Shortly after he’d bathed and changed, Nate entered the drawing room, and his guests joined him. “Would you like claret or sherry?”
“Thank you, we would,” Mr. Odell’s hearty voice boomed in the room. “The claret for all of us.”
Nate was glad he had changed, as his guests had done so. Even Emily wore a different gown. Once he had served them, he held up his glass. “To a successful day.” He glanced at Mrs. Odell. “I am glad you were able to arrive so quickly.”
“That was due to your orders to see to my horses.” She grinned. “I’ve never been seen to so quickly or with so much consideration.” She held up her glass. “Thank you for finding our Emily and the babe. I don’t think we could have done it without your help.”
One of the footmen came in and announced dinner. “We are dining in the breakfast room. It’s much more comfortable than the main dining room.”
He held out his arm to Mrs. Odell, and she blushed like a young girl. “You’re going to turn my head.” She laughed as she took his arm. “I feel like a grand lady.”
“That’s it.” Mr. Odell chuckled. “I’ll never keep her on the farm now.”
She stuck her nose in the air, and they all laughed.
Nate was happy that the meal was indeed simple, consisting of roasted chickens, salad, potatoes, glazed carrots, and a preserved pear fool for dessert.
“Who was the woman you were with?” Miss Odell asked after she had taken some of the chicken.
“She works for a charity that saves children.” There was no need to tell her that payment was always offered. “I was able to be of assistance in fetching the baby.”
Mrs. Odell nodded. “I’m sure she was glad you were there.”
Nate was as well. If only he’d been able to ask the lady’s name. But what he might be able to do was discover by which charity she was employed. He wondered who her brother-in-law was that could help her handle the constables. Perhaps a barrister.
Instead of removing to the drawing room, he ordered tea and port served at the table.
After he and Mr. Odell had one glass of port, Mrs. Odell rose. “We have enjoyed our evening, my lord, but it’s time we find our beds. I’d like to be off first thing in the morning.”
“Of course.” Nate walked them to the door. “I hope you sleep well.”
He had one more glass of the fortified wine and made his way to his bedchamber, where Garford was waiting.
“Sir,” the younger man said. “Will you be going to a tailor while you’re here?”
Given how precipitous this bolt to Town had been, he hadn’t given it any thought. But if he was going to attend the Season, he must have more appropriate clothing. “Yes.” But not the tailor he had used before. He had no interest in flamboyant clothing. This time he would take his custom to Weston. Nate was glad he had some time before the Season began. “Yes. I believe I must. I shall write a note to Weston asking him to attend me.”
“Very good, my lord.” Garford helped Nate out of his jacket. “I’ll be happy to take it over in the morning.”
“Thank you.” It occurred to him that he would need a whole new wardrobe, and he wasn’t looking forward to it. Yet needs must. Even if he decided what he had was good enough, his mother would disagree. Suddenly, he wished he was traveling back to the country as well. Then again, if he found the lady, and they had as much in common as he thought they would, he might be lucky enough not to have to remain for the whole Season.
CHAPTER FOUR
Henrietta woke the next morning, donned a robe, shoved her feet into a pair of slippers her younger sister had embroidered her for Christmas, and went to the nursery room where the baby girl she had saved yesterday was located.
She quietly slipped into the chamber to find the child nursing. “Good morning. How is she?”
“Much better.” Mrs. Roberts lifted the child to her shoulder and patted the babe’s back. “I’ve never had a child this young sleep thought the night, but she was ravenous this morning.”
Henrietta sat in a wooden chair. “Do we know how old she is?”
“It’s hard to say exactly.” The baby let out a soft belch. “She was so mistreated, she might be older than we think she is, but the doctor and I agreed she’s most likely around three months old.”
She did not and would never understand how anyone could mistreat a child. “What do you think of Margaret for a name? We could call her Meg or Meggie.”
“That sounds like a good, solid name,” Mrs. Roberts agreed. “Well, Meggie. What do you think about having a name?” Meggie gurgled and grabbed one of Mrs. Roberts’s fingers. “Do you want me to stay with her when she can travel?”
Mrs. Roberts came to them after the death of her husband and baby. She resided in London, but Henrietta wondered if she would like to move to the country. They had a house in Richmond they used for younger children. “Would you care to remain with her? We can send the two of you to Richmond.”
A small smile settled on Mrs. Roberts’s face. “Yes, I would be interested that. Although you’ll have to find another wet nurse for emergencies.”
“I’ll speak to my sister about it.” Henrietta rose. Seeing little Meggie reach up and touch Mrs. Roberts’s face made Henrietta smile. “I’ll look in on you later.”
After dressing for the day, she entered the breakfast room as Dotty was pouring a cup of tea. “Good morning. I’ve been to see the baby.” Henrietta sat next to her sister and reached for the tea-pot. “I would like to name her Margaret and call her Meggie.”
Dotty savored her first sip of tea before answering, “I think that is a lovely name.”
“Do you think Mrs. Roberts could remain with her, and that we could send them to Richmond?”
Dotty raised a brow. “Could I finish my tea before we have this conversation? Get your breakfast. I’ll be done by the time you sit back down.”
Henrietta went to the sideboard and selected two baked eggs. Once she had regained her seat, she took a piece of toast from the rack, then waited for her sister to finish the cup of tea.
“Now I am ready for this conversation.” Dotty rubbed her stomach. “The baby was quite active last night.”
“Ah.” It wasn’t until then that Henrietta noticed dark smudges under her sister’s eyes. No wonder Dotty was a bit surly. “Forgive me. I seem to have had nothing on my mind but Meggie.”
“That is understandable.” Dotty poured another cup of tea and placed a piece of toast on her plate. “I’m not happy with what occurred, but you behaved just as you ought. Merton went out early this morning to discover what he could about the man you shot.”
After hearing about Meggie’s condition, Henrietta had no regrets over shooting the man. “I hope I did not kill him.”
“We shall find out sooner or later.” For a few minutes they were silent as they ate. Then her sister said, “You have an appointment at the modiste today.”
“I remember.” What she had forgotten to do was send a message around to her friend, Dorie, who she had met a year ago and was now married to the Marquis of Exeter, asking if she would like to join her. “At eleven.”