Chapter 8
Audrey had been reluctant to let her sister stroll in Hyde Park with Lord Berkeley, but she knew that if she’d said no, Mia would have pouted for the rest of the day. With Kathryn and Lady Devon coming for nuncheon, she didn’t want to deal with a surly sister while trying to enjoy their company.
She trusted Lord Berkeley with Mia, so that wasn’t the problem—it was Mia’s exuberance for all things new.
Not exactly the prim-and-proper behavior expected from a young woman on the marriage mart.
Most debutantes were taught proper decorum almost as soon as they could walk.
It hadn’t been like that in the Parker household after her mother died in childbirth bringing Mia into the world.
That had been a devastating blow to the family, and her father had never been the same.
There had been a series of nannies, but soon even that stopped when her father began drinking and gambling.
Life was hard, and there was no money for a governess to teach the girls proper decorum.
They were lucky to have enough coin for food and fuel.
After their father passed, life had become even more difficult for the Parker sisters.
Audrey had to seek work, scandalous for a member of the aristocracy.
She’d been fortunate to be secretly hired by Mrs. Beaumont, her mother’s modiste.
That had helped keep food in their bellies.
After she married Fletcher, their living conditions had improved drastically.
Fletcher had been generous to a fault. Everyone had spoiled Mia, especially Audrey and Grace, perhaps a bit too much, but who could have known at the time that Mia’s zest for all things fun would escalate to such a degree?
All Audrey had wanted was to see her youngest sister smile.
Was that too much to ask for? Evidently yes, because Mia was not very good at self-control now.
What was done was done, and there was no sense in wishing for it to be different now.
All Audrey could hope for was that Mia didn’t do anything that would bring scandal on the family name.
Sometimes she wondered if her sister would ever understand the consequences of not conforming to what Society thought young ladies should be like.
She hoped that, with time, Mia would understand, or her chances of making a good match could diminish.
Mia’s Season had almost ended at the Thompson ball.
Audrey hoped that scare had taught Mia to control her impulsive nature because she’d never seen Fletcher so angry, and rightly so.
If anyone else had seen, they would be hosting a wedding instead of a Season.
That was the last thing she wanted for her sister.
She would hate to see Mia forced to marry someone they didn’t know.
There was no sense worrying about things she couldn’t control, but she planned on shadowing her sister’s every move from now on at ton events from now on.
Setting her embroidery aside, she went to the kitchen to check in with Mrs. Culbert about the nuncheon menu. The kitchen was a beehive of activity, with both of the housemaids helping the cook with the preparations.
“Mrs. Culbert, I trust you have everything in hand,” Audrey said.
Mrs. Culbert looked up from stirring the sauce on the stove. “Indeed, Lady Fletcher. Everything is under control.”
“Excellent. I’m sure it will be as delicious as always. Our guests should be arriving shortly,” she said, leaving the cook to finish the preparations.
Within the hour, Beckwith was announcing Lady Clifford and Lady Devon.
Audrey bussed both women’s cheeks. “I’m so pleased you both could visit today.”
Lady Devon looked around the room, which was no longer dark and dreary.
The walls had been painted a pale yellow, with navy-blue velvet drapes framing the large windows.
The furniture had been recovered in a blue floral pattern that almost made it feel like a lovely garden.
“My dear, you’ve done a magnificent job with the renovations,” Lady Devon said.
“What a difference from a year ago, when Fletcher first purchased the townhouse.”
“Thank you, Lady Devon,” Audrey said. “We’re quite pleased with the renovations. There are still more things to do, but for now, this will suffice.”
“My dear, there is always something that needs renovation. Take your time and don’t despair.”
“Thank you, Lady Devon. That’s sound advice.”
Audrey had been cognizant of every penny they spent on the renovations.
All she wanted was a bright and cheery household instead of the uninviting place they’d purchased.
Her practical self wouldn’t allow for any extravagant purchases.
Fletcher had told her she could do what she wanted, but she knew that money wasn’t in endless supply, especially since there were still renovations to be made at Dandridge Manor.
Luckily, last year’s harvest had been exceptionally good, and with an influx of coin from Fletcher’s stake in his New York City newspaper, it had helped with many of the expenses.
“My dear, isn’t it about time you called me Julia?”
Audrey smiled. “Of course, Julia, although I must confess, I’ll always think of you as Lady Devon. Will you please call me Audrey?”
“Of course, and I understand your hesitation, but in private, I’d like us to be less formal. I feel we’re more like family. Is that agreeable?”
Audrey nodded. “Yes. I’d be honored.” She turned to her friend. “Kathryn, how are the twins settling in?”
“They’re doing well. The new nannies are a godsend. I must ask them if they’d like to stay on and move to Faulkner Manor when we return home.”
“Oh, do you think they’ll agree?”
Kathryn looked at her mother. “Mama, how much do you know of their circumstances?”
“They’re the daughters of a very good friend of mine.
I’ve known them for years and watched them grow into very responsible young ladies.
I trust them implicitly, and they may very well be open to living in the country.
I do know they’d like to stay together, so your offer of employment might be just the solution for them. ”
“I’m relieved to hear that. I’ll speak to them when we return home,” Kathryn said. “But first, where is sweet William?”
Audrey walked over and tugged on the bell pull.
Within minutes, Mrs. Trotter appeared. “Do you need something, Lady Fletcher?”
“Yes, could you have the nanny bring William down for a visit?”
“Of course, Lady Fletcher,” Mrs. Trotter said with a curtsey before exiting the room.
It wasn’t long before Alice, holding nine-month-old William, entered the drawing room. When the baby saw his mother, he wiggled in his nanny’s arms to be free.
