A sharp rap on the door interrupted her musings. Merry stuck her head inside and glared at Felicity. “Come along. We might as well get this over with.”
“I make no promises as to my behavior.” A sudden surge of defiance filled Felicity.
“Good.” Merry looped her arm through hers. “With the two of us against Seri and Chance, the odds are even, but I like to think we outnumber them. After all, Chance is not nearly as quick on his feet as we are.”
“True.” Merry’s outlook brightened Felicity’s mood considerably.
As they entered the parlor, they groaned in unison. Chance already stood in his usual place, in front of the hearth, with two chairsstrategically placed in front of him. Serendipity stood off to the side, reminding Felicity of an avenging angel ready to cleave them in two if they didn’t make haste and find husbands. Arms still linked, they went to the chairs and flounced down onto them.
“I am very disappointed in both of you,” Chance said.
“Then we are even,” Felicity retorted, “because I am very disappointed in you, too. You could have at least waited to hold your ridiculous meeting until after breakfast. I have yet to have even a single sip of chocolate or tea.”
“Then I shall speak to Daisy,” Chance said, “about not taking better care of her mistress. She should have arranged that while you were dressing.” He clasped his hands to the small of his back and started pacing. “Youmustrefrain from hiding in the kitchens, or you will never find a husband. Do you wish to remain a spinster and live under the same roof with me all the rest of your days?”
“Father provided an ample allowance for all of us,” Merry said, coming to Felicity’s rescue. “She would not have to share the same home as you.”
“And you!” Chance pointed at his youngest sister. “Hiding not in the nursery, but in Lady Frederica’s former suite? Are you mad?”
“Freddie told me if ever I should go to her former country home that she had some lovely books I would enjoy,” Merry said with amazing innocence.
Felicity was impressed with her sister’s ability to keep a straight face while telling such an obvious lie.
“And you ruined another gown,” Serendipity said to Felicity as she took a step forward. “Really, Felli. You must at least attempt to show some restraint. Thank heavens a new modiste moved to the village, so we’ll not have to wait until we return to Town to not only have last night’s dress repaired but to have the seams let out in your other gowns too. I assume they have become uncomfortably tight as well?”
As a matter of fact, they hadn’t, and Serendipity’s insinuationstung. “They are fine,” Felicity snapped. “And if our straits are so dire, I shall pay for my gown repairs out of my own pin money.”
“You shall not!” Chance roared. He rolled his broad shoulders, making his large frame even more forbidding. He would be a harbinger of doom to someone else. Felicity knew him to be harmless. “Our straits are not dire,” he said, “but the extent of my patience is.” He snorted like an angry bull and paced some more, apparently attempting to calm himself. “Forgive me for raising my voice, but you know we are not in dire straits, and you should never say that. Not even in jest. Many are having issues due to poor investment schemes and failed crops. Thankfully, Mr. Sutherland, the elder, keeps all that well in hand and offers me excellent guidance.”
“I believe that is the kindest thing I have ever heard you say about our solicitor.” Felicity shifted in the chair, longing for a cup of chocolateanda cup of tea. “Is that all, brother? We know you do not appreciate it when we hide. That is part of the reason we do it.”
Merry giggled. “Touché, Felli!”
“No, that is not all,” Chance said through gritted teeth. “If you two had seen fit to take part in the festivities last evening, you would have met the new Earl of Wakefield. He inherited the title upon the recent death of his uncle. The man is young, from the gentry class, and handles himself quite well, if I do say so myself. He is also in search of a wife.”
“And I have yet to discover any untoward rumors about this new lord,” Serendipity said. “Unlike his uncle, he appears to be averse to gambling and determined to restore the Wakefield name.”
“Averse to gambling and determined to restore the Wakefield name,” Felicity repeated while trying not to groan at this revelation. “In other words, he is also in search of adowry. A fine, fat one. Need I remind you we are to marry forlove? Not someone’s desire for our money?”
“You could at least meet him,” Serendipity said, clipping her wordsso sharply that she reminded Felicity of an angry hen.
“Is that all?” Felicity asked again. She wasn’t about to share that she had already met the eloquent earl and liked him a great deal. However, the news that he was more than likely a dowry hunter dampened her enthusiasm. She wanted a husband who liked her forherself, not for her money.
“Yes, our dear, unhappy keepers, is that all?” Merry asked. “Felli and I are going into the village after breakfast, and we would like to enjoy the walk rather than be roasted by the hot midday sun.”
“Take your parasols and wear your gloves,” Serendipity reminded her. “And yes, that is all. I honestly do not know why we bother. You two are worse than Blessing, Fortuity, Grace, and Joy ever were. But please, I beg you, and so does Chance, please stop hiding. So far, your antics have gone unnoticed by the gossips, but that will not last forever.”
Their antics had gone unnoticed by the gossips because the servants of thetonwere their loyal and trusted friends. Those who took care of the aristocratic households were the lines of communication that fed the rumor business.
Both Felicity and Merry curtsied, then scurried from the room before Chance or Serendipity remembered something else to harp on them about. Arms once more linked, they headed to the garden after asking Walter to serve them breakfast there.
Once they were seated in the shade beside the reflecting pool, they both exhaled in relief.
“I believe we have worn Chance down,” Merry said.
“Do not underestimate him.” Felicity lifted her face to the gentle breeze and breathed in the refreshing aroma of their mother’s roses in full bloom. “When I smell the sweetness of these flowers, I always feel like Mama is back here with us. She always smelled of roses, didn’t she?”
Merry smiled. “She did—and I feel her too. I think she and Papa are watching over us.”
