Page 5 of Leap of Faith
“Fustian! I am almost of age and have had responsibility for all of you since Lady Halbury died.” Truthfully, since their parents had died.
“Like an older matron would do?”
Faith scowled at Hope.
“I was only trying to think of why he would not want us to leave. Perhaps our clothing is embarrassing?”
“It may not be of the latest mode, but it is hardly an embarrassment!”
“Then I cannot imagine what may be the stumbling block. He may leave us a note and then we might call on him as soon as we return,” she decided.
“I suppose we could visit a few attractions whilst we are here, but I would feel guilty doing so without our sisters.”
“We can always bring them back another time,” Hope reasoned. “I will simply go mad if I have to stay in these rooms a moment longer, knowing all of London is outside that window, awaiting us. I will go mad!”
“Very well. What do you wish to see?” Faith was beginning to feel a bit imprisoned herself.
“Everything!”
Faith gave her sister a look of derision.
“Perhaps we could start with a walk through Hyde Park. The Society page is always discussing that the most fashionable people go there.”
“We can hardly consort with the most fashionable,” Faith argued. She had seen enough in their short foray through Mayfair to know they were far from the mode.
“I only want to look.”
“Surely there could be no harm in taking some fresh air at the nearby park. Let Gibson know, then let’s gather our bonnets and pelisses.” Faith was tired of looking at the walls, even though they were nice walls with a lovely floral pattern woven into some vines. To girls who were used to walking miles over the Bath countryside, this was a great change. “Maybe he will have an answer by the time we return. I must say it is most vexing to have a guardian when I am almost of age! We have done quite well without one for the past year!” she continued, simply to justify defying their guardian’s secretary’s edict.
They made their way down the stairs, stopping to ask for directions, and then began to walk along Piccadilly towards Hyde Park. Green Park was closer, but no, it must be Hyde Park for Hope. “I have read so many times about it that I can picture it perfectly!”
“I pray only that it does not disappoint.”
“I do not see how it could if Green Park is anything to go by.” Green Park was situated just across from the hotel, and was across the street that they walked along towards Hyde Park. It was indeed a pleasant prospect.
When they entered the gate, they stopped to get their bearings and looked around.
“I thought it would be more crowded,” Hope said in a tone Faith knew to be disappointment. She looked around and noticed some gentlemen on horseback, riding upon a nearby path. Across the grassy area, there were children playing with their nurses.
“That must be Rotten Row!” Hope exclaimed, noticing the horsemen. “The Serpentine must be up that way.” She pointed to the right of them.
Faith was glad that Hope wasn’t to remain disappointed. They walked along a gravelled path through some beds of flowers towards the Serpentine. It was an unexpectedly large lake near the park adjoining Kensington Gardens, and the cool breeze plastered their skirts to their legs, whilst they had to hold on to their bonnets to keep them from flying back.
“Is it not marvellous?” Hope asked with a radiant smile.
Faith thought it was pretty, but not more so than Bath. They walked on near the water’s edge when they came upon a group of small children feeding the ducks.
“Look at the ducklings!” Hope exclaimed, pointing to where little balls of fluff swam in a row behind their mother.
The older two boys of the group were lying on their stomachs, trying to reach the babies, while the youngest pointed with one hand, at the same time sucking on the fingers of the other. “Want! Want!”
A harried nursemaid was trying to correct all of them at once, and such a task was clearly beyond her capabilities.
Faith and Hope may not have known the children, but with several younger siblings, it was without thought that they moved closer. Soon, one of the boys was half in the water, trying to reach a duckling. The mother duck took issue and began to peck at the boy and chaos ensued.
The children shrieked and screamed. The other boy jumped in to save his brother—or at least not miss the fun—whereupon the nursemaid had a fit of the vapours.
“That will never do!” Faith turned to Hope. “Deal with the nurse. I shall deal with the boys.”
