mother and her grandmother. Lady Thornhill was with the older ladies, and they bade her farewell.
When they gained the pavement Nate bowed to the duchess. “Your grace, it was a pleasure meeting you.”
“And I was happy to meet you.” She inclined her head.
Miss Stern held out her hand and he took it. “I hope we will see each other again soon.”
“I am certain we will.” She smiled. “After all, you ride in the mornings.”
“I do.” Even though he wanted to continue to stand there with her, duty and good manners demanded he assist the duchess into her town coach. Once she was settled, he handed in Miss Stern. “Until the next time.”
“Yes.” She gave a barely perceptible nod. “Until then.”
He backed up, closed the door, and watched as the vehicle started forward.
His mother touched his arm. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“I did, but I don’t understand why the duchess allowed me to be alone with her granddaughter.”
Mama lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You made a good impression on her when she joined us for dinner.”
Obviously he was going to be told no more. He helped his mother into the carriage, then jumped in, settling on the rear-facing bench. “Thank you.”
Mama shook her head. “I will not deny I had something to do with it, but it was you who made the difference.”
Remembering how unnerved he’d been that evening, he didn’t understand how that could be. “I wish I knew how.”
“By being the man you have become.” She leaned forward slightly. “You must have faith that everything will work itself out. I would not have encouraged you to take part in the Season if I did not believe you were ready.”
Nate knew his mother well enough to believe that. She wanted to see him married and taking his place in Polite Society, but she would not have been in favor of this year if she hadn’t thought he was now thoroughly prepared. “Thank you. I will do my best.”
His first test had been being introduced to Miss Stern. Tomorrow was the second test, meeting his old friend again. The third? That would be convincing Miss Stern that he was the right gentleman for her.
* * *
“Henrietta.” Grandmamma had settled back against the velvet squabs of her elegant town coach. “I must say I was impressed by Lord Fotherby.”
All she did was greet him, and Henrietta wondered why. Surely she had been at least as angry about him abducting Dotty as the rest of the family. “How so, ma’am?”
Grandmamma touched the quizzing glass she wore pinned to her gown, and Henrietta wondered if she was going to be the recipient of “the eye,” as she and her brothers and sisters called it. “You probably do not know that his mother has been a dear friend for many years. And I have been privy to what her son has been doing. How he has been meeting his new challenges and maturing.”
Now that Henrietta thought of it, she would wager her pearls that this was not a chance meeting. “Indeed?”
Her grandmother’s chin rose. That was interesting. She had never seen the duchess so defensive. “Catherine recently invited me to dinner. I went in disguise.”
This was becoming more interesting. “Disguised as what?”
“We told him I was Lady Fitzwilliam.” Grandmamma finished the sentence as if it was a pronouncement.
Considering the way she habitually carried herself, Henrietta had trouble believing that Lord Fotherby did not think something was smoky. “Your masquerade was calling yourself by one of your lesser titles?”
“Yes.” Grandmamma fidgeted, as if she was not sitting quite comfortably enough. “Although I think he became a bit suspicious at times.”
He was not at all stupid. If she had questioned him—the duchess was incapable of using anything other than interrogatory questions—he would have wondered what was going on. “I understand.”
“I knew you would.” She gave a decisive nod. When Henrietta did not respond her grandmother widened her eyes. “Are you not interested in what I discovered?”
As tempted as she was to say no, that would not make her grandmother happy. Not only that, but she really did want to know what she could tell him about Lord Fotherby. “I am, a little. I will not be rushed into making a decision. There are two other gentlemen who have also caught my eye.”
“My dear child, you must do as you wish, but I can tell you that Lord Fotherby is looking for a love match. And he wishes a helpmate.”
She was glad she hadn’t been drinking anything. As it was, she almost choked, and quickly covered it as a cough. “You asked him if he wanted a love match?”
Grandmamma stared out the window for a few moments, as if considering how to answer, before fixing her gaze on Henrietta. “Do you know, I might have done just that? But he volunteered that he wanted a helpmate and would value his wife’s opinion.”
Her mouth had dropped open, and she shut it so quickly her teeth clicked together. Good Lord. Poor Lord Fotherby! She could not imagine him having to have that conversation with her grandmother. “I see.” Her words were a little shakier than she would have liked. Poor, poor Fotherby. But what was amazing was that he had not indicated at all that he had met her grandmother before. That was true discretion. Well, she certainly was not going to mention the conversation with him. He had suffered enough embarrassment.
“Thank you.” Henrietta only uttered the words because that was what her grandmother would expect to hear. “However, under the circumstances, I am hesitant to encourage him.”
“I expected you to say that.” Grandmamma gave an exasperated huff. “Oh, very well. I see it is up to me to put him on the same footing as your other suitors.”
“How are you going to do that?” Henrietta had been attempting to think of something for almost a week now, as had her friends, and none of them had come up with any ideas at all. One could not simply tell one’s family to forget all about the abduction. If her sister had not decided to allow Lady Fotherby to school her son, Henrietta was absolutely certain Merton and Worthington would have found a way for him to be sent to the Antipodes.
“I am not yet certain.” Grandmamma frowned. “I believe I will be able to talk your parents around. It is your sister and Merton who will be harder to convince.”
As far as Henrietta was concerned, they would all be difficult. She would like to say she would choose the gentleman with whom she fell in love. But Dorie had tried that, and it had not worked at all. It had been, in fact, a Grand Failure.
When Henrietta arrived home she was greeted by two lovely bouquets of hot house flowers set on the table in the hall.
“Where would you like them put, Miss Henrietta?” Parkin asked.