Cassandra sat back in her chair, grinning. “You are so fortunate to have Prudence. What I wouldn’t give for a companion like her. Or any companion,” she added with a sigh.
Was she lonely? Fiona hated to think she might be. She knew how that felt, not that she’d realized that was what she’d been experiencing in Shropshire until she’d come here. Going from a small household, where it was just her and Mrs. Tucket, along with Mr. Woodson who came round regularly to help with things, to this grand house in Mayfair with its large complement of servants, plus Prudence, was just as much of a change as participating in Society.
No, she wouldn’t go back to Bitterley—not now. And if that meant marrying, then she’d find someone tolerable.
In the meantime, Fiona was going to enjoy her freedom. “Where do you suppose we can find dark green aprons?”
Cassandra blinked in surprise. “Do you truly want to do it?”
“Your brother owns the club. If we were discovered, would there be any harm? Besides, if we go in the morning, no one will see us there, save the employees of the club. We’ll just need to keep our heads down. Perhaps we need extra large caps to pull them down over our brow.”
“Oh yes,” Cassandra said with a warm laugh. “I think perhaps it’s time for our shopping trip to Cheapside. I’ll arrange for Aunt Christina to take us tomorrow.”
“Will she be available on such short notice?”
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. “She owes me a favor after all but abandoning me the other night at the ball. If I told my father, he’d cut off her allowance.”
“Your father gives her an allowance?”
“He compensates her for acting as my chaperone.”
Fiona kept the next question to herself—why would family need to be compensated for helping and supporting one another? She feared the answer as well as how it might make Cassandra feel. Fiona was beginning to realize things about her friend. She seemed so fortunate on the outside, with her family, wealth, and privilege. But if she was lonely and her family was as cold as Fiona was beginning to grasp, it was no wonder Cassandra had grasped on to Fiona and looked for entertainment. Again, Fiona wondered about Cassandra’s mother, whom she now knew had died, but Cassandra never wanted to talk about her.
“Then I suppose she’ll have to escort us to Cheapside,” Fiona said with a smile. “I will not invite Prudence. That way she has absolutely nothing to do with this.” Fiona froze, and she stared at Cassandra. “Are we actually going to do this?”
Eyes dancing, Cassandra faced Fiona. “I think so. You were right—no one will see us and even if they did, what harm would be done? We’ll go on our merry way.”
It sounded marvelous. Like an adventure. And hadn’t the queen herself urged Fiona to enjoy her adventure? “I hope it’s not our only visit. I do plan to ask Overton if he’s spoken to your brother about my idea of changing the rules so that men can bring their unwed family members.”
“I will speak to Lucien myself,” Cassandra said. “Where is the earl today? I hope he’s not lurking about eavesdropping.” She laughed softly as she picked up a glass of lemonade.
“He’s out paying calls.”
Cassandra took a sip. “On prospective brides?”
“Probably.” Fiona hadn’t considered that, but it made sense.
“I wonder who he’s considering? I hope she’s pleasant and fun—you’ll be living with her, after all.”
Fiona hadn’t thought of that. But if he wed soon, that’s precisely what would happen. How would his countess feel about having to share her house with her new husband and his ward? The pressure for Fiona to wed would grow apace. “I’ll settle for pleasant.” And patient, for what if she didn’t wed? What if his new countess hated having his ward here and insisted he send her back to Shropshire?
She would hope he didn’t find a wife soon.
Discordant notes from a pianoforte greeted Tobias as he entered his house and handed his hat and gloves to Carrin. “I hear it has arrived.”
“Indeed, my lord. It has been placed in the sitting room as you directed. However, it will need to be arranged in a more pleasing fashion.”
“Excellent.” Smiling, Tobias veered left into the sitting room that faced the street. The small pianoforte stood in the corner, awkwardly situated between other pieces of furniture.
Miss Wingate stood in front of it, her fingers picking randomly across the keys.
“A lovely melody already,” he said, drawing a gasp from his ward as she abruptly pivoted toward him. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I didn’t hear you enter over the noise I was making. A melody?” Her lips curved with amusement. “You’re very kind, particularly after I cringed at your humming.”
Tobias laughed. “True, I am quite magnanimous. Shall I hire a teacher for you then?”
“Surely I’m too old to learn.” She glanced back at the instrument. “I didn’t really think you were going to get one. And certainly not this fast.”
He shrugged. “Lucien had an extra.”
Her brows drew together. “Just a surplus pianoforte lying around?”
“Or something. Lucien is quite good at solving problems.”
“Was not having a pianoforte a problem?”
“Of course not, but when I mentioned I wanted to get one for you, he said he could have one delivered today.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“It was a surprise. I’ll inquire about a teacher tomorrow.”
“Do you play?”
“Only superficially. My mother was quite skilled. We used to make up silly ditties when I was a boy.” He hadn’t thought of those in years.
Miss Wingate smiled broadly. “About what?”
The words of one came back to him. “Frogs are slimy, and they eat flies. Birds are downy, and they just fly.”
She laughed, her eyes alight with mirth. “You were a true poet.”
“Why lie about such a thing when you were unflinchingly brutal about my abysmal humming?”
“Did I say it was abysmal?”
“You said something was abysmal, and since
