Chapter Thirteen
Pippa was not used to the hustle and bustle that occurred immediately after the men left the room where she’d been resting.
Whisked upstairs without being asked, she wondered what reason the baroness had for doing so—not that it was not her right.
After all, it was her home. She just was unaccustomed to not having any say in the matter.
As it appeared was to be the case as far as having to accept charity in the form of another gown to wear.
“Thank you for the offer, but I have yet to wear the other two gowns you lent me,” Pippa protested.
“The three gowns I had Beth place in your room are far different—each one would be quite suitable to wear when you marry Flaherty tomorrow.” Pippa drew in her breath to object for the second time, and was immediately cut off by Lady Phoebe.
“Millie’s trunk was delivered late last night,” the baroness advised.
“Did you think to stitch half a dozen clouts together to wear in place of a suitable gown?”
She wanted to respond that of course she would not think to do so—those were for Millie’s babe.
Then there was another matter to consider…
her voice tended to take on a tone that her father referred to as petulant.
Pippa was never petulant. On occasion, she had been perturbed, irritated, and incensed—but never petulant.
Millie spoke up. “It was my fault. If Pippa wasn’t so concerned about spiriting me away from my brother-in-law as quickly as possible, we both would have thought to pack more than a spare chemise and stockings.”
“I have slept in my chemise more than once,” Lady Phoebe admitted, “when I’ve been too tired to change into my nightrail.
It would make sense to pack that along with the lovely gowns you sewed for your babe.
I am not talented with a needle and thread and made a muck of the gown I tried to sew for our babe. ”
“I’d be happy to sew one for you,” Millie said. “Do you have any fabric left over from when you made the gown? Batiste would be ideal. Such a soft fabric, and easy to clean.”
Lady Phoebe smiled. “Yes, there is quite a bit of unused fabric. That would be so lovely. I haven’t thought to make the time to speak to the seamstress in the village about clothes for our babe…”
She trailed off. From her hesitation, Pippa wondered if the baroness would confide what had happened to her.
“I have been…recovering,” Lady Phoebe finally added.
Millie spoke before Pippa could. “You do not have to confide what happened. Pippa and I both understand how”—she paused to clear her throat—“er…circumstances and events affect one’s sleep and life.”
“Please do not feel the need to confide in us,” Pippa added.
Percy and Phineas knocked loudly on the open door to the nursery. “May we come in?” Percy asked. “Mrs. Green was telling us that babes grow bigger every day.”
“And,” Phineas said, “we wanted to know if we could begin measuring Roarke every day and keep a record of it!”
Percy grinned. “For scientific purposes.”
“That would be up to his mother,” the baroness replied.
“Percy! Phineas!” a voice called out. “Where are you two scamps?”
“Uh oh, it’s Prudence!” Percy whispered to his brother.
“She must have discovered the pillows and blankets that we lumped up on in our beds aren’t us,” Phineas said.
The boys put their fingers to their lips, slipped into the room, immediately opened the wardrobe that stood in the far corner, ducked inside, and closed the door.
“Are they hiding?” Millie asked.
Lady Phoebe smiled. “It’s what those dear boys do.”
“Often?” Pippa asked.
The baroness nodded.
Garahan’s wife stood in the doorway, an expression of frustration marring her brow. “Have you seen Percy or Phineas? It’s time for their writing lessons.”
“Yes, actually,” Lady Phoebe replied slowly, deliberately. “Though we have been chatting and I do not recall how long ago it was. Five minutes? Mayhap twenty.”
Prudence sighed. “If you do see my cousins, please tell them I am looking for them and that we need to start their indoor lessons.”
Owing the boys for helping to find Millie’s son, Pippa spoke up. “Have you checked the stables? They told Millie and me how much they enjoy their job feeding carrots and apples to his lordship’s horses.”
Prudence placed a hand to her belly and sighed. “I did, actually, but am feeling a bit peckish this morning.”
Pippa rushed to her side and looped her arm through Prudence’s. “Come, please sit. You are a bit pale.”
Millie laid her son in one of the cradles and walked over to Garahan’s wife. “Any discomfort in your abdomen? Cramping?”
“Nothing like that,” Prudence answered. “I feel like I’m dragging my feet lately.” Lady Phoebe giggled, and Prudence murmured, “Do not ask me—”
“I would never dream of discussing something so personal as to whether or not your husband kept you up…instead of letting you sleep.”
