Page 31 of Papa's Rules
Chapter Twelve
Cammie stood outside Mrs. Stilton’s millinery shop, her heart pounding, her face flush with exhilaration. She had managed, somehow, to make it on foot from Ashton Manor all the way to Mrs. Stilton’s shop only having to ask directions once. She could not believe her good fortune that day, luck had certainly been on her side and she hoped it meant the rest of her plan would go well so that she could speak with Robert and still make it back to Ashton Manor before anyone, particularly Papa, noticed she was missing.
She had woken full of excitement and trepidation. It was Friday, the day she would be able to meet up with Robert, her long lost brother, at Mrs. Stilton’s hat shop—if only she could get there in time. She still had not told her papa about her brother. She screwed up her courage thinking she would have to tell Papa the truth in order to persuade him to take her to the hat shop, unless she could convince him to take her to the millinery shop without disclosing the real purpose of her mission there.
Eventually Papa would have to find out. She could not leave the shop again or wander in the alley chatting with a delivery man without Papa finding out and he would not be pleased.
However, serendipity had shown upon Cammie that morning when she had been standing upon the dressing stool while Papa put the finishing touches on her morning apparel. It was a pretty yellow dress which she had long admired while it was hanging in her closet. But she had not had the nerve to ask Papa for permission to wear it since he took such pleasure in selecting her clothing for her each day himself.
Though she was excited to think she would look her very best when she got to finally see her brother after all these years, anxiety roiled through her tummy. Would Robert be angry? Would he recognize her? Would he be pleased to see her or worst of all—what if she was wrong and it was not her brother and she simply made a fool of herself, and risked Papa’s ire, all for nothing?
“Papa,” she had said hesitantly. “I have been a very good girl for the last three days, have I not?” Of course, she meant the time since the wretched incident the last time they were at Mrs. Stilton’s shop and she prayed Papa would not bring that up again.
“As a matter of fact, Cammie, you have. I’m very proud of you. You have done an outstanding job with your bottom hole training and I am very proud of you. I also think you’ve learned your lesson from the trouble at the millinery shop earlier this week, do you not agree?”
A weight lifted from Cammie’s shoulders. “Yes, Papa. And that is what I wish to discuss with you.” She wrung her hands together and screwed up her courage. “Do you think, Papa, that perhaps today, if I promise to be a very, very good girl, we could return to Mrs. Stilton’s hat shop?”
Papa looked at her and paused. She held her breath and her heart pounded in her chest. “As a matter of fact, my dear, I think that is a lovely idea. You have been a very good girl and I do not want you to think that I hold a grudge. As I’ve told you many times, once your punishment is complete, the deed is forgotten and you have earned yourself another trip to see the wares at Mrs. Stilton’s shop.”
A huge smile of relief flashed across Cammie’s face and she practically jumped up and down on the stool. “Oh, Papa, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said. “I promise that I will be a very, very good girl while we are gone.”
“I have no doubts, little Cammie. Now, shall we go to breakfast? You will need your strength if you are to go shopping.”
Papa assisted Cammie down from the dressing stool by wrapping his large hands around her waist, lifting her in the air and swinging her around the room before setting her feet upon the floor. “Papa,” she said, “You are in a happy mood today.”
“I am. I’m going to take my wife shopping.” He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and escorted her to the breakfast room.
Over breakfast Cammie laid her plan for how she would sneak away or get a message to Robert. Perhaps she would simply write a note and ask Priscilla to give it to him. That would be the easiest way and Papa would be less likely to find out. Plus, it would be a good back up plan in case she and Robert were not there at the same time. She could not keep asking Papa to take her hat shopping. She just had to hope Robert would get her message and get in touch with her. She congratulated herself on a wise course of action that would achieve her goal and also, hopefully, protect her bottom.
However, her plan changed again when the butler entered the breakfast room. “Pardon me, Lord Cavendish,” he said. “But an express has just arrived for you and it appears it is quite urgent. I’m sorry to disturb your breakfast, but I assumed you would like to see this right away.”
Papa collected the letter from the tray on which it rested, opened it and quickly read the contents. His brows knitted with worry as he read, and Cammie wondered what it might be about. To her credit, however, she kept her tongue and did not ask. Papa would share with her what she needed to know, nothing more, nothing less.
Papa folded the letter and put it back on the tray before speaking to Cammie. “My apologies, my dear, I am going to have to cancel our outing today. There is an issue which requires my immediate attention, and I will be spending the better part of the day with my solicitor.”
“Oh no, Papa. I hope that nothing is wrong,” Cammie said, her mind spinning with this change in plans.
“Nothing for you to be concerned about. My only regret is that we will not be able to spend the day together. However, I expect to be home by dinner time and I will look forward to seeing you then. I apologize that we will not be able to go to back to Mrs. Stilton’s shop today, but I promise that when we go tomorrow, I will buy you an extra special present to make up for it. How would that be?”
A whole day to herself to get to the milliner’s shop and pass her message to Priscilla. Cammie worked hard not to show her excitement. Even with the promise of a special present, Papa would be hurt if she did not appear disappointed at missing out on a day with him. All she really cared about was getting to the millinery today. Nonetheless, she gave Papa a sad smile and said, “Of course, Papa. I will miss you.”
As Papa left the room, he looked at her. “Now, Cammie, you are not to leave this house without my permission. And since I will not be here to give permission, that means you are not to leave this house at all. There is plenty for you to do to keep you occupied and out of trouble. You have toys, games and books in your bedroom. It would not hurt for you to practice on the piano, either. I am sure you do not need me to remind you how disappointed I will be if you do not follow my directions.”
Cammie’s bottom clenched up in response to the implications of Papa’s words. “Oh, I do not need a reminder, Papa. I am well aware. You have a good day and I hope everything goes well with the solicitor. I will see you at dinner time.”
Papa leaned down and placed a kiss upon her forehead before leaving the room.
Cammie pushed the food around on her breakfast plate until she was certain Papa’s carriage had left. Then she hurried from the breakfast room up to her bedroom where she collected a few things for her journey and also made a hasty stop in Papa’s library where she found paper and a quill and wrote a note for Robert in case she was not able to speak to him directly.
While seated at Papa’s desk, she had remembered the money he kept in one of the drawers. She had a beautiful home and servants and her dear brother had to work as a delivery man. Surely it would not be too wrong to try to assist him, would it?
And now she stood upon the sidewalk in the morning sun nervously waiting for the delivery wagon operated by her brother, Robert.
She tapped her foot and tried not to notice the passersby who glanced curiously at her standing alone in front of Mrs. Stilton’s millinery. Peeking through the shop window, she noticed Priscilla and gave a slight wave. The shopgirl hurried out the front door.
“Lady Cavendish,” she said, “will you not come into the store? You ought not to be out here alone, especially not in the heat of the day.”
Cammie smiled at the young lady. “Has Robert the delivery man arrived yet?” she asked.
