‘They were all awful,’ Mantheria said with a sigh. ‘Even Wick thought so. The first one, a Miss Thornburgh, flinched whenever we spoke to her. Can you imagine how she would handle the girls? Let alone the animals in the menagerie?’
Louisa giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. ‘They would frighten her to death.’
‘My sisters or the animals?’
‘Your sisters.’
They laughed together until tears started falling out of Mantheria’s eyes and she shook her head. ‘Then a Miss Meadows talked of using the strap as if it were some great personal pleasure.’
Louisa shuddered. ‘Oh, no!’
‘Don’t worry, Wick would never let anyone beat our sisters. The next candidate from the agency was a lady in her sixties, clearly not in good health. Mrs May didn’t think she would have the stamina to keep up with them.’
Louisa found herself nodding in agreement. The Stringham sisters needed someone young and vibrant.
‘And the last, a Miss Tucker, positively frightened me during the interview. I sat up so straight that my neck still hurts.’
‘Perhaps she would be better suited as a drill sergeant rather than a governess.’
Mantheria shrugged, slumping a little in her seat. ‘None of them will do.’
Trying to appear nonchalant, Louisa asked, ‘And what did Wick say? Will he stay in London longer? Until he finds the right one?’
‘He swears that he won’t stay even one extra day,’ his sister said with a harrumph. ‘He is more stubborn than any animal Papa has ever owned.’
Louisa bit her lower lip to stop it from trembling. She had hoped that Wick would be near her longer. But he was determined to leave.
A footman opened the door of the carriage and escorted them into a beautiful grey stone London mansion with countless candelabra lit, making it appear almost as bright as day. Lord Sunderland’s blond locks looked golden in the candlelight, and he beamed when he saw them. Or rather when he saw Mantheria. His eyes seemed to eat her whole.
Louisa wondered, if she married another, whether her traitorous heart would continue to long for Wick. But it didn’t matter. Without her fortune she had no money and nowhere to go, and the only way to receive her inheritance early was for her to marry. She could not continue to take advantage of Mantheria’s charity and wait for a man who had openly refused her.
A woman stood next to Sunny. She was a petite little thing, whose head did not even reach his shoulder. She was dressed in black bombazine—a material known for not reflecting the light. Her face was covered by a black lace veil, as if she were attending a funeral.
‘Lady Glastonbury... Lady Louisa,’ Sunny said, showing his usual endearing smile beneath his crooked nose. ‘Now my ball can begin. But where is Wick? He said that he would be escorting you.’
Louisa’s eyes darted to Mantheria, whose cheeks had turned a pretty pink as Sunny took her hand and lifted it to his lips. ‘I am sure he is coming. Perhaps he is late. We had a rather dismal afternoon interviewing for a new governess.’
The Dowager Lady Sunderland removed her veil to show a surprisingly young-looking face. Her skin was smooth, except for the fine lines around her mouth and eyes. She pointed a black gloved finger at him. ‘Lord Cheswick should be interviewing candidates for a wife. He’s not getting any younger and neither are you, Alphonse.’
Sunny’s given name was Alphonse. The nickname fitted him much better, Louisa thought.
Sunny’s smile turned rather hard. ‘That is why I am here, Mama. But let us not hold up the line any longer. Lady Glastonbury, will you please save me the supper waltz?’
Before Mantheria could answer, Lady Sunderland spoke again. ‘There’s no point in askingher—she’s already married. You ought to have asked Lady Louisa. Not a bad-looking girl, even with the freckles, and she has a fortune besides.’
Louisa could have happily sunk down to the floor at the Dowager’s words.
Mantheria linked her arms with Louisa’s. ‘Alas, Lady Louisa, you are too late for the supper waltz, for I accept your offer, Lord Sunderland. But perhaps you might want to reserve another dance with our fair Louisa?’
Sunny took Louisa’s hand briefly, bowing over it before letting go. ‘Shall we say the first set?’
Louisa felt the blood rush to her face as she answered, ‘The first two dances are already claimed, my lord.’
‘The third, then?’ he said, his eyes bright.
‘Very good.’
‘Phew. I am glad I got in early.’