Chapter Three #2
Miss Whitchurch said diplomatically, “I would not wish to upset Mr. Sustar by overstepping my authority, but perhaps I might view the areas and see the swatches of cloth in the light of the various rooms. From my experience, certain cloths do not do well in areas of the house often employed by the family. They fray quickly with overuse, for example, and tats and tears are common. Drapes and bedding and cloths for tables in the family wing should be those of a tight weave to withstand the wear and tear.”
Freya was instantly impressed. Miss Whitchurch appeared to be an expert, which she knew her mother was not.
“I know you have plans,” Freya began cautiously, “for this afternoon, but, if you agree, I could escort Miss Whitchurch to Imelda’s home.
Miss Whitchurch and Imelda could converse on the areas Dickerson wishes for my sister to address.
Then you and Imelda could make the final decisions.
From what I have seen of Lord Dickerson’s tastes, they are much simpler than my father’s.
” Which meant Freya’s father had no opinion, considering instead that such matters were his wife’s domain.
Her mother did not appear best pleased with Freya’s idea, but she said, “I did promise to call upon Lady McIntyre this afternoon. Her Ladyship wishes me to be present when her son’s betrothed has her first fitting for her wedding dress.”
Freya pitied the girl if both her mother and Lady McIntyre were involved, but she made no comment.
Miss Whitchurch said hesitantly, “I suppose I could leave Mrs. Katersky in charge of the orders for Mr. Sustar. I could finish the embroidery this evening while Lord Thompson is at Parliament.”
“Have you access to a coach or should I return with one?” Freya asked cautiously.
“Mr. Patterson?” Miss Whitchurch asked. The woman appeared very uncomfortable with the situation.
“His Lordship’s smaller one is in the mews, miss. Should I have it brought around?” the butler asked.
Miss Whitchurch nodded to Freya. “If Lady Freya holds no objections to the accommodations.”
“None whatsoever,” Freya was quick to say.
Miss Whitchurch nodded her acceptance of the arrangements.
“Bring the carriage around, Mr. Patterson. My ladies, if you will pardon me for a few brief moments, I should present the women Mr. Sustar has employed with the instructions for what should be completed in my absence. I should also present Mrs. Sullivan with orders for the boy.”
“A child?” Lady Freya asked before belatedly recalling that Lord Graham had spoken of Thompson taking in the child.
“My nephew,” Miss Whitchurch explained. “My sister passed in childbirth, and her husband has supposedly fallen while serving with our troops on the Continent. Lord Thompson and I mean to raise the child and provide him an education until we know more of Lieutenant Chase’s whereabouts.”
“Very kind of you,” Freya said softly.
“Both His Lordship and I are children of vicars. It is our Christian duty to be of service to my late sister.” Miss Whitchurch raised her chin in defiance, as if expecting criticism, but the young lady would receive none from Freya.
After an elongated pause, Miss Whitchurch stood.
“Please pardon me. I shall return quickly.”
The butler also stepped from the room to send for the coach. Freya quietly asked, “Are you assured this arrangement meets your approval, Mama?”
Her mother set her teacup aside. “Just do me the favor of not mentioning this journey to Cheapside or traveling to Imelda’s home in one of Lord Thompson’s coaches.
The man is brother to Lord Graham. Also, do not mention any of where we have come today to Imelda, beyond the need for the woman in charge of the seamstresses who thought it best to view for herself the way the light hits the cloth.
If Imelda knew, she would tell Dickerson, and His Lordship will eventually mention it to your father. ”
“Should I warn Imelda of secrecy?” Freya asked.
“Not unless it is necessary. Simply leave the impression that Mr. Sustar thought it best for Miss Whitchurch to employ her expertise before we ordered the necessary cloth and linens.”
“I shall perform as you think necessary,” Freya assured.
Sometimes she despised her mother’s high-handedness.
Other times, she pitied the hand Lady Maeve Cunningham had been dealt.
A woman should not fear her husband. A man and a woman should be partners in life, just as the Bible declared, “Two shall become one.”
At length, Freya and Miss Whitchurch were on their way to Imelda’s home. Freya reluctantly said, “I knew something of your betrothal to Lord Thompson before my mother decided to call upon you today.”
Miss Whitchurch’s eyebrow rose in curiosity. “You did? How so?”
“My father is also a Scottish lord in Parliament,” Freya began.
“You mean in the same manner as Lord Duncan and Lord Graham?” Miss Whitchurch asked.
“Yes, though my father is not as outspoken against Lord Duncan as he is for Lord Graham,” Freya admitted. “I am not confident I know his true objections.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Miss Whitchurch asked with a frown.
Freya shrugged with a bit of embarrassment.
“I do not know. I took the acquaintance of Lady Annalise when she and Lord Beaufort were on their way to Scotland to marry. I instantly liked her. She and Lord Graham spoke of your upcoming marriage to Lord Thompson. I suppose I was envious, but not in a threatening manner. I fear I have made a farce of this explanation.”
Miss Whitchurch sat looking out the window in silence for several uncomfortable minutes. “Your father would object to your traveling in the same coach with me to your sister’s house?” she questioned.
Freya chose honesty. “Perhaps. I cannot say with confidence; yet, it is not you to whom my father objects, but rather your connection to Lord Graham.”
“Lord Graham?” Miss Whitchurch asked in surprise. “Why would anyone object to Graham? He is the most unassuming and magnanimous of God’s creatures.”
Freya found herself smiling. “He was most generous to my family when our coach broke an axle near his Dumfries estate. Such was when I took Lady Annalise’s acquaintance. It was all quite wonderful in my estimation.”
A dawn of recognition marked Miss Whitchurch’s features, and Freya realized she had said too much. “You are interested in Lord Graham?”
“Let us say I am not not interested in His Lordship,” she confessed.
“But you have admitted that your father would object to you and Lord Graham forming an attachment,” Miss Whitchurch stated the obvious.
“Quite a conundrum, is it not?”