Chapter Six
Theo rushed through her toilette and arrived in the breakfast room just as her married sisters were arriving. Although, describing them as married was unnecessary. At the moment, Mary, the only unmarried one aside from Theo, was still at Stanwood Place.
Interestingly, her brothers-by-marriage had already assembled. “You are here early.”
They all glanced at her, then Matt said, “They brought the children.”
“I saw Chandos riding away from this direction as we were on our way,” Kenilworth said. “Did he accompany you on your ride?”
She slid into her seat at the table. “Yes. He and a Lord Marrow.”
Rothwell frowned. “Did you not ask him to break his fast with us?”
Why were they all so interested? “I considered it, but he wanted to speak with his lordship.” She placed the serviette on her lap and poured a cup of tea. “I might as well tell you what happened.”
“Yes. Please do.” Eleanor placed her elbow on the table and her chin in her palm.
“As you probably know, Sarah Pettigrew is riding with me in the morning. Today Chandos brought Lord Marrow. During our ride, it appeared that he had formed an interest in her. I asked his grace to look into his lordship’s finances and other things.
Just to ensure that he was a suitable parti for Sarah.
He said he would and asked Marrow to join him for breakfast. They will all be here for tea this afternoon. Including Lady Pettigrew.”
Theo spooned shirred eggs onto her plate from the dish a footman held, then added ham. A small rack of toast was already on the table next to her.
“You could have asked one of us,” Montagu said.
Theo swallowed a bite of the eggs she had taken. “You are all busy with the Lords. Chandos needs to make himself useful.”
Kenilworth barked a laugh, as Rothwell rubbed his forehead. Their resident duke gave her a look. “Only someone from this family would say that. Did you not think that perhaps Chandos has duties such as the Lords?”
She put down the fork as she considered her brother-in-law’s statement, then glanced around the table.
“Has he ever attended the Lords?” Her question was met by shrugs and shaking heads.
“There, you see. Being useful will be good for him.” She looked at Grace seated at the foot of the table.
“Grace, would you like to inform Jacque that guests will be attending tea?”
“Yes. Please tell Thorton. He likes to know about changes.”
“I will.” The rest of her sisters were all busy finishing their breakfasts. “What is everyone planning for the day?”
“We gentlemen are having a meeting shortly,” Matt said.
“As are we ladies,” Louisa commented. “Would you like to join us? We will be discussing our various charities.”
That sounded interesting. “I would. It is time for me to decide what I want to do.”
Charlotte’s gaze focused on Theo. “Dotty, Louisa, and I could use another head and pair of hands. If you are interested, that is.”
Dotty, the Marchioness of Merton, was Charlotte’s childhood friend who married a cousin of Theo’s, the Marquis of Merton. They had become part of the extended family. They had two children. The oldest was a daughter, Vivienne and a new baby, Samuel.
Louisa nodded. “We already spoke with Dotty about the possibility. She will arrive early next week.”
“I just might be.” Theirs was one of the more interesting endeavors.
They took care of war widows in need and took in former prostitutes and their children.
All of whom were trained for positions they would like.
Eleanor was involved in making mining and other work safer.
Alice and Madeline rescued children from the streets, then educated and trained them.
One of the boys had taught Theo and Mary how to pick locks even faster than Charlotte picked them.
And one of the girls had taught them how to pass notes and things on without being seen.
Both those children had gone on to more schooling.
Augusta was the only one not involved with charities, but she was academically minded and translated ancient works for scholarly texts. “Where are we meeting and when?”
Louisa glanced at Matt. “If you are going to be in your study, we will use the library.”
“That is fine with me.” He placed his serviette on the table and rose. “Gentlemen.”
Chairs scraped back as they stood.
Kenilworth patted Theo’s shoulder as he passed by. “I am available if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” He was her favorite brother-by-marriage. Although, St. Albans and Harry Stern were close seconds.
“Why did the children decide to break their fast in the schoolroom?”
“They had not had an opportunity to be together since Christmas,” Grace said.
“We even brought Vivienne with us so that she could be with the rest of the cousins.” Charlotte rose. “Dotty wanted more time with little Samuel.”
Samuel was just three months old. He would be like a cousin to Olivia and Robin.
Theo stood as well. “I am glad to be included.”
