Chapter Five #2
“Hurry along, ladies.” The blonde woman gestured them deeper into the inside of the house before she opened a door on the left, which led to a little parlor, which was unfortunately also decorated in pink and white and gold.
“If you will have seats, I shall tell Mrs. Dove-Lyon of your wish to speak to her.”
“Did you ever?” Freya murmured once they were alone. The room’s appointments were… In truth, she did not have a word in her vocabulary to describe how the room had been arranged.
“When I called upon Mrs. Dove-Lyon while I was searching for my sister Cassandra, I kept my eyes on the floor,” Miss Whitchurch admitted.
Freya remarked innocently, “Assuredly your sister had nothing to do with the Lyon’s Den.”
Miss Whitchurch’s slight blush answered Freya’s question before an explanation was offered.
The woman said, “Cassandra spoke to another woman, who had a position in one of London’s finer homes.
What was the other woman’s business with Mrs. Dove-Lyon I do not know, and when I came to question her, Mrs. Dove-Lyon was of no assistance.
My sister mentioned the meeting in one of her letters, and so I sought out information from the Lyon’s Den’s mistress. ”
Freya realized there was likely more to the story than Miss Whitchurch shared, but Freya did not ask for a deeper explanation. They each had their secrets, and this new sisterhood was more important than a bit of gossip.
Lady Emma asked Lady Beaufort, “Have you told your brother and Theodora your news? I hope you do not object, but I told Orson of your blessing last evening.”
“Beaufort called upon Duncan yesterday morning. My husband was to tell his brothers last evening at Parliament, along with my Smithfield uncles. Of course, my grandmother already knows. I did not ask of the conversation when my husband returned home last evening. I cannot seem to claim enough rest lately.”
Freya said, “I apologize. I should have considered how you would be too exhausted for this task.”
“Nonsense,” Lady Annalise declared. “Both Lady Emma and Miss Victoria have seen the Lyon’s Den.
I have not. When my uncle’s servants meant to see me eliminated, I noted the blue house and remembered Beaufort’s tales of the Lyon’s Den, so I jumped from their moving coach, but was shot.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon and her staff tended to me before the surgeon and Lord Duncan reached me. ”
“Lady Annalise’s maid delivered a message to my door which made no sense until the maid described the carriage,” Lady Emma explained. “I immediately sent for Orson and Duncan.”
“Mrs. Dove-Lyon asked me who to contact. Alexander and Theodora had already departed London for Derbyshire for a few days alone,” Lady Annalise explained.
“I, therefore, asked for Beaufort. Lord Graham also came for me.” Lady Annalise shrugged with a bit of obvious embarrassment.
“Anyway, I was treated in the same area of the Lyon’s Den as was Duncan.
I never saw anything but the ladies’ dining room and gaming room.
Beaufort carried me out the back entrance when the surgeon released me, where Graham was waiting with a carriage to take me home. ”
“What do you think of the decor?” Lady Emma asked with a grin.
“I would never have thought…” Freya began.
“My poor mother would have a fit of the vapors if she thought I had willingly walked into the Lyon’s Den.
” The overly bright colors had nearly overwhelmed her, and tears rushed to Freya’s eyes, as she realized she had again lied to her mother.
If her father learned of this venture, it would be Lady Maeve Cunningham who would pay the price for Freya’s boldness. “Perhaps we should…”
“No!” Freya’s three companions chorused.
Lady Emma continued, “Lord Graham deserves happiness, and we three believe you would look beyond Aaran’s shield and find the gem hidden beneath it.
Each of us has known despair but have found complete happiness with one of Lord Duncan’s sons.
We have found sisters, but one is missing.
We want Aaran Graham to know what we do.
What our husbands do. Graham has played an integral part in each of our lives. Do not forsake him now.”
Freya found tears forming in her eyes again. As much as she loved Imelda, Freya knew her sister in blood would never risk her reputation by entering the Lyon’s Den nor would Imelda go to such extremes for Freya to know a man that no one but these three women and her believed would make her happy.
Before Freya could respond and tell them how often she had prayed that Lord Graham would be amenable to her proposition, the door opened, and the woman called Hermia said, “Mrs. Dove-Lyon will see you shortly, ladies. I have brought wine for you while you wait.”
“Lady Freya,” Lady Orson prompted. “Do we remain?”
“Let us speak to the woman,” Freya instructed, “and thank each of you for believing I could make Lord Graham happy.”
Lady Emma nodded her acceptance before saying, “Thank Mrs. Dove-Lyon for her graciousness. As to the wine, we shall serve ourselves.”
“Yes, my lady.” The woman set the tray on the low table. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon shall see you in about twenty minutes. The mistress apologizes for the delay.”
“We are happily enjoying each other’s company,” Lady Emma assured, and Lady Freya silently agreed. She had found companionship. Friends, and hopefully someday these women would be her sisters in marriage.