Audrey went to them with outstretched arms. “Hello, my darling boy,” she said, taking the baby and walking over to Julia and Kathryn.
“Oh my, he’s grown so much since I last saw him,” Kathryn exclaimed.
“I know. Time seems to fly by,” Audrey said.
The women cooed over William for the next twenty minutes, until Beckwith announced that nuncheon was ready.
Alice took the baby back to the nursery while the three women went into the dining room.
Mrs. Culbert had put together a delectable meal of chicken, ham, a savory sauce, freshly baked bread, and her special lemon tarts.
As the women ate and chatted, the Gardner ball soon became the topic of conversation.
“Julia, may I ask you something?” Audrey asked.
“Of course, dear. How can I help you?”
“Do you know Lord and Lady Gardner well? We received an invitation to attend their ball on Saturday, and I’m afraid I don’t know anything about them.”
Julia nodded. “Yes, I know them. They’re lovely people. Their son, Lord Chandler, and Easton were childhood friends, along with Lord Ludlow, so we saw them quite a bit when the boys were younger.”
“I’ve never heard a single scrap of scandal attached to their names,” Kathryn said. “Mama, isn’t Lady Arabella making her debut this year?”
“Yes. I believe that’s why they’re hosting the ball. Everyone is clamoring for an invitation, as they don’t entertain often. When they do, the events are always a crush.”
“Oh my,” Audrey said. “I feel especially privileged to receive the invitation then, but I do not know how it came about.”
“I do,” came a voice from the doorway.
All three women looked up to see Lord Fletcher standing there.
“My darling,” Audrey said, “I didn’t know you’d be home this early. Please come and enlighten us.”
Fletcher walked in, kissed his wife’s cheek, and bowed to the ladies. “Lady Devon, Lady Clifford, it’s a pleasure to see you both again.”
“Lord Fletcher, the pleasure is ours,” Lady Devon said.
“To answer your question, I met Lord Chandler at Gentlemen Jack’s this past Tuesday, and he was instrumental in obtaining the invitation for us.”
“Ah, that makes sense. My sister was so excited when she saw the invitation, but I told her we must check with you first,” Audrey said.
Fletcher nodded. “From what I understand, the event is highly anticipated. We must keep your sister in our sight throughout the evening if we’re attending.”
“Of course, darling. She knows our wishes.”
“I’ve not heard anything scandalous about Miss Parker,” Lady Devon said. “My dear, did something happen with your sister?”
Fletcher shook his head. “Not exactly. When we found her at the Thompson ball, she’d wandered out to the terrace for a bit of fresh air when we found her. Unfortunately, she was not alone.”
“Oh no,” Kathryn said. “There are far too many men who will prey on a young girl’s innocence.”
“Exactly,” Audrey said. “Luckily, the gentleman departed the moment he saw us, and that was the end of it. We explained to her the consequences of being discovered in such a compromising position, and she was horrified to learn she’d have been ruined if she hadn’t married him.
A marriage is the last thing my sister wants at the moment.
I doubt very much she will make that mistake again. ”
“Let us hope not,” Fletcher said.
“Where is your sister now? She didn’t want to join us?” Kathryn asked.
“She’s strolling in the park with Lord Berkeley,” Audrey said.
“Oh, has he expressed an interest in her?”
“No, I don’t believe so, but he’s a good friend to the family. Miss Parker loves to listen to his childhood stories. I trust him, so I said she could go,” Audrey said.
“I like him too,” Kathryn said. “I was sorry to hear of his father’s passing.”
“He told me that’s why he came to London. Berkeley Manor holds too many memories for him at the moment,” Audrey said.
“I would assume we’ll see him at the Gardner ball,” Lady Devon said.
“They’re introducing Lady Arabella to Society.
Lord Chandler will be much sought after at the event as well.
As the heir to a wealthy earldom, he’ll make the matchmaking mamas very happy if he declares he’ll take a bride this Season. ”
Audrey looked at Fletcher. “Has Lord Chandler hinted he wants to marry?” she asked.
“That I do not know, my darling.”
“Oh, of course.”
“Well, if you ladies will excuse me, I have some reports to go over. Enjoy your visit together. Good day, Lady Devon, Lady Clifford,” Fletcher said, taking his leave and exiting the room.
The women continued to talk for the next hour and a half.
“This has been so lovely, but I must be getting back to the twins,” Kathryn said.
“Of course. I understand. I’ll see you both soon,” Audrey said, bussing their cheeks.
It wasn’t long after Julia and Kathryn departed that Mia returned from her stroll with Lord Berkeley. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright when he escorted her into the drawing room.
“How was your walk?” Audrey asked.
“It was delightful. The swans were there today.”
“That’s lovely, dearest. I’m glad you had a good time. Thank you, Lord Berkeley, for taking my sister to the park. It’s one of her favorite places in London.”
He bowed. “It was my pleasure, Lady Fletcher. Might I ask if your offer still stands to advise me on some renovations?”
“Oh, of course. I’d be happy to help. I enjoy designing very much.”
“Did you do the renovations in this room?”
“I did.”
“I’d like something similar. Right now, the rooms are quite dark.”
“Send a note around when you’re free.”
“I’ll come along as well, if that’s agreeable to you, my lord,” Mia said.
Lord Berkeley nodded. “Of course, the more the merrier. Now, if you ladies would excuse me, I have some business to take care of.”
“Good day, my lord. Thank you again for taking me to the park,” Mia said.
“It was my pleasure.”
Audrey listened to her chatter away and wondered if her sister was forming a tendre for the handsome young earl. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that, not because of any fault with Lord Berkeley but more because she didn’t think Mia was ready to become anyone’s wife.