~~*
Sophie and Fanny set off on foot the short distance to their Aunt Clarice’s townhome for luncheon. Alexa accompanied them in her pram, an ornate affair purchased in Paris, one of the stops on Fanny’s Continental honeymoon.
Aunt Clarice was the wealthy relict of Sophie and Fanny’s Uncle Stephen. She lived in a lavishly decorated townhouse with her Siamese cat, Queen Elizabeth, her companion, Lady Susannah Braithwaite—known as Sukey—and Sukey’s tortoise, Henry Five.
All four of the inhabitants were in the red Chinese Saloon entertaining none other than Lord Shrewsbury. Sophie was surprised to see Frank’s good friend.
“Welcome, my dears! Have your met my dear friend, Lord Shrewsbury?”
“I have had the pleasure,” Sophie said as he moved forward. She extended her hand. “I thought you were joking when you said you adored my aunt!” Shrewsbury grazed her knuckles with his lips and gave her a wink.
“Alexa and I have not had the pleasure,” said Fanny. She had taken Alexa out of her pram and was a delightful picture, with her mother’s auburn curls peeping out from an embroidered white cap worn snuggly to her head and a long white gown laced with pink ribbons at the neck and hem.
Aunt Clarice made introductions while Sophie gave Queen Elizabeth a welcoming stroke and bent down to examine Henry Five, whom she knew only by reputation. “Extraordinary creature!”
“Lord Shrewsbury will take luncheon with us,” Aunt Clarice informed them. “He says he is hatching a project in which he hopes we will be interested, Sophie.”
“That sounds lovely,” Sophie said. “Lady Susannah, your tortoise is remarkable. I never knew they grew to be so large!”
“You must call me Sukey, dear. And, yes, Henry Five will outlive me undoubtedly! I must make a will one of these days and provide for him, poor dear.”
Luncheon was a lovely affair, served on Aunt Clarice’s rare and colorful Imari china. Her new chef, a Frenchman, had outdone himself. Vichyssoise was followed by turbot in sauce, succeeded by stuffed Cornish game hens and asparagus. For dessert, they were offered a variety of tarts—cherry, gooseberry, lemon, and apple.
“I would say that your new chef is proving himself very capable,” Lord Shewsbury said.
“He is rather good, is he not?” Aunt Clarice asked.
“I vote that you keep him,” Fanny said and then excused herself to take care of Alexa’s needs.
“Let us repair to the Chinese Saloon again,” Lady Clarice said. “Where we can talk business.”
Once they were comfortably seated, Lord Shrewsbury said, “Lady Clarice, I know that you have been working to increase literacy among women. I would like you to consider helping me to organize a school for orphaned girls from the East End. You would know the best primers for me to purchase and how to keep the girls interested in reading.”
“Splendid idea,” Sukey said before her friend could answer. “Truly splendid!”
“Yes,” Aunt Clarice said. “I do think that is an inspired idea. Both Sukey and I would love to organize such an endeavor. I will look into available primers. There are some that might be more appropriate for girls.”
“I just thought of an idea,” Sophie said. “In order for them to really want to learn to read, would it not be amusing for them to have someone read something to them that would pique their interest in learning to read for themselves? How old are your pupils to be?”
“That is well thought of,” Aunt Clarice said. “What ages did you have in mind, Lord Shrewsbury?”
“I think perhaps we ought to have two age groups. Maybe ages seven through ten, and eleven through sixteen.”
“The eleven-through-sixteen girls would love to hear books like Mrs. Radcliffe’s Mysteries of Udolpho. I think the more hair-raising, the better,” Sophie said. “Remember, these girls are not sheltered misses. They would not sit still for a more conventional work.”
Sukey laughed and was joined by Aunt Clarice. “I am sure Sophie’s idea would make the lessons very popular! I think in most attempts to teach reading, they concentrate on sermons or the like,” Sukey said.
“I told Lord Trowbridge yesterday that I would love to be a teacher. He is part of the enterprise, too, is he not?”
For a moment, Shrewsbury’s forehead was marred by a frown. Then he said, “Yes. Yes, he is.”
Fanny entered the room, and Shrewsbury related his plans for his scheme once again. Fanny repeated her offer to help when she was no longer at Alexa’s beck and call.
“But, Fan, could you not bring Alexa, at least for an hour?” Sophie asked. “There is no one I know who could do a more splendid job reading Mrs. Radcliffe to these girls.”
“Oh, what fun that could be. Yes, perhaps I could manage it. I could bring Alexa in her pram.”