“The fitting should only take an hour or two, and then I thought we might have lunch at my father’s favorite restaurant, and after, drive by the palace and stop for a tour of the houses of parliament. And you might also enjoy the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral.”
Lucy seemed to warm to that idea. “If it is not a great inconvenience.”
“Why should it be an inconvenience? It is part of the reason you came to London with me. I promised you a tour, and now I want to make good on my promise.” It was difficult to keep his irritation at her coldness toward him out of his reply.
She looked at him and seemed to realize she was not being as open to his efforts as she might be. “And I thank you for the offer and look forward to us spending the afternoon together exploring the best that London has to offer.”
Excellent,he thought, and he was determined to make this the very best day of the trip, for they were to leave for Grayson Manor the day after tomorrow.
Chapter 12
Lucy was horrified to learn that her friend, Isabell, was sick again. A note was left on her bed which she found on her return from London. She wanted to go to her immediately, but the Duchess had made it known she was so desperately in need of Lucy’s attendance that Lucy could not rush to visit her friend until later in the afternoon.
The carriage had arrived just before noon after an uneventful trip home from London. The last several days in London had been taken up with seeing the sights—one more fitting for the dresses—and a cheerful farewell from Lord and Lady Oakley, who welcomed Lucy to return for a visit at any time.
“Oh, there you are,” Judith said as Lucy came into her sitting room. “It seems as though you have been goneforever.”
“Six days, I believe, Your Grace.”
Judith pointed to her little bottle, shaking her finger. “Oh, Lucy, you are the only one who understands my needs. We already know Flossy is useless, and that other girl, what is her name?”
“Sylvia.”
“Yes… well, she was adequate, but she has no sympathy… no gentle understanding of my condition as you do. Now, will you take Isabell outdoors for me? She has been squirming for the past hour, and I know what that means.”
“Of course.”
Lucy picked up the dog and was headed out of the drawing room when Judith called out, “And hurry back. I need you to change my shoes. These new ones have been killing me. Oh-h-h, how I suffer.”
Lucy left the Duchess’s chambers and was headed to take the dog outside when she was waylaid by Ann.
“Oh, there you are… finally back from your little jaunt to London?”
“We arrived back just before lunchtime.” The dog was now squirming to be let down. “You must excuse me, I should love to visit, but your mother tells me the dog needs to go outdoors immediately.”
“Oh, I do not want to visit with you, I want you to fetch me a basin of hot water. I want to wash my hair. And make certain you do it as soon as possible. I need it to dry before tea time.”
Ann turned her back to Lucy and carried on toward her rooms.
As Isabell, the dog, was relieving herself, Lucy looked out across the vast expanse of the estate and thought about her old home. Many of the memories were fading, but she had a longing to go back and visit the sight of her old house, at least once more. She knew it had been rebuilt and had new tenants, but perhaps George would indulge her and take her on his horse some morning or afternoon when he was free.
Lucy returned to the Duchess and ensconced the dog once again in her Grace’s lap.
“O-o-o, woo wittle sweetie,” she cooed and lavished a biscuit on the dog that gobbled it up in two chews and a swallow.
Then the Duchess stretched out her legs and wiggled her toes. “Shoes,” she commanded. “Fetch my slippers—the blue ones.”
Lucy obeyed, and once the Duchess was comfortable again, and after she had comforted herself with another dose of laudanum, she dozed off to sleep.
Lucy escaped the Duchess, headed to the kitchen to inform the kitchen maid that Ann had requested a basin of hot water, and then slipped out the kitchen door and headed to see her dear friend.
* * *
As Lucy approached the Langley cottage, she saw the two brothers playing with a hoop in the front garden.
“Hello, boys,” she called out as she came through the gate, “Is your sister at home?”
The oldest boy responded, “She is inside. Feeling poorly.”
