No doubt they were reconsidering—again—their purchases and the cost to His Grace—and now regretted each item.
While the packages were many, they had spent wisely. They had also been so successful in their shopping that a footman who had accompanied them when they first set out had needed to hire a hackney to load their purchases in and return back to the mansion because there was no room in the carriage they had used because six of them were already taking up the space.
“Please say that you will join us for tea,” Damaris begged.
She was tired, but Penelope would accompany them this one time to stand between them and their guardian if he decided to take issue with the purchases. Not that she expected Eldridge to voice any objections, but given the stories she’d heard about the former vicar and the things that man had said to his daughters, she well understood their concern, and likely fear. In time, they would realize that Eldridge was cut from a different cloth.
Just how long that would take, she was not certain.
As the sisters approached the door, it was immediately opened by the butler and each sulked in as if they’d just returned from a funeral or had been caught misbehaving and were awaiting punishment.
They then lined up by age when Eldridge emerged from the back of the house and footmen filed in with boxes and packages, occasionally stopping to inquire as to which room an item should be delivered. The sisters did not answer but looked at Penelope. Thankfully she recalled what belonged to whom and gave proper instruction.
“It was a successful outing?” Eldridge asked as the last of the footmen passed and climbed the stairs.
“Very much so, Your Grace,” Penelope answered.
“Might I enquire as to the damage to my pocketbook?”
She knew that he simply wanted an accounting and such phrasing was not meant to be a chastisement. She’d often heard the same term from her brother without any true displeasure behind his words, but the sisters were sensitive, not understanding, and hung their heads in shame.
“I have it right here.” Penelope pulled the small book from her reticule. She had written each purchase, broken down for each of the sisters. She then handed it to Eldridge. He thumbed through the pages as he took his time reading the items and calculations. Once finished, he nodded in approval and returned it to her.
“I anticipated that more would have been spent.”
With those words, the sisters slowly looked up, though there was still concern in their features.
“Your cousins are very frugal, Your Grace,” Penelope answered and looked him in the eye so that he would understand the message she was trying to convey. “They still feared spending your funds.” It was important that he know, and if Eldridge was paying any attention, he had to realize how anxious they were, and Penelope prayed he said the right thing and did not send them to their chambers in tears.
“If I had any objection to the amount you requested, Lady Penelope, I would never have agreed to make it available.”
Without even looking at the sisters, Penelope could feel them relax as some of the tension dissipated.
“Can I expect more expenditures?”
“Yes, but those can be discussed at a later time,” she answered. “However, I do not anticipate it will be much.”
“Very good!” he answered. “Though, you have seven hundred pounds, each, and if it is necessary to spend the entire amount to make a proper appearance for the remainder of the Season, you may do so without objection from me.” The last was directed to his cousins.
Thank goodness Eldridge had read the situation correctly and the sisters would no longer balk at what else she had planned.
For not having been attentive previously, it appeared that Eldridge was paying attention now and she admired how he put them at ease with no hint at criticism.
He may have been unprepared when they first arrived on his doorstep but she respected Eldrige for having recognized his error and being generous in return.
The only question that remained—would His Grace go along with everything else she had decided upon? After her discussions with the Simpson sisters today, it became clear that they needed more than a wardrobe and a dancing master.
Chapter 5
Why was it so hard to understand women?
He never had any difficulty when it came to his mistresses or his sister. His cousins, however, were another matter entirely.
Though, perhaps if he would have spent more time in their company, the shock at how much they feared displeasing him, or spending funds he allowed, would not have occurred. Lady Penelope could also have chastised him for his innocent teasing of asking how much damage had been done to his pocketbook, but she had not, even though she knew how his cousins would have been sensitive to his words. Instead, she conveyed her concern in such a manner that it did not take long for Henry to realize that his cousins may be the first women of his acquaintance who feared spending money.
What else did he not know and how often would he need to guard his words in the future until they grew more comfortable?
Or worse, how many more visits would Lady Penelope be making to his home?
