Page 16 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
And he’d forbidden her from doing more! Miss Wade’s crisis of confidence would not disappear on its own. But at least Lord Wade had helped her to understand his sister’s plight, and that was something she could focus on.
After Miss Wade’s initial clumsiness in front of the queen, everything had spiraled downward from there. Louisa had to find a way to help her see that the past was over, and she could begin anew.
Louisa knew she was disobeying the viscount; she would have to deal with his anger eventually. She almost…looked forward to it.
After breakfast with the ladies, Louisa had her first outing with Lady Wade, accompanying her to the home of her friend, Lady Perry.
When they arrived, Lady Perry was waiting for them on a chaise lounge in the drawing room, a blanket across her legs, but with a welcoming smile for her friend.
When she gave Louisa a curious look, Lady Wade explained with a laugh. “This is Miss Shelby, my new companion. You should hire one, Margot. She would be such a help.”
Louisa was flattered by the recommendation, but she knew she hadn’t yet helped Lady Wade at all. Lady Perry waved her to a chair a little away from them, and Louisa took her place, recognizing that she would not be much a part of this conversation.
But instead of being bored, she listened intently when the topic immediately turned to Lord Wade.
“How is your grandson?” Lady Perry asked in a hushed voice, as if it would cause a scandal to be overheard. “I am so sorry I wasn’t here to be of comfort to you when the tragedy happened.”
“He is very well, thank you,” said Lady Wade a shade too brightly. “The family was all together, and able to comfort each other. Simon is as busy as ever.”
“Indeed? ’Tis a shame a man with such handsome features and good bloodlines is removed from the marriage mart.”
“Margot, that is not true,” Lady Wade said.
Louisa had a difficult time not looking at her employer in shock. Lady Wade thought Simon should attempt to marry?
“He has only lost his sight,” Lady Wade continued. “He will make a lucky young lady a fine husband.”
“Is the poor man actually looking?”
Lady Wade hesitated. “The tragedy is so recent, and he is still recovering.”
“My daughter and granddaughter visited him and his siblings before he left London. She claims the afternoon a disaster.”
Louisa could see the rigidity in Lady Wade’s posture.
“She tried talking to him, of course,” Lady Perry went on quickly. “She told me that she even raised her voice, so that he could understand her better.”
Louisa wanted to groan aloud at such stupidity.
Lady Wade clenched her jaw. “He’s only blind, not hard of hearing,” she said mildly, showing great restraint.
But Lady Perry seemed not to have understood. She heaved a great sigh. “He was once so high in her considerations for a husband, but now…”
The visit didn’t last much longer. Louisa found herself seated in the carriage beside a very distracted, upset Lady Wade.
For several minutes, the older woman tapped her fingers, looked blankly out the window, and gave several sighs. Louisa held her silence, having learned that a companion did not regularly initiate discussions—especially with a new employer. Some women didn’t like the familiarity of that.
But Lady Wade finally gave her a determined look. “Tell me, Miss Shelby, were you as bothered by that conversation as I was?”
Caught by surprise, and uncertain about how frankly Lady Wade wanted her to speak, Louisa only said, “I don’t know Lady Perry.”
“I thought I did.”
Louisa could only imagine what it was like to see your grandson so injured, his life changed so drastically.
“Lady Wade, some people don’t know how to react to a tragedy, especially when the person is changed in some fundamental way.”
“I know I can’t let myself be so easily offended. But I want to defend my grandson all the time,” she added softly.
