Several hours later, Hetty followed her aunt into the house. While Aunt Emily spoke to the cook about luncheon, Hetty wandered into the bookroom. On a shelf was a likeness in a small silver frame of a young man with a pleasant open countenance and light-colored hair. Her aunt came to the door. “What do you have there?”
Afraid she was intruding, Hetty swung around, the likeness in her hand. “Who is this?”
Aunt Emily took it from her and gazed at the likeness fondly. “That was my betrothed, Robert Falkner. He was a naval officer. He died at sea.”
So, what she’d heard was true. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Aunt.”
“I was eighteen.” Aunt Emily smiled mistily. “A long time ago now. I did wish…”
“What, Aunt?”
“That I’d defied convention and been with him before he went to sea. I would like to have more precious memories of him than the few I have.” Her aunt replaced the image.
She kissed Aunt’s cheek fondly, rendered silent by the sadness and regret in her eyes.
When Guy arrived, Hetty was happy to see him as always, but today his big, unruffled presence so soothed her soul she wanted to throw herself into his arms.
Dressed in a multi-caped greatcoat, a black hat at a jaunty angle on his dark hair, he assisted her into Lord Strathairn’s phaeton. The magnificent matched pair of chestnuts stamped their hooves, impatient to be gone.
“Has something happened?” Guy asked, when he’d told the horses to walk on. “You’re unusually quiet today.”
Hetty opened her new frilly parasol. Her aunt’s romance was too personal to discuss with him. “Between the modiste and my aunt, I’ve been pummeled to death,” she said. “They could not agree on anything, and I shan’t have the gowns I wished for.”
Guy laughed as he skillfully executed a three-point-turn in King Street. “Never mind, Hetty. You shall have your pick of fine dresses one day.”
“I don’t know about that, but I would like to wear them while I’m still young enough to enjoy them.”
“I trust an evening gown was ordered?”
“Yes. Why?”
“We have received some invitations.”
“Oh?” Her heart thudded.
“Lord Strathairn’s married sister is holding a soiree this Friday. And Eustace plans a dinner party the following week.”
After dealing with feelings of inadequacy brought on by the thought of an elegant soiree, she turned to study him. “And you accepted his invitation?”
“I did.”
“Why the change of heart?”
“I consider it to be judicious. I need to learn more about Eustace.”
“You may even get to like him.” She gripped the handle of the lemon-colored parasol as excitement threaded through her. “That’s less than a week. I don’t expect my gown to be ready by then.” She frowned. “I shall have to wear my old one.”
“Perhaps if the dressmaker is offered an inducement?”
“I can’t ask that of Papa. I doubt he can afford it, and he’s already been most generous.”Unusually so, she thought.
Guy’s brows met in a puzzled frown. “I understood your father to be comfortably off. Your dowry is most generous.”
Hetty had not queried the amount, afraid she would embarrass her father. “Is it?”
“He didn’t advise you of it?”
She shook her head.
