Dotty nodded. “I might go back to bed for a while. I do not remember Vivi being this active. I feel as if I am being beaten up from inside.”
Unable to offer an opinion, Henrietta applied herself to her breakfast.
Her sister rose first. “Take the town coach and a footman. I will see you when you return.”
She nodded and finished her second cup of tea before writing to Dorie.
By eleven they were at Madame Lisette’s shop, looking at the latest styles in La Belle Assembleé.
“The skirts are much wider at the bottom,” Henrietta mused, wondering if she was too short to wear them.
“They are,” Dorie, who was a few inches taller, agreed.
“Bonjour.” Madame was a slim, fashionable Frenchwoman with dark hair and eyes. She glanced at the gown Dorie and Henrietta were studying. “It will be very nice on Lady Exeter, but Miss Stern, we must do something else for you.”
It was nice to be proven right even if she would not be dressed in the newest of fashion. “That is exactly what I had thought.”
“Never fear. Moi, I know what I am doing.” Madame ushered Henrietta behind a curtain into a room where one of her workers waited. “I do not believe your measurements have changed much, but we will see.”
After her measurements were confirmed, Madame took Henrietta to a room where she had drawings stacked on a long table. The sketches depicted everything from day dresses to evening gowns. There was another stack of fabric samples. Not that Henrietta had much choice in colors. They all had to be pale. As far as she was concerned, she had enough day dresses, but it was important to have new clothing for entertainments, walking, and carriage rides. In the end, the order was larger than she expected it would be. But the time it took to order all the gowns was not nearly as long as it had been at the beginning of last Season.
She joined Dorie in the waiting area. “Are you ready to visit Hatchards?”
“Yes. I forgot to tell you that I heard from Georgie. She and Turley will arrive within a few days or a week if not sooner.” Dorie grinned. “She complained that Turley is treating her as if she is an invalid.”
“There is no surprise there.” Exeter had done the same with Dorie, and Littleton had been almost as bad with Adeline. “It will be good to see her again.” At least they would have three of the original five of them together. “I suppose there is no point in even attempting to talk Adeline into coming to Town.”
“That would be a waste of time and effort.” Dorie rose and shook out her deep pink skirts.
Lady Adeline Wivenly had married Lord Littleton late last spring. Since then the only time they had come to Town was when Georgie Featherton had wed Viscount Turley in the autumn. Now Adeline was the mother of twins, a boy and a girl, and Georgie was in a delicate condition. Until they had gradually married, the five of them had been inseparable. This Season would be much different. Henrietta was the only unmarried one. And seeing how happy her friends were, she hoped she would find a gentleman she could envision herself living with for the rest of her life. But that would mean someone new would have to come to Town. None of the gentlemen she had met last Season had interested her. Once again, her mind reflected back on the country gentleman. It was too bad that he was not likely to be here for the Season. She would have enjoyed getting to know him better. Henrietta considered telling her friend about the gentleman she had met, but what was the point when he was not in Town?
* * *
Sometime after luncheon, a dog’s bark roused Nate, and he strode to the hall. His butler, secretary, valet, and Padraig were gathered there.
“Cook is here with us. Her ladyship will be here tomorrow,” Hulatt said. “Her ladyship decided to use the smaller carriage, but stopped in Stevenage when we saw your coach.”
“Very well.” Nate wondered why she hadn’t waited. As much as he loved his mother and enjoyed her company, he had wanted a day or two to settle in before she arrived. Padraig leaned against Nate’s leg, and he stroked the dog’s head. His valet, carrying two satchels, had one foot on the stairs. “Styles.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“There is a footman here, Mrs. Gorman, the housekeeper’s nephew, who wishes to train as a valet. Would you mind if he studied under you?”
“Not at all, my lord.” Styles nodded slowly. “There will be plenty to do now that we’re in Town.”
“Thank you.” Nate scratched his dog’s head. “Let’s take you for a walk.” It would feel good to stretch his legs.
“My lord,” Chetwin said. “Did all go well with Mr. and Mrs. Odell?”
“Yes, it did. Very well indeed. They left this morning. You probably passed them on the road.” Nate took his dog’s lead. As he attached it, he had an idea. “Could you discover the names of charities that save children in places like Whitechapel and other poor areas?”
“If you wish.” Unlike his valet and butler, his secretary didn’t hide his expressions. And the man was more than a little bemused.
Nate grinned. “I do.” He led Padraig out the door and down the three shallow steps, then mumbled to himself, “The real question is what my mother is going to say when I find her.”
It was still much too early for the Grand Strut, which was fine with him. He walked his Wolfhound past the entrance to Grosvenor Square, where Merton House was clearly visible. Seeing Merton again was a bridge Nate would cross when he got there. The man used to be his closest friend, but he hadn’t seen him since he had abducted Merton’s betrothed. Granted, Nate had had his friend’s best interests at heart. At least that was what he’d told himself. Albeit, if he’d been less busy worrying about losing his friend and more interested in seeing how happy Miss Stern made Merton, Nate never would have made such a horrible mistake. His folly had led to a rift between them that he regretted and didn’t know could be healed. The punishment had been leasing his house in Richmond to Merton for a period of ten years and exile to the country. Yet for all he had resented the banishment at first, it finally made him grow up and take his responsibilities seriously. Surprisingly, he’d found that he liked them. Padraig paced beside Nate. He liked having a dog as well. Another thing he’d never looked for. To his eternal shame, he’d had a fear of dogs since he was young. Then, on a trip to Ireland to buy his horse, he’d seen the Wolfhound puppies, and Padraig had come right up to him demanding to be picked up. Once Nate did, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to have a dog. That had been just over three years ago.
They reached the Park, and he found a stick to throw for the dog. Being raised to hunt wolves, Wolfhounds were known as sighthounds. A stick wasn’t a wolf, and Padraig knew it. Nate was certain that the only reason the dog would bring the stick back to him at all was due to the resulting rewards. Still, four throws was all it took for the Wolfhound to tire of the game. Afterward, they strolled along The Serpentine until Nate turned them back toward Grosvenor gate. They had just crossed Park Street when he saw Merton drive by. Nate’s former friend glanced briefly his way and looked again with a confused expression on his mien, then faced forward. He didn’t think he’d been cut—although he wouldn’t blame Merton if he had— but Nate also did not think he’d been recognized. That was interesting.