“It can be a bit manic at times.” Lady Exeter smiled. “Lord and Lady Worthington now have two children of their own, as well as another one on the way.”
“It is only fair.” Lady Turley laughed. “They got the three older sisters married off.”
“There were two ladies with Lady Merton when she came out. Are those the ones who wed?”
“Yes.” Lady Exeter smiled. “They are now the Marchioness of Kenilworth and the Duchess of Rothwell.”
Merton had mentioned Kenilworth and Rothwell as being married to his wife’s friends. Nate had not known how right he’d been in thinking there was turning out to be a number of highly placed people who could stand between him and Henrietta Stern. But Lady Worthington and her younger sisters had seemed more interested in him than angry at him. Could her ladyship be an ally? He already had his mother and Miss Stern’s grandmother, but one more couldn’t hurt, especially when she was the sister of both of Lady Merton’s friends.
“I thought of getting together a party to attend the theater,” Lady Exeter said. “Unfortunately, until Lent is over the only thing on offer is a lecture on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.”
No wonder his mother had not yet arranged the theater party he had asked her to.
Lady Turley glanced at her husband. “Gavin, has our stable master said what the weather will be?”
“He expects relatively warm and sunny days for the rest of the week.” Lord Turley’s brows furrowed as he regarded his wife. “Why?”
“Well, as there is nothing particular going on tomorrow evening, I thought a ride out to Richmond and an al fresco luncheon might be fun. If you gentlemen can take a day from the Lords, that is.” Nate joined Turley and Exeter in nodding their agreement to the plan. Then she pressed her lips together and shook her head. “It won’t do. I forgot Dorie was planning a party in her garden.”
Lady Exeter waved her hand as if to say it was no matter. “I have not seen any young ladies to invite. As I said before, I must wait until after Lady Bellamny’s soirée.”
“Very well.” Lady Turley smiled at them all. “Let us agree to meet tomorrow at eleven for a trip to Richmond. I shall send a note to Henrietta when I get home.”
Nate thought that was an excellent idea. It would give him even more time with Henrietta. Hopefully tomorrow he’d find time to be alone with her.
Henrietta.
He’d been calling her that to himself, and he should not. What if it slipped out? She had not, after all, given him permission to address her by her first name.
The other four chatted amiably the rest of the way around the carriage way, until Lady Turley turned her attention to him. “Lord Fotherby, you are being very quiet.”
A flush of warmth rose from his neck. “I suppose I am.” He shrugged. “I was thinking how long it had been since I’d visited Richmond Park.” He hadn’t done it when he’d been on the Town. “I believe the last time was when I was a child.”
“Now that I think of it, it was the same for me,” Lady Exeter said.
“I as well.” Lady Turley tilted her head. “How strange that we did not go last year.”
“I recall last Season being extremely busy.” Lady Exeter moved the angle of her parasol as they swung toward the gate.
“In that event we should all enjoy ourselves,” he said to himself. Henrietta had probably not been there at all. He wondered if there was a map of the park at home. Then it occurred to him that with riding with her in the morning and the visit to Richmond Park, he would spend most of the day with her tomorrow. Thank God for that. He’d felt at a disadvantage with Bolingbroke and St. Albans. Nate had honestly believed that once he had it out with Merton, his problems would be over. Yet that did not appear to be the case. Perhaps he had been going about this the wrong way. If he was able to attach Henrietta’s attentions, that might go a long way to being accepted by her sister and brother-in-law. He sighed softly. Even if her grandmother accepted him, and possibly her parents, he suspected her relationship with her sister was strong enough to present difficulties. Then again, what sort of man was he if he gave up before he was even challenged? Yes, he had made a serious error in judgment, but he was still an eligible gentleman. Merton hadn’t let anyone or anything get in the way of marrying the woman he wanted. It was time for Nate to stop wallowing in self-castigation.
He parted from the group when they continued to Turley House on Green Street and went home. Tomorrow, he’d change his tactics.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Henrietta grinned at Parkin as she stepped into the hall. He closed the door behind her. “Thank you for being so prompt.”
“Only doing my duty, Miss Henrietta. I thought you might need a little assistance.”
“You were right.” She removed the hat-pins in her bonnet. “Is Merton here?”
“No. He returned from the boxing salon and left again.”
At this rate she would never find out if he and Fotherby had fought and settled their differences. “My sister?”
“Her ladyship is resting.”
It seemed that was all Dotty did these days. Not for the first time, Henrietta sent up a prayer for her sister and the baby. Her sister probably would not be in Town if it was not for her requiring a second Season. She wondered if Dorie or Georgie had returned from the Park. They must have. Their carriage was before Lord Bolingbroke’s leaving the Park.
A knock came at the door, and Henrietta turned to see who it was, but Parkin blocked her view. When he turned back around he handed her a missive. “From Lady Turley.”
“Thank you.” She took the letter. “I shall be in my parlor. Please have tea sent up.”
“At once, Miss Henrietta.” The butler bowed and spoke to a young footman standing off to the side.
The note seemed to burn through her gloves to her hand, and she wanted to open it before she got to her apartments, but she made herself wait. Spyer took Henrietta’s spencer, bonnet, and gloves. The tea came, and the second the door was shut she popped open the seal.
My dearest Henrietta,
I have decided to get up a small party for an al fresco luncheon at Richmond Park. It will be just the six of us. I hope that is acceptable. Six? Who is the sixth person? Fotherby. That must be it.
We will depart at eleven o’clock and fetch you shortly thereafter.
I look forward to seeing you in the morning for our ride.
Your friend,
G. T.
Henrietta took out a piece of pressed paper and wrote her acceptance. Once she had sealed the letter she strolled into her dressing room and found her maid putting away new gowns.
“They turned out well,” Spyer commented.
For the first time Henrietta noticed that her gowns were of slightly deeper colors than last year. At least she had more choices. “They did.”
Her maid looked up from what she was doing. “Did you need something?”
“A footman to take this note to Lady Turley. But I will do it. You are already occupied.” Henrietta walked out of the dressing room, stepped into the corridor, and found a footman. “Please take this to Parkin. It must be sent straightaway to Turley House.”