“A few weeks ago.” Grace gave Dotty a sympathetic smile. “She was concerned that if she liked him it would cause problems with you.” She opened her mouth, but Grace held up a hand. “You, of all people, must know that hearts are difficult if not impossible to control.”
Dotty snapped her mouth shut. “Merton.”
“Indeed. No one liked the idea that you would marry him.” Grace took a sip of tea. “But you saw or felt something about him that Matt and the others did not.”
“Yes. But he never abducted anyone.” He had been the perfect gentleman, most of the time. “He never harmed anyone.”
“Did he not?” This time when Grace raised her brows, she stared directly at Dotty, daring her to say her nay. “He might not have kidnapped a lady, but his votes in the Lords did harm to a great number of people.”
“But that is in the past.” Grace knew that. “He has changed and has done many good things since then.” Grace’s steady gaze made Dotty want to fidget. She did not want to admit that the situations might be the same. But she could not lie, not even to herself. She took a breath and let it out, then closed her eyes. “As Fotherby has done.”
“Yes.” Grace rose, went to a small sideboard, and poured two glasses of claret, then handed one to Dotty. “Tea is excellent to calm one down, but hard revelations call for wine. I met him in the Park when I took the twins and Madeline out. There is nothing of the Dandy about him now. He was very kind to the girls.”
Dotty took a sip of wine. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome. I thought it might help.” Grace set down her glass while Dotty turned hers nervously. “Merton came to talk with Matt. He said that—using his family name—Fotherby had donated a great deal of money to the charity and assisted in at least one rescue after he had helped Henrietta. Merton had to ask Fotherby about the donation. He did not reveal it, and he did not wish Henrietta to know about it. Under his own name, naturally, he has gifted the house in Richmond to the charity.”
Dotty nodded. At first she had thought he had done those things in order to increase his chances with her sister. But it had become clear that he had done it because he cared about the women and children in need. “I agree.” Lord, how she hated to say that. “He does appear to be a different person.”
“My dear, can you not accept that he has changed and allow Henrietta the happiness she deserves?” Grace’s gaze was steady, and Dotty almost felt as if she was in the schoolroom again.
“It does not seem as if I have much of a choice.” She knew she sounded churlish. “She already told me she would marry him. She even said she would live with Dorie Exeter until her wedding.”
“You could continue to object.” Grace shrugged. “I imagine you might have some sway with your parents.”
Dotty shook her head, knowing that was a lost cause. “My grandmother has already spoken to them. She is on Henrietta’s side.”
Grace put her glass of wine on the table and took one of Dotty’s hands. “You have a choice to make. You can be the smaller person and hold on to your anger, or you can be forgiving and accept the apology he seems to desperately want to make.”
She always thought of herself as a kind person. A fair person. One who believed in giving people another chance. The thought that she could be acting in a way she would condemn in another made her feel like a hypocrite. “I suppose I should act the way I expect others to do.” She drained the rest of the wine. “Thank you for listening to me.”
Grace smiled. “That is what friends are for.”
Dotty leaned over and bussed her friend’s cheek. “I had better go home and tell Henrietta that she has my blessing.”
“You will make her very happy.” Grace returned Dotty’s kiss. “Let us know when the wedding is to be.”
“I expect it will take place within the next two weeks.” She shook her head, but this time she was able to smile. “None of us like long betrothals.”
That made Grace laugh. “Very true.”
“I do not know why things are bothering me so much.” Dotty had to blink back tears. “I’ve become a watering pot. I do not know how Merton stands it.”
Grace’s brow puckered. “How far along are you?”
“Five months. This baby is so different from Vivi. He is constantly kicking me. And he is so much larger.”
Grace’s brows furrowed. “Have you never thought you might be carrying twins?”
Dotty could not stop her jaw from dropping. “No, it never even occurred to me.”
“I will give birth about the same time as you. To twins.” Grace paused, as if she was letting her words soak in. “I remember when my mother was pregnant with Alice and Eleanor. She was normally a very calm woman, but at that time she was easily upset.”
“You are not.” Dotty’s hand went unconsciously to her stomach. Twins!
“No, but I am not going about as much, and I do not have a young lady to watch over. I also know the symptoms and rest accordingly.”
Suddenly, the aforementioned twins and Madeline rushed into the room. Grace looked at them and sighed. “You knew I had someone with me.”
“We did,” Alice said, and the other two nodded.
“It was better than falling into the room,” Madeline muttered.
“We have an idea that might help Dotty,” Eleanor added.
“Yes,” Alice agreed. “Do you remember when you had Gabe, and we were so upset?” Gabe was Grace’s eldest.
“I do,” Grace said, looking intrigued.
“Mrs. Winters talked with us,” Eleanor said. “And we decided it might be because Mama was giving birth when she died. And we were afraid it would happen to you.”
Madeline directed her direct, dark blue gaze at Dotty. “Do you think you might have been more afraid than you admitted, and knowing Lord Fotherby is here again made you afraid?”
Dotty and Grace exchanged a glance.
“It is true that you were extremely calm about the whole incident,” Grace said thoughtfully.
Dotty knew that type of thing occurred. Why had she not thought of it herself? She looked at the three girls. “You might have a point. Thank you.”
“That was all we wanted to say.” Alice and, after picking up a ginger biscuit each, the other two girls left the room as quickly as they had entered it.
“When are they coming out?” Dotty glanced at Grace.
“Two more years.” She sighed. “We expect everyone to be on hand. Augusta has promised to be back by then.”
Dotty selected a biscuit from her plate. “What did Madeline mean about falling through the door?”
“They have taken to listening at the door in the side corner of this parlor.” Grace pointed toward it. “The latch is not secure, and if the two in the back push to be able to hear better, the door opens—”
“And they fall into the room.” Dotty laughed. It felt good to laugh again. “I do have a question.” Grace inclined her head. “How can I be sure that I am carrying twins?”
“My midwife is coming to Town in a few days. She can examine you.” She pursed her lips as if she had eaten something sour. “I trust her far more than I trust a doctor.”