Page 32 of Lady Dramatic
Roland thought that was good advice. He’d already determined that he would attempt to modify his temperament as much as he could. Perhaps he ought to loosen the reins a bit and see what happened. Perhaps Lady Serenity would welcome it. Perhaps.
It felt risky, but it also felt practical. And truthful.
In any case, he would see her again on the morrow at eleven. Even if it were misting.
*
Patience had arrivedto the house for breakfast. She and LordStanford had come into London last evening and she’d been eager to see her sisters. As well, she particularly adored Cook’s fried eggs. He had a way of burning them just a little around the edges that her own cook had not yet got the hang of.
They’d had a lively time at table, with their father, Winsome, and Verity weighing in regarding their opinions of Lord Thorpe and Lord Charles. Valor, very predictably, was against both of those gentlemen. Though, she did have to admit that it was gracious of Lord Thorpe to recognize what a heroic effort it took her to stay awake so late. He’d said most youths couldn’t do it, which made her special. She supposed she already knew that, but it was gratifying to understand that other people were so struck by it.
Serenity did not recall him saying exactly that, but she supposed the sentiment was close enough. In any case, Valor was pleased with it. Before her youngest sister had even come into the room Serenity had heard her describing the compliment to Thomas and asking for his opinion on the matter. As they were great friends, Thomas had assured Valor that no other youth would be capable of her feats in staying awake.
Not surprisingly, she heartily agreed with the sentiment.
After breakfast, the duke had gone off to his library and Mrs. Right had commandeered Valor, Verity, and Winsome. They were to have their wardrobes inventoried and lists would be made for the shops.
Serenity supposed Mrs. Right was very astute in arranging it. She and Patience could have a quiet cup of tea without interruption. They went to the very back of the drawing room to a cozy corner settee.
“We did not expect you back so soon,” Serenity said. “Are the renovations to the Brighton house done already? Papa asked you about it, but you were very vague.”
“The renovations are not even close to being done,” Patience said. “But I will tell you the cause of our precipitous return if you can keep it to yourself.”
“Of course I can. It’s Valor who repeats everything she hears.”
“It will not stay a secret forever, but for now it is very early days.”
“Early days? Oh, you mean—”
Patience nodded. “I am with child. But as I said, it is very early and it may not go forward. I will not be more certain of it for another month and a half or so. Then it will be safer to say.”
Serenity nodded. It was such a frightening thing. A pregnancy might easily terminate itself in the very early months and nobody really knew why. She wondered what God was thinking to arrange such a situation. She’d asked the vicar about it once, but he got very cross and told her to stop questioning the lord’s thinking.
“In any case, I did tell Stanford, which in retrospect may have been a mistake.”
“How could it be a mistake? Surely, he of all people should know.”
“Yes, of course. But I had not anticipated how he would receive it.”
“He is unhappy? Why?”
“Because he has convinced himself that my chances of surviving it are exceedingly slim. If I am to live, every precaution must be taken. I slipped out of the house this morning and left a note with the butler, else Stanford would try to stop me. Somehow, the entire outdoors has been populated with dangers of every sort. My condition is why we are back to Town so early. He insists that we be nearby the best physicians at all times. So, we are here for the duration, whatever that may turn out to be.”
Serenity dabbed at her eyes. “It’s so touching, really, that he should be so worried.”
“Of course it is and I love him to pieces for it, but gracious, I cannot even get out of a chair without him leaping to my side to hold me up as if I might…fall on the carpet, I suppose. The journey from Brighton took five days! He insisted on going very slow and had me sitting on pillows. He banished Carwyn and Cecil to the luggage coach with his valet as they are prone to jumping.”
“Ah yes, the two little terriers you adopted when you were in Wales on your wedding trip.”
“Yes, they are darlings, really. But let it be said that one terrier is ambitious, yet two terriers together create a sort of synergy that makes them greater than the sum of their parts. I sometimes feel as if we’ve got ten of them in the house, they are so full of mischief. Now, enough about my happy but rather ridiculous situation. I do not know if everything regarding Lord Thorpe was said at the breakfast table, or whether you held something back. My twin instincts tell me that you might have.”
Serenity leaned back on the settee. She and Patience were really so different, but because they were twins, there was some sort of thread that connected them. She should have known Patience would press for details that had not been spoken. “Lord Thorpe really is glorious and I think he likes me. He very cleverly arranged that we should meet at eleven on the mornings it does not rain to walk our dogs together in the square. Even if it’s misting we are to go.”
Patience giggled. “You’ve examined the right course for a misting? Very promising, indeed.”
“Yes, I do think so. Mrs. Right said we ought not go when it rains and then he challenged the idea and said we need not be afraid of a misting. It’s just that, well, he seems rather reserved. At least, sometimes he does and then at other times less so. I donot mind it really, but I wonder if he would like… In any case, I have been very careful to not…you know.”
“Weep,” Patience said, instantly understanding her fear.
