Chapter Two #2
Theo gracefully inclined her head. “Your grace. What a surprise to see you up at so early an hour.” Turning in her saddle, she addressed the other lady.
“Sarah, you remember the Duke of Chandos? You danced with him last year at Lady Stern’s ball.
” Theo raised one dark brow. “Chandos, you, of course, will recall Miss Pettigrew.”
Theo was good. She’d make the perfect duchess.
He had a vague memory of being made to dance with multiple ladies at an assembly of some sort and later at the ball, but he never would have remembered the chit’s name.
He bowed. “Indeed, I do.” Good Lord, she was making her come out.
With Theo. He cut her a look, then smiled and bowed to Miss Pettigrew.
“Naturally, I remember. I hope you are enjoying your time in Town.”
The lady giggled. Lightly. But it was still a giggle. “It is delightful seeing you again, your grace.”
“Ah, yes.” He kept his smile in place. A groom rode up, and Theo inclined her head. “You must excuse us. We are due home.”
Backing his horse up, he nodded. “I look forward to our next meeting.”
“As do I.” There was a challenge in Theo’s lapis eyes.
He forced himself to slowly incline his head. He was a duke, drat it. Not merely some gentleman hoping to be deemed acceptable. “Ladies, I wish you a good day.”
Theo’s lips tilted up, and she rode off followed by Miss Pettigrew, who appeared rather confused.
“Do you not like him?” Sarah caught up to Theo. Well, she supposed she had been riding rather quickly.
“I do. He is one of Stanwood’s friends.” She took a breath. “I simply do not trust him.”
“But why not?” Her friend was obviously confused. “He is a duke.”
“A duke who is not looking to wed.”
Sarah’s lips formed a perfect O. “I understand. He is a rake.”
“In short, yes. However, he has never been connected to the ruination of a lady. Quite frankly, I am shocked that he will be at Almack’s. Perhaps his mother is pressuring him, and he has decided to stand up with ladies who will not assume he is in search of a wife.”
“That makes sense,” Sarah said. Although it was obvious that she did not understand at all. “Dancing with us will only show that he is being kind to the sister of his friend and her friend.”
“Indeed.” As tangled as that was, it was the truth. “I suppose we must assume he will dance with us.” Theo started to roll her eyes and turned it into a head shake. “You did notice that he failed to say which sets he wanted.”
Sarah understood that difficulty at once. “Oh, dear. That would be most awkward if one has already accepted another for the same dance he wants.”
“It would.” Theo took another breath. “I suppose he must be prepared to be disappointed.”
“How sad,” Sarah said. “I can only assume that dukes expect to be placed before all others.”
“I believe you are correct.” Chandos was not stupid, but he was oblivious. She clearly remembered having to throw water on him at Stanwood Place. “Unfortunately, for him.”
“Yes, of course.” Sarah displayed a rare sense of resolve. “If a gentleman asks me before he does, I must accept the first gentleman.”
“Exactly.” Spurring her horse, Theo rode toward the gate. “Despite that, it should prove interesting.”
“You are, of course, correct,” Sarah agreed.
Suddenly, Theo had a sense that her friend considered her an oracle of a sort.
Then it occurred to her that, although she had older sisters who had gone through a Season and wed, and Theo had spent several Seasons in Town, her friend had not.
She must be very careful not to guide Sarah in the wrong direction.
Theo doubted that her friend’s father would allow her a second chance to find a husband before arranging a match.
Perhaps she should ask Charlie and others in her family, maybe even Chandos, who they would recommend for Sarah.
Yes. That was exactly what she would do. Help her friend find a husband.
They rode first to Sarah’s house, as she did not, for some reason, have a groom. That being the case, Theo decided to take care of the matter. When Theo arrived home and dismounted, she turned to Mick, her groom. “Can you please bring one of the other grooms to attend Miss Pettigrew tomorrow?”
“Yes, my lady. I’ll see it done.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
Theo washed, changed, and went to break her fast. When she entered the breakfast room, she was surprised to see most of her sisters there. “I am so happy to see you!”
Madeline, Alice, and Eleanor surged forward, followed by Louisa and Charlotte. Augusta, her husband, and son had gone back overseas.
“We are so glad to see you,” Madeline grinned. “You have become such a beautiful lady.”
“She was always beautiful,” Eleanor said as she hugged Theo. “And intelligent, and wise. Come to us if you feel unsettled. That is the reason we are here. Men can be very strange.”
“And difficult to understand,” Alice said as she hugged Theo too. “Trust me. I am surrounded by men who have no idea how to behave around a lady.”
“Unless you have a desire to be carried off by a Highlander,” Alice’s husband, St. Albans, quipped as he strolled into the room.
Theo narrowed her eyes at him. “No, thank you. I do not wish to live in the Highlands. I believe I will choose someone closer to home.”
He gave a great guffaw. “I suppose I must tell my male kin to stay in Scotland then.” His eyes took on the look of a sad puppy. “They’ll be verra sad.”
Alice, his wife, slapped his arm. “Get on with ye now. Ye great fraud.”
“Scots?” Theo stared at her sister. “When did you pick it up?”
Alice gave herself a shake. “It is my mother-in-law’s fault. It’s catching.”
Theo wanted to roll her eyes but knew better. “That is an interesting excuse.”
Her sister shrugged. “It is the only one I have. Other than I do like to be heard, and they tend to ignore anyone who speaks the King’s English.”
Theo’s other brothers-by-marriage ambled into the room and greeted her.
This might be an excellent time to address prospects for Sarah.
Once everyone was seated and the children had been served, she addressed the adults.
“Do you remember Sarah Pettigrew?” They all nodded.
“She must find a husband this Season. Otherwise, I have a feeling her father will choose for her.”
“We need a bit more than that,” Kenilworth said. “What is her temperament? What does she like?”
“What does she want in a husband?” Charlotte added.
“She is easy to get along with.” Theo recalled how distressed Sarah was about the unkind ladies. “Someone kind, who will be devoted to her. Naturally he must be able to support a wife and family.”
The gentlemen nodded, and Kenilworth put his cup down. “We will look around.”
“As will we,” Charlotte assured her. “We will all be at Lady Bellamny’s. There are bound to be ladies who wish to marry off their sons.”
“Excellent. I am certain among us we will find the perfect husband for her.” The dishes were making their way around the table. Theo added shirred eggs and rare beef to her plate. She would be busier than she had thought.