Page 32 of Finding Hope
“Are you almost finished?” Hope asked her sister, trying not to appear as agitated as she felt.
Patience looked at her oddly. “I can be if Lord Montford does not knock my bowl out of the way.”
“I always follow the rules, Miss Patience,” Montford objected.
Mr. Cunningham snorted. “And that’s the truth!”
Montford stepped up to the line and rolled his bowl, just missing the jack.
Hope watched as her very competitive sister stepped up to take her turn, then knocked Montford’s off the green, leaving hers in its place.
Patience grinned with triumph. “Now, what did you need me for?”
Hope shook her head at her sister’s antics. “Let us find Grace first, so I do not need to repeat myself.”
Again, Hope had to wait for Grace to finish her archery lesson. She looked none too pleased to be pulled away from Carew’s attentions, but she did follow along.
“What is it?” Grace asked. “Is Joy worse?”
Hope explained what had happened and what the doctor had said.
“You should have sent for us!” Patience scolded.
“What could you have done but watch her misery? I am telling you now, but that is not what I wanted to discuss with you.” She led them away from the others to one of the marble follies. There was a statue, a replica of the goddess Venus, inside.
“They really are interested in Roman history here,” Patience observed dryly. “I suppose if I never get to visit Italy, I will not feel completely deprived.”
Too upset to be amused, Hope took the notes from her pocket and opened them.
“What is that?” Grace asked.
“Notes left in my room.” She handed one to each of her sisters.
They read them, then looked at her in confusion as they handed them back.
“There was nothing else?”
“No. Plain paper, no scent, indeterminate handwriting…”
“They seem admiring, yet not,” Patience observed.
“How odd,” Grace agreed.
“How disturbing,” Hope corrected. “I wondered if it was just my imagination, but my instinct tells me otherwise.”
“What are you going to do?” Grace asked.
“What can I do? I can hardly announce to the entire household that someone is sending me secret letters. The Duchess already thinks I am an encroaching hussy.” Hope paced in a circle around the folly.
“How is it your fault if someone is sending you notes? Do you think they could be from Rotham and he simply needs lessons in articulation?” Patience propped herself up next to the statue.
“I only wish that were the case, but I would look a fool if I walked up to him and asked. I cannot do it.” Hope shook her head.
“I wish Faith was here. She would know what to do,” Grace bemoaned, and Hope agreed.
“I do not see why we cannot ask the gentlemen for help. They would know what to do. I do not think any of them would have written notes in such a clandestine fashion. Although, perhaps Carew…” Patience considered, deep in thought.
“Not Carew!” Grace protested.
