“Not for us, Letty, but for you,” Sophie rushed to add. “I think the sooner I can leave London and retire to Monmouth, the better for us all.”
“Now you listen to me, dear. You and Timmy have given me something I never thought to have. A family to love as my own. I have happiness in my life now. I can also live in society, among friends I hold dear. This all would have been denied to me had we not wed you to my brother. Now, I want to hear nothing further on this matter, child. We will do what must be done in London, and then I will see you safely home to Monmouth. Yes?” she finished as she gave Sophie’s hand a last squeeze.
“Yes,” Sophie whispered.
“Now go to Morton’s and then to the shop that has all those funny little knickknacks you love to look at.”
“How did you know about my interest in knickknacks?”
“I have seen you looking at them when we go shopping. Have you ever owned a doll or a figurine, Sophie?”
“Pardon?”
“I saw you looking in some cabinets the other day when we were out. They were full of small glass animals and delicate dolls,” Letty said.
“I haven’t and am now far too old to do so,” Sophie said, rising.
“If you say so,” Letty said. “Give me Timmy, and you can get your things. The carriage will be here shortly. I will take him out to the gardens.”
She did as Letty said and took the stairs up to her bedroom.
Sophie had lived here for a while and was still awed by how lovely the Monmouth town house was. Delicate furnishings, pale duck egg walls, and darker wainscoting. Gold trim and gilded mirrors. Everything about it was elegant. She’d worked in a place like this before but never lived in one, and now it was her, Letty, and Timmy’s forever.
She hurried to her room, which had a large bed with the softest mattress and covers she’d ever slept in. Putting on herbonnet, Sophie tied the pink ribbons and then slipped on her gloves. Lastly, she picked up her reticule and left the room.
“The carriage is waiting, my lady,” the butler said, opening the door.
“Thank you, Buford. What are your plans for the morning?”
“Well, I am hoping that with a cup of tea I will shortly be having, there will be a wedge of almond cake. Mrs. Peel is exceedingly good at baking, and this is my personal favorite.”
“Well, make sure you save me a wedge for the tea tray later,” Sophie said.
“I will see it done. Enjoy your shopping, Lady Monmouth.”
Tall, broad shouldered, and with a head of silver locks that made women sigh, Buford was the epitome of what a butler should look like. He also had a wicked sense of humor and was often found playing with Timmy in the garden.
Stepping out into a sunny day, Sophie was soon inside the carriage with her maid, Jenny, and rolling toward Bond Street. She saw people strolling and vendors selling their wares. This city was always bustling with activity.
“Do you think you should have worn a scarf, Sophie? My lady,” Jenny added.
“No. The sun is high, and it’s warm. Thank you, Jenny,” she said to her maid.
Jenny’s lips pulled into a disapproving line.
Letty had chosen to bring two of her most loyal Monmouth servants to accompany them to London. She thought Sophie would be comfortable with their friendly faces supporting her. One was Jenny, her maid, and the other Robbie, the Monmouth driver.
“You’ll have a care who you speak to, and I’ll be close,” Jenny said. “You never know who you’ll meet.”
“I will, and thank you, but I assure you I am merely collecting a book for Letty, Jenny. All will go well.”
The carriage stopped seconds later as Jenny was explaining the bad things that could happen to a lady on the streets of London if she did not have a care. Sophie reached for the door.
“I’ll do that,” Jenny said. “You’re the lady now.”
“Jenny—”
“Lady Carstairs picked me and Robbie because we’d been with her for years, and she trusted us to care for you. It was an honor that she did so, and we’ll be watching over you like she asked of us.”