The gentlemen filed into Matt’s study that was already set with additional chairs near a sofa and armchairs near the fireplace. “Before we begin, I want to discuss Chandos and Theo.”
There were nods all around.
“I know there is only one girl out this Season, but it already seems like more,” Rothwell said.
“That’s because it’s Theo,” Kenilworth said. “She is much more up to snuff than the rest of the sisters were when they came out.”
“And all of them knew what they expected in a husband,” St. Albans added. “Alice has my father shaking in his boots half the time.”
Stern looked at Matt, then the rest of them. “Did Chandos approach any of you for advice?”
“Yes,” they each affirmed.
“He’s smarter than we were,” Montagu muttered.
St. Albans pulled a face. “Definitely cannier than I was.”
“Charlie asked us to assist him.” Matt wanted to word this properly. “Unless it gets to the point that helping him is harming Theo. However, we are not to mention a word to her.”
Kenilworth gave him a dubious look. “I understand the reason. There is absolutely no point in putting up her back. I do think we will pay for this subterfuge at some point.” He glanced at the others.
“I did tell him in no uncertain terms that she would not be compromised into marriage. I don’t believe he would try that path.
He has too much pride, but just to warn him in the event he becomes desperate. ”
“Did you tell your wife?” Montagu asked quietly.
“I learned my lesson about keeping things from Louisa a long time ago,” Rothwell said with feeling. “Theo might be irritated with us, but she’ll get over it quickly. Louisa can hold a grudge.”
Kenilworth nodded. “I wouldn’t dare attempt to keep anything like this from Charlotte.”
The rest of the brothers-in-law agreed.
“When Mary comes to Town, she will have to be told,” St. Albans said. “She and Theo played an important part in me being able to convince Alice to marry me.”
“Mary already knows.” Matt glanced at the rest of his brothers-by-marriage. “She spoke with Charlie and agreed that Chandos would be an excellent match for Theo.”
“What do we do now?” Rothwell looked around the room. “Do we have a plan?”
Matt shook his head. “We play it as it comes. So far, Chandos has become trustworthy enough for Theo to give him tasks. Let’s wait and see.”
“I have one idea.” Harry Stern leaned back in his chair.” We need to get the duke to take his seat in the Lords. We can always use another peer on our side.”
“Theo would like that as well,” Kenilworth agreed. “The only question is will he have time while he’s dancing attendance on Theo?”
Rothwell frowned. “That’s a good thought. The only other one of the girls to come out by herself was Augusta, and she left for the Continent.”
Matt poured tea that had been carried in and handed out the cups. “Enough of this. Kenilworth, I leave it to you to approach Chandos about taking his seat. Now. Let’s discuss our legislative agenda.”
Leo congratulated himself on letting his valet know to have his cook prepare a substantial breakfast early today.
With any luck at all, he would be invited to break his fast with Theo tomorrow.
He’d kept the conversation light while he and Marrow were eating; now it was time to ask more questions.
“As I said, I have been putting my financial information and estate in order so that I am ready to wed when I find the right bride.”
Marrow placed his serviette on the table.
“It hadn’t occurred to me to do that. On the other hand, I really hadn’t planned to wed so soon.
” He shook his head thoughtfully. “However, I believe I must start. Fortunately, my father’s man of business keeps the accounts in order.
My father has been gradually handing me more control over the estates.
Still, he will have to approve my choice of bride.
” He picked up his cup of tea and swallowed the rest. “Do you know anything about Miss Pettigrew’s family? ”
Leo had not even considered that the tables might be turned on him.
“Not a great deal. The family lines are excellent.” At least that’s what he’d gathered at the ball Lady Stern had given.
“The father’s a bit of a toad. But I got that from Stanwood.
His father didn’t like the man because he was a hard Tory. ”
“I don’t think my father will care one way or the other what her father’s political leanings are. Do you know anything about her?”
“She seems nice enough. That Lady Theo befriended her says more about Miss Pettigrew than anything else. Lady Theo will not abide anyone who is puffed up in their own consequence or false in any way.”
“I’d heard that about the Worthington ladies.” Marrow poured himself another cup of tea. “Dowry?”
“Respectable. The father is a baron with one estate in the Midlands near Stanwood’s main estate.”