“If there are no maids in the household?” he asked.
“Then either myself or your housekeeper will go about locating suitable candidates. She will have knowledge of who may have been let go, or is in search of employment, as my brother’s servants will.”
“We will leave the matter to my housekeeper,” Henry insisted because the less Lady Penelope was involved in his household the better. “She will be their supervisor and thus, can inform them of what is expected.”
“Except, she will not be,” Lady Penelope corrected him. “A lady’s maid answers only to the lady or miss she serves, not the housekeeper, as it is with other household servants, just as your valet answers only to you.”
How the bloody hell was he to know the hierarchy? “Very well, I will speak with the housekeeper.”
Lady Penelope nodded. “I will only assist if necessary. As for now, I will take your sisters shopping for hair adornments.”
She turned to greet his cousins who had just returned from their chambers, ready to shop once again. After they were gone, Henry went in search of the housekeeper. Surely, he could manage to locate and hire two or three lady’s maids for his cousins without the assistance of Lady Penelope. She had interfered enough.
In truth, it wasn’t so much that he resented or was bothered by her interference. He just hated that she never failed to point out where he had fallen short and that he did not like.
Bloody hell! Was this what a wife did?
Well, besides warm a bed in the most delightful ways. If he had a wife, he would not even have to worry about what may have been neglected…because nothing would have been forgotten.
Blast!
It was a delightful outing that ended with ices from Gunter’s. The sisters had been excited to try new combs and feathers and all manner of combinations but were very careful in what they chose to purchase with a mind toward the budget they had been allowed by His Grace.
They now strolled through Hyde Park before returning to their home because it was a delightful day and she wanted the ton curious, which would lead to the sisters being sought after if only out of curiosity.
“What is our next project?” Judith asked as the two strolled side by side while the others walked ahead.
“When we return to the mansion, we will begin planning a ball.”
Her words must have carried because the four sisters stopped and turned.
“A ball?” Damaris asked in near panic.
“Yes. His Grace is going to hold a ball to introduce you to Society.”
“We have been in Society,” Chloe reminded her.
“It was not a proper introduction and once your cousin does so, in his home, you will be received everywhere, invited everywhere and likely receive a voucher to Almack’s,” she concluded.
Their eyes widened with excitement.
“Then there will be friends to call, and gentlemen, and possibly suitors.”
Whatever happiness the sisters might have had about the ball quickly dimmed.
“Suitors?” Damaris asked.
“The five of you are quite lovely, beautiful, no doubt courtships will follow.”
“No! We do not want suitors or courtships,” Chloe insisted.
“You do not?” Penelope asked in confusion. “Why come to London if not for husbands?”
“Freedom, for one,” Judith insisted. “Some independence and the opportunity to make our own decisions on what we want and not being told what is best for us or what we are required to do.”
Penelope could not help but grin. “Which is my philosophy as well and I will see that you achieve your goals.” His Grace may not want five independent misses in his home, but Penelope could not force them to do anything that she would not want to be forced on her.
“Is everyone required to marry?” Jael asked in fear.
