“Were there no servants?” Penelope asked.
“Yes, but they had promised our mother to support us in anything we seek and to help however possible,” Judith explained. “Mother loved us dearly but said that our lives would have been far easier had we been boys because then we could escape home.”
“What did you do for entertainment in…” Penelope did not even know where they were from.
“We lived outside of Navenby,” Jael answered.
“What was the village like?”
“It is a market town like any other, I suppose,” Chloe answered. “As far as socializing with anyone, that was only allowed following church on Sundays with those we met outside before Father took us home.”
“We were allowed to be part of the Sick Society, which was founded seven years ago, to read the Bible to the frail and elderly,” Bernice offered.
“It was the Christian thing to do,” Damaris added with obedient servitude. A tone she likely used with her father.
“What of assemblies, shopping or any other entertainments?”
“They were not allowed,” Damaris answered. “Especially dancing and Father was quite infuriated when the waltz was accepted and spent a month of sermons on the topic. Shopping was only allowed for necessities and we were not to dawdle but return directly home.”
Except, they had managed to visit the lending library, which their father would have sternly objected to.
These poor girls were exposed to nothing, outside of sneaking books to read, prior to arriving in London little over a month ago, which made Penelope determined more than ever that she was going to see that they enjoyed London to the fullest.
“I shall make a list of activities that I think you will enjoy and return tomorrow,” Penelope said as she set her teacup aside. Now was not the time to rush out, but a plan needed to be formed so that they experienced every aspect of Society. Well, the parts that would not see them ruined, of course.
Chapter 3
Henry pulled away from the entry and quietly walked back to the library.
It was wrong of him to have eavesdropped and he should have announced his presence and had tea with his cousins and Lady Penelope, but doubted they would have been as forthcoming with him as they had been with her.
He had asked about their home and the town where they had been raised and not once had they described how their life had been. Yet, Lady Penelope had managed to get them to confess with only a few questions.
He had also failed them when he allowed them to take up the role of wallflowers without offering any other options, other than when Bernice attended the theatre on Mr. Peter Storm’s arm as part of a ruse. He had not even kept them at his side so that introductions could be made.
Should he be the one to escort them about London or should he allow Lady Penelope to do so?
Then again, what could he show them? No doubt Lady Penelope intended to take them shopping, to a bookshop, a confectioner and possibly a walk in Hyde Park. Certainly nothing should be a concern. Except, it was Lady Penelope, the most independent woman of his acquaintance and he feared what she might expose his innocent cousins to. And for that single reason, he was waiting to join them for tea when she returned the following day. He would no longer be so quick to slough off his duty again and would put a stop to any activities she may suggest that were not generally acceptable for innocent misses. Not that he could think what any of those would be, but he would if any were mentioned.
As he entered the parlor where his cousins awaited, they grew alarmed and curious.
It was not as if he had not taken tea with them before.
Well…except, he had not since the first week they had arrived. After that, he had absented himself because his presence had not been necessary.
“I am to understand that you are expecting Lady Penelope today.”
“Yes,” Bernice answered with caution.
“I am glad she has befriended you.” He took the remaining chair. No doubt this was intended for Lady Penelope, but there was space on either of the settees.
“As are we,” Judith agreed with enthusiasm.
Blast! He had failed them. “I am sorry that I have not better prepared you for Society.”
“Oh, you must not feel badly, cousin,” Damaris insisted. “Our arrival was a surprise and being a bachelor, you could not have known what to do any more than us.”
Except, he knew far more than they. “Still, I should have introduced you to more people. Instead, I allowed you to…well…become wallflowers when you should be courted.”
