Am I doing the right thing?
Walking outside, she found the earl and countess running around her front garden, chasing the dog and children. Henry’s chuckle was muffled behind his hand, but she heard it.
Yes, I am.
They all climbed inside the carriage, and much to her surprise, there was more than enough room even with the large dog.
“My husband likes to travel in comfort. This is our new carriage. We can fit several children, animals, and adults,” Dimity said.
“You never know how many you will travel with as I believe I mentioned. We have a large family,” the earl said.
Iris sat with Henry to her side, and Ella beside him. Across from her were the earl and countess and their daughter. Walter leaned on the door, watching them.
“Now, Iris, have you read the Captain Broadbent and Lady Nauticus books?” Dimity asked.
“I haven’t, no.”
“Well, if you walk in society, that is something you need to do in case you find yourself in the middle of a reading.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t confuse her, my love. Iris will want to run and never look back if you tell her everything. Leave her to learn some of it slowly, and then we may have a chance that she wants to remain our friend.”
The idea of these wonderful people wanting her as their friend was humbling.
“Very well, I shall say no more,” Dimity said.
“I believe you and Lord Plunge were childhood friends,” Gabe said.
Theo, she wanted to say.His name is Theo or Lord Montgomery.
“His father’s land bordered my family’s. We were friends growing up.” That sounded good. Simple and to the point.
“What was he like as a boy?”
Her hesitation had the earl saying, “A great deal different from who he is today, I’m sure.”
“Yes, he was very different, but we have not seen each other since I was ten.”
“Did he move away or you?” Dimity asked.
Iris looked at Henry, who was listening intently to something Ella was saying. He had a hand on Walter’s head, stroking the soft fur.
Tomorrow she would look for a dog. She was slowly erasing what her late husband had done to them. This would just be something else.
“Theo left to attend Eton,” Iris said.
“Theo is Lord Plunge’s name?” Dimity asked.
Her eyes went to the earl, who held Patrice on his lap. He was staring at her intently, which suggested to Iris he was very interested in what she was saying. She supposed that was normal, considering the man Theo had become. Simpering and lavender wearing.
“Yes, he left a year after his parents were killed.”
Lady Raine shot her husband a look, but the earl kept his eyes on Iris.
“Killed?” the countess asked.
“I should probably not discuss the matter,” Iris said quickly. If society did not know how his parents died, then that was likely because Theo wished it that way.
