Page 32 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“Nathaniel?” Ashford frowned.
“Don’t you remember? Lord Norwich is the father of Lt. Cooper, the suspected spy on the Cressy.” He shook his head. “The earl hates the very sight of me.”
Chapter Thirteen
Edith arrived at herfather’s townhouse in Hanover Square to find footmen carting trunks and hat boxes up the central staircase and Louisa having tea in the parlor.
“There you are.” Louisa put down her teacup and saucer on a nearby table. “Thank goodness your housekeeper knew I was arriving today.”
Edith had spent the afternoon at the modiste with Alicia and had forgotten the time.
“I sent a note to Charlotte to advise her we were coming to nurse her,” Louisa said as Edith dropped onto a chair.
“Are you sure she’s up to having visitors?” she asked, wishing nothing more than to sit for a while with a cup of tea.
Louisa jumped to her feet. “She replied that we were to proceed to Grosvenor Square as soon as you returned home; she has some wonderful news to share.”
There was nothing for it. Edith followed Louisa from the room. She could have her tea while visiting Charlotte.
The carriage ride from Hanover to Grosvenor Square along Brook Street took only a few minutes. If there hadn’t been a light rain, Edith would have suggested they walk.
They found Charlotte reclining on a chaise in her bedchamber. Before the maid who escorted them to the room departed, Charlotte requested a tea tray.
“Charlotte! You’re so pale.” Edith rushed to her friend’s side.
“What does the doctor say?” Louisa asked, her tone reflecting concern.
“That my sickness should pass in a few weeks.” She smiled. “And then I will grow as round as the sun.”
Louisa gasped. “Weeks? Whatever is the matter with you?”
“Oh, Charlotte! Congratulations!” Edith hugged her friend briefly before taking a seat on a nearby plush chair. “Ashford didn’t let on.”
“I asked him to let me bear the news to my closest friends.”
“What is going on?” Louisa asked with a frown, looking between both women.
