Page 10 of Finding Hope
“I do not know,” Hope said. She also missed her elder sister’s guidance more than she cared to admit. The Dowager was kind, but she did not understand in the same way.
“I miss Westwood and his friends,” Patience said frankly. “London is not nearly as much fun without their escort.”
“Mr. and Miss Cunningham are still here,” Joy said. They had faithfully called upon Joy nearly every day. It still wasn’t the same.
“Whatever happened to Lord Rotham?” Grace asked, looking at Hope, who had no idea.
“He went to the country,” Joy answered. “He did not tell you?” She looked at Hope.
“Why would he?” she asked a little more forcefully than intended.
“Miss Cunningham says that he avoids her.”
“Why would he want to avoid her if she is his intended?” Hope could not help but ask.
“Vivienne says that he does not want to marry her, that it is all their parents’ doing.”
“And how does she feel about that?” Grace asked.
“She does not seem overly concerned to me,” Joy said with an unconcerned shrug as she stroked the cat’s back, to his loud purrs in response.
Hope wanted to interrogate Joy further, but she refrained. Her possessiveness of Rotham did her no credit when she had no right to such feelings. “A house party might be just a thing,” she said out loud.
“How does one go about being invited to one?” Grace asked.
“We don’t go about asking,” Patience replied. “We are completely at the mercy of the Dowager’s choices.”
“She is well connected. Perhaps a hint that such a thing would interest us?” Hope suggested.
“Such a hint would come better from you than me,” Grace said. “With many of the officers leaving London, and the Season drawing to a close, there will be little left here to do.”
Before, Hope would have had a sharp retort for such an attitude, but she could more than sympathize now.
A servant knocked and entered with a tea tray and some pastries, and Joy immediately perked up. With Westwood and Faith on the Continent, his lordship’s chef had delighted in spoiling them with his creations.
“Is there anything on the calendar for this evening?” Hope asked.
“I believe there was a musical evening at Lady Rutherford’s or a ball at the Fairmont mansion to celebrate Lady Amelia’s betrothal.”
“I suppose we are obliged to attend that one, and I do adore Lady Amelia, but I am tired of balls.”
“That is normal by the end of the Season,” the Dowager said from the doorway. “May I join you?”
“Of course.”
“You must try these.” Joy held up the remainder of the biscuits that remained for the Dowager to choose from.
She smiled. “I suppose one will not hurt,” she said as she selected a chocolate biscuit and took a seat. Hope poured her a cup of tea and added two spoons of sugar before handing it to her.
“I have just received a note that I thought might interest you,” she said.
All of them looked up with curiosity. “Is it news from Faith and Westwood?” Patience asked.
“No. I have not heard from them in a couple of days. This is from Davenmere.”
“Rotham’s father?” Hope asked.
“Davenmere as in the estate,” she said. “We have been invited to a house party there.”
