Within minutes, Mrs. Trotter appeared. “Do you need something, Lady Fletcher?”
“Yes, could you have the nanny bring William down for a visit?”
“Of course, Lady Fletcher,” Mrs. Trotter said with a curtsey before exiting the room.
It wasn’t long before Alice, holding nine-month-old William, entered the drawing room. When the baby saw his mother, he wiggled in his nanny’s arms to be free.
Audrey went to them with outstretched arms. “Hello, my darling boy,” she said, taking the baby and walking over to Julia and Kathryn.
“Oh my, he’s grown so much since I last saw him,” Kathryn exclaimed.
“I know. Time seems to fly by,” Audrey said.
The women cooed over William for the next twenty minutes, until Beckwith announced that nuncheon was ready. Alice took the baby back to the nursery while the three women went into the dining room. Mrs. Culbert had put together a delectable meal of chicken, ham, a savory sauce, freshly baked bread, and her special lemon tarts.
As the women ate and chatted, the Gardner ball soon became the topic of conversation.
“Julia, may I ask you something?” Audrey asked.
“Of course, dear. How can I help you?”
“Do you know Lord and Lady Gardner well? We received an invitation to attend their ball on Saturday, and I’m afraid I don’t know anything about them.”
Julia nodded. “Yes, I know them. They’re lovely people. Their son, Lord Chandler, and Easton were childhood friends, along with Lord Ludlow, so we saw them quite a bit when the boys were younger.”
“I’ve never heard a single scrap of scandal attached to their names,” Kathryn said. “Mama, isn’t Lady Arabella making her debut this year?”
“Yes. I believe that’s why they’re hosting the ball. Everyone is clamoring for an invitation, as they don’t entertain often. When they do, the events are always a crush.”
“Oh my,” Audrey said. “I feel especially privileged to receive the invitation then, but I do not know how it came about.”
“I do,” came a voice from the doorway.
All three women looked up to see Lord Fletcher standing there.
“My darling,” Audrey said, “I didn’t know you’d be home this early. Please come and enlighten us.”
Fletcher walked in, kissed his wife’s cheek, and bowed to the ladies. “Lady Devon, Lady Clifford, it’s a pleasure to see you both again.”
“Lord Fletcher, the pleasure is ours,” Lady Devon said.
“To answer your question, I met Lord Chandler at Gentlemen Jack’s this past Tuesday, and he was instrumental in obtaining the invitation for us.”
“Ah, that makes sense. My sister was so excited when she saw the invitation, but I told her we must check with you first,” Audrey said.
Fletcher nodded. “From what I understand, the event is highly anticipated. We must keep your sister in our sight throughout the evening if we’re attending.”
“Of course, darling. She knows our wishes.”
“I’ve not heard anything scandalous about Miss Parker,” Lady Devon said. “My dear, did something happen with your sister?”
Fletcher shook his head. “Not exactly. When we found her at the Thompson ball, she’d wandered out to the terrace for a bit of fresh air when we found her. Unfortunately, she was not alone.”
“Oh no,” Kathryn said. “There are far too many men who will prey on a young girl’s innocence.”
“Exactly,” Audrey said. “Luckily, the gentleman departed the moment he saw us, and that was the end of it. We explained to her the consequences of being discovered in such a compromising position, and she was horrified to learn she’d have been ruined if she hadn’t married him. A marriage is the last thing my sister wants at the moment. I doubt very much she will make that mistake again.”
“Let us hope not,” Fletcher said.