Oliver took a few moments to register her actions and follow suit. There was not enough open space for a true run, but he still reveled in his chance to chase the lovely horsewoman across Hyde Park.
Just after the clock struck twelve, a messenger arrived at Kitty’s townhouse. For a brief moment, she’d hoped fora note from Oliver Linfield. She’d not seen or heard from the man since they’d gone riding in Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon. Granted, it had only been two days. But she still felt a pang of disappointment when the footman, Edwin, held the silver platter in front of Mrs. Childs.
“What is it, Mother?” Kitty asked, closing her book and setting it in her lap.
Her mother pressed her lips together before setting down the note and picking it up again. “Lady Boxwood apologizes for the late notice, but she would appreciate my company at another aid society meeting this afternoon.”
Kitty could almost see her mother’s mind working through her options. She did not want to go; of that Kitty was certain. The last meeting had been all business and no gossip. But neither did she wish to deny a dowager marchioness, not when the woman could be a door to greater social connections. Kitty needed to encourage her mother’s attendance, at least if she wanted any hope of learning why Lady Sampson was scheming again. “You should go, Mother. Did you not meet a baroness and a viscountess at the last meeting?”
As her mother was getting ready to leave an hour later, another message arrived. Kitty suppressed a groan. Could Lady Sampson not have waited a quarter hour more, to make sure the coast was clear? But when Kitty opened the missive, she discovered it was not from the baroness, but from Arabella.
I would be very pleased if you would join me for a shopping trip this afternoon. If you find the plan acceptable, I will arrive at half-past two.
All the best,
Arabella
P.S. Wear sturdy shoes and a gown that is easy to move in.
Where on earth were they going shopping?
“What is it, Catherine?” Her mother echoed her question from earlier.
“Mrs. Linfield, the vicar’s wife, has asked me to go shopping with her.”
“Just her?”
Kitty folded the paper, hoping she would not have to produce it. “She did not mention anyone else.”
“Hmm,” her mother murmured before instructing her to be on her best behavior, and then she scurried out the door. If she hurried, she would still make it to Lady Boxwood’s on time.
At precisely half-past two, Arabella arrived to find Kitty had already changed into half-boots and a comfortable gown. It was not her most comfortable, but it was the best she could wear in public without finding herself in the suds were her mother to see her.
When they climbed into the Linfield carriage, Kitty was disappointed to find that they were alone. Arabella must have noticed her looking around the carriage because she spoke. “One advantage of being a married woman is that I am now considered an acceptable chaperone.” She smiled wryly. “Heaven only knows why.”
Kitty laughed as she sat back against the bench seat. “Care to tell me where we are going shopping that requires sturdy shoes?”
“We have a few stops planned today,” Arabella replied with a conspiratorial smile.
Within a few minutes, the carriage pulled up in front of a vaguely familiar street of storefronts. Their first stop was a haberdashery, where Arabella purchased two ribbons without even looking at them and handed one to Kitty. They then went intoan apothecary, where Kitty selected a peppermint and Arabella purchased a small bag of lemon drops. Less than a quarter hour after arriving, they returned to the carriage, armed with a basket of pastries they’d purchased from a bakery. The third stop had actually taken them the longest. It was the strangest, and shortest, shopping trip Kitty had ever experienced.
After tapping on the roof to signal the driver, Arabella smiled. “Now that I have fulfilled my promise to take you shopping, we can continue with the rest of our plans.”
Kitty positively burned with curiosity. “Which are?”
“All in good time,” Arabella replied before popping a lemon drop into her mouth.
Confident her friend would not answer any pointed questions, Kitty instead asked her about how she had ended up married to her vicar husband. She sat and listened to the story, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, as the carriage rolled through the streets of London. After several turns, Kitty’s surroundings became less familiar.
At last, they pulled up in front of a modest stone townhouse. The houses were smaller than in her neighborhood, and decidedly less grand than Lady Sampson’s townhouse, but they were neat and clean. They were obviously not in the rookeries.
“Where are we?” Kitty asked as they pulled up in front of a townhouse.
“The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hazelwood, Nat Towne’s mother and stepfather.”
The door opened the moment the knocker sounded, and a kindly-looking woman with silver hair and blue eyes greeted Arabella. After a quick introduction, Mrs. Hazelwood took the basket ofpastries and ushered them into a large back garden that appeared to be shared with all the other houses on the block.
Two nearly identical-looking men stood on the edge of the lawn, both dressed in worn trousers, shirt sleeves, and simple waistcoats. Though attired similarly, she had no trouble telling them apart when Tim stepped forward and kissed his wife on the cheek. “Thank you for retrieving our guest.”
