Chapter Five #3
Lucas Worthing, Viscount of Barnett House
‘Oh, my,’ she murmured. The megrim of minutes ago fell away in all the excitement at hand. Or perhaps Mrs Best’s draught was simply that powerful. Ophelia bit her lip and sighed.
‘Oh, my…what?’ Trudy asked having crept into the room without either of them noticing. ‘That starry look in your eyes means trouble.’
Ophelia cleared her throat and sat up, closing the letter on her lap.
She had not meant to say anything aloud.
Evidently, she had. She smiled innocently at her friends who both gazed at her with expectation.
Trudy pulled up a chair to settle in with her and Hattie.
Their unwavering stares didn’t bode well.
They would wait her out as they always did. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
‘I know you will not like it, but I am going. You cannot talk me out of it, chaperone or not,’ she said with the sweet ire she had perfected over the years.
‘Oh, no,’ Trudy replied, leaning back against the finely embroidered floral chair, clutching the carved wooden arms in alarm.
‘What scheme have you set upon now? I thought you were quite settled in your desire to become a carver and gilder of repute, ready to match unsuspecting men and women into matrimony. Have you cast that aside already?’ Trudy snapped up one of the tempting treats Hattie had brought in earlier, and Ophelia merely smiled.
Trudy would be softer once she had a biscuit, so Ophelia secretly hoped she ate two.
She took the opportunity to speak while Trudy’s mouth was occupied.
‘Lord Worthing has inquired about my services and invited me to visit him today at his estate. He wishes to speak with me about my matchmaking business. I believe I was quite right after all that he is to be my first London client.’ She squared her shoulders and dared a sip of tea.
She watched their gazes widen at her news over the rim of her teacup and suppressed a smile.
Why did she so enjoy shocking them? While she had woken with a megrim on its way and in a bit of despair from the night before, she now felt eager and energised to begin her day.
‘Truly?’ Hattie asked. Trudy stopped eating her biscuit.
‘Yes!’ she squealed. ‘I have my first client!’ She clapped her hands together and did a little dance in her chair.
‘Why does he not call upon you here?’ Trudy asked with a frown. ‘That is far more appropriate than you seeing him at his home, is it not? I know we are new to London, but even I know that to be true.’
She stilled. Hmm. She had not thought of that. ‘I can only guess it’s because he is so reclusive. Remember, he only ventures out on Wednesdays. He has already broken his routine by coming to see us last night and today is a Saturday.’
Hattie ran a hand absently over her stomach. ‘Are you sure you wish for this “Beast of Barnett House” to be your first client?’ Hattie asked. ‘It sounds rather daunting after meeting him last night. While not unpleasant, he was…quite reserved.’
‘And, how will you ever find a match for a man who does not leave his home?’ Trudy asked, nibbling on another biscuit.
Ophelia could not disagree with their points.
She frowned. ‘You are right. It shall be a challenge, to be sure, but I believe I can do it. And when I do find him the perfect match, people will be all the more impressed by my skills. Marrying off the Viscount would be better advertising than I could ever imagine.’
‘I suppose that would be true.’ Hattie worried her lip.
‘Which of you wishes to join me as my chaperone?’ She smiled eagerly at them, because they could not object if she was asking for a chaperone. They both looked at each other and back to her as if she had lost all reason.
She pleaded her case. ‘He hinted at inquiring for my services, so it is a proper business lead. Surely, it cannot be inappropriate to reply to his request and see him? Especially if someone else is there?’
Trudy’s brow lifted. ‘The letter,’ she asked with extended hand. ‘Let me read it.’
Ophelia hesitated but gave in and handed it to her. Trudy scanned it and handed it off to Hattie as Ophelia had expected. She prepared for their inquiries.
‘He is terribly vague, is he not?’ Trudy asked, helping herself to yet another biscuit from Ophelia’s plate. Her plan was working beautifully.
‘Perhaps, but what else could he mean, when he asks for a businesswoman with my particular skills? One cannot expect a viscount to put ink to parchment and ask for help in finding a match straight out,’ she countered.
‘While one of us could join you, Lady Buchanan would be the most suitable to be your chaperone,’ Hattie replied, rubbing her belly. ‘She is far more versed in managing a reclusive viscount.’
‘Perhaps your husband would know the best way to reply to this request. Can you ask him, Hat? We are new to the ways of Society. I do not wish to derail my chances of landing a new client by not following the expected protocol and etiquette of the ton…again.’ She flushed at the memory of riding in the carriage alone with the Viscount already, which was her first strike against propriety.
Hattie smiled. ‘I shall ask him. Perhaps he will also know whether this inquiry for your help is legitimate.’
Trudy nodded. ‘For once, I agree with both of you.’
Ophelia rose. ‘Then, I cannot waste a moment to ready myself while you speak to him, Hat.’ She clutched Trudy by the hand and tugged her from the chair.
‘And you shall help me find my best outfit to wear, while she seeks out William’s advice.
I must look the part of a proprietor for my meeting with my first London client. ’
Trudy groaned but followed her anyway. As expected, the biscuits had softened her friend into submission. For now, at least.