Pippa gasped, and Millie covered her mouth, but the merriment in her eyes gave away the fact that she was laughing! “Millie!” Pippa scolded her.
“Do forgive me, Prudence,” the baroness said. “I meant no disrespect, but we are all married ladies here—” She glanced at Pippa. “Well, Pippa will be as of tomorrow afternoon.”
Prudence plopped down on the settee beside Lady Phoebe. “If you must know, it wasn’t Ryan’s fault at all.” She slowly smiled. “It was mine.”
The baroness patted her on the arm. “It is so difficult to keep one’s lips to one’s self when married to a man who is far too handsome for his own good.
Was it the desire in his dark eyes, or when he started to unbutton his frockcoat?
” Before Prudence could answer, Lady Phoebe sighed.
“Marcus knows removing his frockcoat calls attention to his broad shoulders. His eyes never leave mine as he unbuttons his waistcoat, and by then, I’m unable to string even a simple sentence together.
He knows full well his appeal and uses it to his advantage! ”
“Ryan knows it’s when he removes his cambric shirt over his head and then flexes his pectoral muscles. It positively puts me in a trance, and I’m unable to move while he slowly walks toward me and…” Prudence trailed off.
Pippa suddenly remembered the twins were hiding in the wardrobe. “What you need is tea. Don’t you think, your ladyship?”
The baroness turned to look at Pippa, who turned her head toward the boys’ hiding place and back.
“I could do with a cup and something sweet myself,” Lady Phoebe said.
“Would you mind giving the bellpull a tug for me, since you are closer? Mayhap Mrs. Green has baked a batch or two of her iced teacakes. It is such a shame that Percy and Phineas aren’t already ready and waiting for their morning lessons, Prudence.
I would of course have ordered extra and invited the three of you to join us. ”
“That would have been a welcome distraction,” Prudence said. “Even I have to admit that everyone knows how much the boys enjoy their outdoor lessons and try to avoid the indoor ones.”
The baroness laughed. “They are definitely outdoorsmen in the making. I can see them with a stable of horses and packs of hounds—though not for hunting.” Lady Phoebe turned to Pippa and Millie, explaining, “They love all animals and creatures, especially foxes.”
“And since the last time they went to the pond without me…they have been extra cautious around bodies of water,” Prudence added.
Pippa did as she was bidden to, and returned to her seat.
She was intrigued by the conversation, and interested in hearing more about the boys’ hesitance around water, but did not want to upset Prudence in her present condition.
Millie had been quite emotional during her pregnancy, and Pippa did not want to cause any distress to Garahan’s wife by asking her to explain the reason for the twins’ caution.
Millie, on the other hand, apparently wasn’t as circumspect.
“Forgive me for asking, if you do not wish to speak of it, but as the mother of a son who will be apt to explore all manner of things with or without my express permission, would you mind sharing why Percy and Phineas are cautious? Pippa and I found them to be quite courageous.”
Lady Phoebe responded to the knock on the door and requested the tea and sweets.
Prudence glanced at the cradle and then back at Millie.
“It was a nightmare, and one I do not care to have to live through again…but I will tell you because I have come to realize that most, if not all, young boys are apt to get into scrapes that only their guardian angels—or one of the men in the duke’s guard—can rescue them from. ”
Interest piqued, Pippa scooted to the edge of her seat, prepared to listen.
The tale that unfolded had her glancing at Millie.
Her friend’s expression was one of resolve and determination.
Millie would absolutely dive into a pond after Roarke—when he was old enough to sneak off on his own—if he managed to fall into one!
“And Garahan found you?” Millie asked. “And pulled you both out?”
Prudence nodded, while Lady Phoebe shook her head.
“Not at the same time. Really, Prudence, you’ll have Millie and Pippa believing the duke’s men guarding us were inhumanly strong, able to swim while at the same time rescuing yourself and Percy from the water.
Don’t forget that Killian O’Ghill arrived in time to help. ”
Pippa listened to the rest of the story, to how Prudence dove into the water knowing that her gown would weigh her down, hampering her strength.
Then of Garahan’s rescue of Percy after she had swum across the pond to reach him as he was going under.
Then Garahan had had to save Prudence! O’Ghill arrived in time to keep an eye on the boys and helped bring everyone safely back home.
“You love Percy and Phineas, enough to save them at all costs,” Pippa observed.