He escorted them into the house. In the entrance hall, Lady Genevieve greeted Abercrombie and, while she removed her hat and pelisse, inquired after his health.
“As well as my years allow, thank you, my lady.” The butler took her pelisse and bonnet.
“I have an excellent tonic that works wonders. I shall have it sent to you.”
“That is very kind. Thank you, my lady,” Abercrombie said with a bow.
“I’ll leave you in good hands.” With a small bow, Nicholas left them.
They followed the footman to the morning room.
“Well, Caroline,” Gwen began once the three of them were seated. “Before you and I go to London, we must use our time wisely. I’d like to inspect your wardrobe, my dear, and discuss etiquette. A few dance lessons cannot go amiss. Although I can see by your elegant demeanor, you’ve been well taught in all aspects required of a young lady making her debut. However, you cannot replace a mother’s wisdom. I’m sure there are some important matters I can assist you with that might have been overlooked.”
“Thank you, Lady Genevieve.” Carrie almost sagged with relief at finding her patroness so pleasant a person. She realized how worried she’d been. “I am very grateful.”
“Call me Gwen, please. I am sure we will become great friends.”
While Carrie hoped they would become friends, the elegant, sophisticated lady before her made her feel like a country bumpkin. Carrie feared she might cause her some displeasure, especially as she’d refuse any gentleman’s offer if he were not suitable for her family. If she rejected several offers, she imagined Gwen would justifiably grow impatient with her. And Gwen’s husband wasn’t happy about her being away from home for months. And what might Nicholas say about it?
Carrie went upstairs to change. What had once been her dream of an exciting time in London when Papa was alive now made her stomach churn with nerves.
Anna came in and prattled on about something she heard in the servant’s hall. Carrie barely listened, her thoughts remaining on the problems ahead, when something the maid said claimed her attention. “What did you say, Anna?”
Anna paused with Carrie’s primrose muslin in her hands. “About what, milady?”
“His lordship.”
“I tried to find out why Lord Pennington dismissed the housekeeper without a character. Apparently, he had called her into the library to talk to her, a maid told me. She was crying when she left the next day.”
The poor woman would never find work without a reference. “But what did she do that was so terribly wrong?”
“They merely shrug when I ask them. If they know, they don’t wish to tell the likes of me. I’m not one of them.”
“You sound sad. Don’t you like it here?”
“I do, Miss Carrie. My ma always said one cannot moon over something that will never happen. Shall I tidy your hair first?”
Carrie’s nervous fingers had destroyed the arrangement. “Yes, please, Anna.”
Anna removed the pins, and Carrie’s long hair swung over her shoulders. She closed her eyes as her maid brushed it with calming, smooth strokes. Was Nicholas hardhearted and tyrannical? What would she do if Bella wrote to her in London to say she was miserable here at Elm Park? It didn’t matter so much about Jeremy. He would not be here very often, as he had years at Eton and then university.
Her hair tidied, Carrie rose from the stool. She wished she could take Bella and go back to Leeming Hall, though she knew it was impossible. Another family lived there now. Her breath seemed to catch in her chest as she raised her arms for Anna to fit the dress over her head.
Chapter Five
In the early afternoon, Nicholas returned from attending to a matter with his gamekeeper. He walked from the stables and entered through the front door where Abercrombie waited to greet him.
“Lady Genevieve wishes to see you in the music room, my lord.”
Nicholas stripped off his gloves. “Send word I’ll be there after I change out of my riding clothes.”
After he bathed and changed, Nicholas entered the music room. They had moved the furniture back against the walls and rolled up the carpet. His sister, seated at the piano, searched through music sheets, while Carrie, Bella, and the governess sat as if waiting patiently for something to happen. With an uneasy feeling, Nicholas crossed the parquet flooring to the piano.
“Ah, there you are,” Gwen said, glancing up at him. “I wish to see if Carrie requires dance lessons.”
He raised his eyebrows. “And you need me because?”
“You are to partner her.”
