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an order from on high.
Both girls nodded, utterly mystified by the message.
"We are usually around the house, more or less,"
Harriet murmured. "I wonder what the problem is? I
think Seymour meant you. Marcus never wants to talk
with me. I never get into trouble."
"It sounds ominous," Charis said thoughtfully. "I
think I should like to postpone any discussion with
our cousin. I believe I am for the park. Perhaps a spot
of shopping? Something. I cannot explain, but I doubt
whatever he has to say is anything good."
She searched her mind and tried to think of
something he might scold her about, but really
couldn't think of a thing. Of course there was the
matter of the Divine Delilah. But who knew about
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that? Harriet did, but she would never utter a word to
anyone.
With stealth that would have done a thief proud,
they tiptoed about and were shortly out of the house.
Ruff prancing along to enjoy the treat.
They were not the only people who wanted to take
pleasure in the out-of-doors on such a fine day. In
addition to the usual nannies and governesses
supervising their charges, there were young ladies with
maids trailing behind them and gentlemen pausing to
chat a bit.
"I say," Harriet said, "I believe this was a splendid
notion. There is another fox terrier. Even Ruff may find
a friend." Harriet pointed out the other dog, but the
owner was not inclined to let them meet. Charis
shrugged and kept Ruff close to her side,
"Look, I see Isobel and Barbara not far away.
Perhaps they know something that we do not. Lady
Penston always hears the latest gossip before anyone
else does." Meaning their own mother, of course.
Charis glanced at her sister, and they walked more
quickly.
The other girls were delighted to meet friends. They
walked on together, talking about the ball and all that
had occurred.
Isobel twirled her parasol, allowing the fringe to
dance wildly. "I understand that a certain Lady A is
not best pleased today. Rumor has it that she gave a
particular gentleman a telling off last evening. Not that
I actually saw this, mind you. I heard Mama talking
about it with one of her friends. They always think you
don't understand what they are discussing, but there
is only one Lady A who is being gossiped about
presently. This means it will shortly be the on-dit of the
day around Town."
"It would seem that we may not have to do anything
after all," Harriet murmured to Charis when the sight
of Lord Baylor astride his chestnut captured Isobel's
attention.
"Miss Penston, may I walk with you?" Lord Baylor
said. "Such a lovely afternoon for a lovely lady." That
three other women were present seemed to escape
him. He only had eyes for Isobel. He dismounted to
walk at her side.
Barbara left her sister, who still was not far away, to
join Harriet and Charis. "You both looked so nice last
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evening, especially Lady Huntingdon. Lord Egerton
said you were like a golden goddess."
"How lovely of him. But you must call me Charis.
Even after a year I find the title strange to my ears.
Considering that we spent all our time in the country,
I suppose that is not surprising."
Charis was happy to see that Isobel had found such
an eligible beau. Lord Baylor possessed a tidy fortune
and would inherit a vast estate when his father died.
Since his father was not labeled a spendthrift and
considered a good landlord, that estate was likely to be
highly valuable as well. Lady Penston would not be
displeased at the connection.
"It is such a lovely day. It seems a shame to spend it
inside a house," Harriet said with a happy look around
the park.
"Why do we not have a picnic? We could order a
carriage, and Cook would fix us a little nuncheon to
take along," Charis suggested, thinking it would be a
way of avoiding what she suspected would be another
confrontation with Marcus. "I think it would be a
delightful way to spend an afternoon."
"I say," Lord Baylor inserted, "Egerton and
Pilkington would likely want to join us."
Charis glanced at Barbara and back to Lord Baylor,
who seemed to catch her thoughts. "And Portchester
as well. You all know these fellows, and it would be a
jolly way to spend the afternoon. We could drive out to
Richmond Hill."
Charis nodded, her agreement. Eight people would
make an agreeable outing. She could bring Betsy if
necessary.
It was agreed that they would gather in two hours at
the Penston residence. Isobel insisted they be allowed
to bring one basket, leaving the other for Charis and
Harriet.
It was a good thing that Huntingdon House was not
far from the park. The Penston abode was close as
well, so the girls hurried to their respective homes,
making requests of the cooks first of all, then changing
into suitable dresses and footwear for a picnic in the
country.
The elder Lady Huntingdon thought it fine that her
girls were to go on a jaunt with a party. She had
acquired a new gothic novel and was inclined to spend
the afternoon on her chaise longue, reading. "Most
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appropriate. The picnic, I mean," she concluded as she
returned to the book at hand. "Really, it is amazing
what variety of books they have." At Harriet's
questioning look, she added, "At Hatchard's, dear girl."
It was surprising how quickly the Huntingdon cook
assembled the ingredients for their outing to
Richmond Hill. Within the allotted time, the girls left
from the rear of the house with a footman lugging the
basket. Not wishing to take one of her cousin's
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