Rhenick’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “A fitting justice for that man if you ask me, but tell me this—how did you, as an engaged lady, and before you went into mourning, find yourself lingering at any society events? Where was this man who shall no longer be named during that time?”
Her lips curved. “If you must know, Mr. Nameless always danced the obligatory two dances with me, as well as sat beside me at dinner. However, he usually arranged it so there was a sparkling lady on the other side of him during any given meal, one who’d undoubtedly earned the title of Diamond of the First Water, and one Mr. Nameless would devote his complete attention to.”
Rhenick shook his head. “It’s little wonder you’ve vowed never to marry, but do know that not all men are like yourformer Mr. Nameless, who sounds like a complete scoundrel, and also sounds as if he’s a gentleman who never deserved a lady like you in the first place.”
For the briefest of seconds, it felt quite as if she and Rhenick were completely alone in the churchyard, until a group of ladies sauntered past them, murmuring hellos to Rhenick, their faces wreathed in smiles and their lashes fluttering madly about.
Reality returned in a trice when Rhenick inclined his head to the ladies in question, but then, when he immediately returned his attention to her and settled a charming smile on her—and not on the beautiful ladies who’d just attempted to draw his attention away from her—her world suddenly turned somewhat topsy-turvy and for good reason.
She’d never, not once in her entire life, captured a man’s attention to such an extent where other ladies, and far more attractive ladies at that, couldn’t distract him from paying attention to her, but that’s exactly what seemed to have just happened.
“I’m so relieved I wasn’t responsible for massacring the hymns today,” Wilhelmine said as she, along with Irma, took that moment to stroll up and join them. “I’m also happy to report that Seraphina has agreed to play every Sunday until we find a permanent organ player.”
Before Drusilla could add that she’d be happy to fill in as well, the crowd of churchgoers suddenly parted right in front of them, revealing a lady dressed in a tailored tweed jacket, the type that gentlemen normally wore, although she’d paired her jacket with a slim skirt instead of trousers.
Curiously enough, the lady was wearing a hat that resembled a helmet, one Drusilla thought might be called a pith something or other, but before she could consider the hat matter further, the woman began waving madly in their direction before she charged right for them, her charging causing a few members of the congregation to scurry out of her way.
“Yoo-hoo!” the lady called out before she set her sights on Irma, bustled up directly in front of her, and then did the unthinkable.
She reached out and pulled Irma into a hug, a departure from proper etiquette if there ever was one, that departure increasing when she suddenly gave Irma what appeared to be an honest-to-goodness squeeze.
Twenty-Six
“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for the day when I’d finally get to meet you in person, Mrs. Merriweather,” the woman said, completely ignoring that Irma had gone stiff as a board once all the embracing started. “Truth be told, I was planning on visiting the castle tomorrow because I only learned yesterday, when I arrived in Chicago after a lengthy absence, that the New York Merriweather family had come to town. Why, you could have knocked me over with a feather when someone told me who you were when I spotted you across the church. But how wonderful to find you attending the same church service I just happened to be attending as well. I’m ever so happy you’re here, as I get to greet you a day earlier than expected, although I am sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
The woman gave Irma another squeeze, eliciting an honest-to-goodness grunt from Irma in return, which the woman blatantly ignored as she continued hugging her. “With that said, and before I get down to paying my condolences, let’s agree here and now to abandon all formality right from the start, which means I insist that you call me Fenna.”
“Informality might be rather premature,” Irma said, her voice muffled because Fenna was continuing to hug her. “I haveno idea who you are, and am now going to suggest you abandon this unexpected hugging business beforeIdo something unexpected, such as scream.”
The lady, Fenna Somebody-or-Other, froze for the briefest of seconds before she released her hold on Irma, took a step backward, then whipped off her hat, and, oddly enough, presented Irma with a bow. “I do beg your pardon, Mrs. Merriweather, as I’m sure I must have startled you with my enthusiastic greeting, which must be exactly why you haven’t realized who I am—I’m Fenna, Fenna Larkin—your sister-in-law’s very best friend as well as assistant.”
When Irma began looking as if she were at a complete loss, a clear sign she had no recollection of Ottilie ever mentioning this woman, Drusilla stepped forward and cleared her throat, then cleared it again, and louder this time because Fenna hadn’t bothered to turn toward her. Instead, she was keeping her attention firmly centered on Irma, smiling brightly, as if the smiling was going to result in Irma recalling who she was and then exclaiming how delighted she was to finally meet Fenna as well.
“Might you be the assistant who Norbert has mentioned to me, and who traveled to Egypt with my aunt?” Drusilla asked, stepping closer to Fenna in the hopes the lady might realize she was speaking to her.
Fenna, thankfully, turned to Drusilla and then raised a hand to her throat. “On my word but you’re Drusilla, of course.” She took a step closer. “Ottilie told me all about you and your sister, and she showed me miniatures of you two. Why, you’re just as darling as your miniature suggested.”
Since Drusilla knew exactly what miniature Aunt Ottilie would have shown Fenna, as well as knew it was not a likeness that was overly complimentary, she was a little surprised to be deemed a darling, but before she could summon up a thank-you to a rather dubious compliment, Fenna was lookingover Drusilla’s shoulder, her ever-present smile dimming ever so slightly.
“I don’t see Annaliese anywhere, although I thought I saw her red hair from where I was sitting in the back of the church. Do not tell me that she’s already left to return to the castle, as I was anxious to ask her if she’s had any additional encounters with those pesky plume hunters your aunt mentioned she seems to enjoy tangling with.”
It was becoming evident that Fenna had not been exaggerating about Aunt Ottilie mentioning her nieces, and often from the sound of things.
“I’m sure Annaliese will be along directly, as we rode here together, although I’m not certain it would be wise to mention plume hunters to her while we’re still at church because there’s many a lady sporting feathers today, which I’m sure Annaliese has also noted. She’s most likely already in a questionable state about that, and that state could turn somewhat contentious if you remind her of the plume hunters who were responsible for collecting the feathers on all the hats here today.”
A smack to her forehead was Fenna’s first response to that. “I do beg your pardon, Drusilla, as you’re perfectly right and I should hold my tongue, at least until a more private moment. And how silly of me to think Annaliese had already departed since of course you rode here together, what with how Merriweather Castle, as our dear Ottilie always called it, isn’t exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away. But speaking of dear Ottilie, allow me to say how very sorry I am to learn, although I’ve had my suspicions for a while now, that she’s no longer with us.”
Drusilla frowned. “Why would you think she’s no longer with us?”
Fenna returned the frown. “Because you and your family are here, and gossip has it that you and your sister are the new owners of Merriweather Castle.”
“I’m afraid that gossip, which began permeating throughtown after I shared a few snippets regarding our arrival in Chicago with a hack driver who rushed right out to tell everyone, might have gotten a little mangled in the telling, as it isn’t completely accurate.”
“Are you saying that you and Annaliese aren’t the new owners of Merriweather Castle?” Fenna asked.
“We’re the owners, but we’re not the owners because we received word of Aunt Ottilie’s passing. She gave us the castle when she was in New York before she left on her last adventure.”
A furrow appeared on Fenna’s forehead. “She gave it to you?”
