“Sophie dear, a note was delivered for you from Miss Browning.”
She’d had to change her clothes and run an important errand. Now Sophie handed her gloves and bonnet to a waiting maid and took the proffered note from Mrs. Summers. Her former governess had been sitting in the front parlor with the door open, obviously waiting for her return and wanting to have a few words with her charge. She’d nearly bounded out of her chair when Sophie had walked through the door.
Now it seemed she was unable to decide what, exactly, was more important to discuss; the note or that Sophie had been out without a proper escort.
Sophie sincerely hoped it would be the note. She had just been to the solicitor’s office, dropping off her own note detailing just how little she had discovered at the Pattons’ ball. It had been a depressing errand.
Mrs. Summers lifted her pointed chin to better look down her long nose. “It simply will not do for you to be traipsing about London by yourself, Sophie.”
Ah, she should have known. Good manners always came first with Mrs. Summers.
“I know,” Sophie responded, “but I thought it best to let you rest, since you haven’t been feeling well, and I did take a footman.”
“I am perfectly recovered. You should have waited for me or your cousin.”
“I might’ve died of old age waiting for that man. Have you noticed how little he’s been about? He’s supposed to meet with me today, but….”
“That is not the point.”
“Oh, please, Mrs. Summers, let’s not argue. I promise to be more conscientious in the future. Don’t you want to know what Miss Browning’s note says?”
Mrs. Summers must have realized she wasn’t going to get a better concession than the one offered, because she threw up her hands in exasperated defeat—an unladylike and therefore very un-Mrs. Summers-like gesture that surprised Sophie.
London must be good for her, Sophie thought. This new Mrs. Summers was certainly good for Sophie. The woman had been a wonderfully inattentive chaperone at the ball. She hadn’t even noticed that her charge had gone missing for over an hour.
“Are you going to open that letter or stare at me all day, which, by the by, is very rude.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. It’s just…are you sure you’re quite well, Mrs. Summers? I mean, you haven’t been overtaxing yourself after that head cold, have you?”
“It’s very sweet of you to ask, dear, but I assure you, I am fine. Now the letter, please.”
Sophie dug a finger under the flap and tore the envelope open.
“You really should use a letter opener, Sophie.”
“Probably,” she said smiling, “but you seemed in something of a rush. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re still standing in the foyer.”
“Yes, well, as it happens, I am in a bit of a hurry. I’m on my way out. Penny has gone to fetch my cloak and—”
“Out?”
Mrs. Summers never went out. Not alone. Not ever. Now she was going out alone nearly every day.
“Yes, out. I’m going to visit some old friends for the afternoon.”
“You have an astounding number of old friends, you know. It’s a wonder you haven’t beggared yourself with postage. How did you find the time to write so many—?”
“The letter, Sophie.”
Sophie gave her companion one more baffled glance before pulling out the note and scanning its contents.
“What does it say, dear?”
“It’s a reminder that I am invited for tea.”
“Well, that was worth the wait.”
Sophie blinked. “Was that sarcasm?”
“Oh look, here’s Penny. Would you care to join me, dear? I’m sure the ladies won’t mind.”
Sophie shook her head mutely. She was feeling a little disoriented.
“Right then.” Mrs. Summers looked out the door. “You’ll have to use the second carriage since the other is already out front. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No.”
“Good. Give my regards to Lord Loudor. And bring at least two footmen if you decide to join your friends.”
“All right.”
“Excellent.” Mrs. Summers gave her a quick buss on the cheek, then swung out the door. A moment later it swung back open. “And no stopping for sightseeing, shopping, or errands. You are to go straight to the Thurstons’ and come straight back, do you understand?”
Sophie breathed a small sigh of relief. This was the Mrs. Summers she knew. “I understand.”
“Good.”
Sophie walked into the front parlor and watched from the window as the carriage pulled away. She sighed as it turned a corner and pulled out of sight. She was happy to see Mrs. Summers enjoying herself, but she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of disappointment. It was going to be a long, lonely wait for her cousin. He was sure to be late. If he showed at all.