The Foundling (Rags to Richmonds #3)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

B efore they parted ways last time, Adelaide had invited Frederica to dine at Avonwyke the following week—and this time to stay overnight, for the estate was too far away to comfortably journey there and back in an evening. It was a daunting prospect, which grew more formidable the closer it came.

Rarely did a night go by at Taverstock without at least one of the children requiring attention. Whichever schoolmaster or mistress was on duty would assist with more serious problems—unexpected arrivals, fights, and the like. For home matters, however—night terrors, illness, or simple distress—Frederica was always called upon. The prospect of leaving that to the likes of Mrs Woods, who was more likely to silence a child with the back of her hand than with a kind word, or Mr Carnegie, who would rather leave a child to wail than leave his own bed, was unappealing to say the least—though it was not Frederica’s only qualm .

It would also be the first night she had ever spent away from Taverstock since she arrived there thirteen years ago. She could not help but be alarmed by the notion of sleeping and waking in a bed that was not her own. She was generally calm and assured by nature, but her mettle had never been tested beyond the bounds of Taverstock. No matter how many times she told herself all would be well, she could not rid herself of her nerves.

Yet, she did wish to go. Her brothers and sisters were such kind, generous people, so infectiously desirous of her company, that to be a part of their family became a prospect dearer to her by the moment. Moreover, with her friends at Taverstock seeming to adjust, gradually—reluctantly in some cases—to the truth of her parentage, she felt ever freer to pursue the connection without fear of being severed from her world.

Perhaps most importantly of all, Adelaide had written with the news that Penrith was to join their party. Frederica tried to tell herself there was no significance in it beyond the pleasure of spending time with somebody who was fast becoming a dear friend, but she was nevertheless eaten up with anticipation.

Seeking consent from the governors had been an awkward thing, for they were no longer sure of their authority, yet she was still assuredly in their employ and Taverstock remained very much in need of her services. Thus, it was more with their mutual consent than their permission that she set off on Thursday afternoon, in her sister’s carriage, for Avonwyke.

“I am so pleased you came,” Adelaide said, kissing her cheek the moment she stepped down from the carriage. The familiarity both surprised and pleased Frederica; she could not think of the last time someone had greeted her with such affection.

Scarlett took over where her twin left off, both having come to greet her outside. “We all are. We do understand the difficulty in your coming for a longer visit, truly. But we are delighted that you agreed.”

The rest of the party awaited Frederica inside—all but Penrith. She swallowed her foolish disappointment and allowed herself to be swept up in the whirlwind of greetings and chatter that followed. Adelaide had arranged for an exquisite array of refreshments by way of welcome: pyramids of cake, fruit, and sweetmeats such as would make the children’s eyes pop were they to be served at Taverstock. Frederica did not wish to disappoint her sister and took a biscuit to have with her tea, though she had not much of a sweet tooth. She noticed that Adelaide and Oakley both put several items on their plates, while Scarlett refrained from eating anything. Now that she thought of it, she had not had any cake at Mrs Tulley’s shop either.

“You do not like sweet things?” she asked her quietly.

“Not a great deal, no,” Scarlett replied. “My upbringing was very frugal, and I cannot get used to rich foods, even now.”

Frederica felt a little thrill at the discovery of something new in common with one of her sisters. “I am the same. But pray do not tell Adelaide. I should hate to appear ungrateful. ”

Scarlett laughed lightly. “You had much better tell her now, or she will be forever trying to feed you things you do not like. Take it from me, the deprivation of her childhood had a very different effect on her. She despises the idea of anyone going hungry and will ply you with all manner of foods until she is satisfied that you are replete.”

“What are you two conspiring about so energetically over there?” Worthe asked genially, bringing their whispered conversation to the attention of the whole room.

Frederica froze, dreading offending Adelaide mere minutes into her visit, but she need not have worried; Scarlett managed the matter with perfect delicacy. After her explanation, all three men expressed their satisfaction at having more treats for themselves, while Adelaide declared that being with child had increased her appetite such that she was perfectly ready to fight for her share of whatever Frederica and Scarlett did not want.

So it continued for another hour at least. There was no topic on which Frederica was permitted to err; her brothers and sisters were all too intent on ensuring she was at ease. At length, the refreshments were cleared away, and Adelaide invited Frederica upstairs to see her bedchamber. Scarlett accompanied them, each twin taking one of her arms as they walked through the house, pointing out the different rooms as they went. It was very different to Cedarvale—equally as grand but in a different style. Frederica thought both houses were handsomely decorated and, while she did not covet greater luxury, she was perfectly able to appreciate the elegant taste. Taverstock was deliberately unadorned; it made it easier to keep clean and harder to catch fire.

“This will be your room—on this and any future visits,” Adelaide announced, throwing open a door on the gallery that overlooked the staircase. “Kem has agreed that it should be kept for your use alone, so that you feel at home whenever you come here.”

That meant a great deal to Frederica, though the kindness was instantly superseded by another. Upon entering the room, she saw half a dozen beautiful gowns laid out on the bed, which her sisters informed her were hers to borrow, keep, or reject as she chose. It was on her lips to demur, but she stopped herself. As with the house, she was sensible enough to comprehend that not coveting a thing did not mean one could not enjoy it when presented with it.

“Thank you, that is tremendously generous, both of you.”

“It is our pleasure,” Adelaide replied. “After all, you will want to look your best for the duke.”

Frederica’s heart gave a little jolt, flooded with relief. “I thought he must have decided against coming.”

“No, he is only coming a little later.”

Frederica wished she would not blush but knew she had, for both her sisters were grinning at her knowingly.

“I knew you liked him,” Scarlett said but, perhaps perceiving Frederica’s embarrassment, immediately threw up her hands and said, “But no more on that from us! We shall just make certain that you look as well as you possibly can and say nothing of the whys or wherefores, hm?”

Frederica could scarcely believe the difference in herself when they were finished with her. They had settled on a bottle-green gown that accentuated her colouring, and to which Adelaide’s maid had sewn some hasty adjustments to ensure a perfect fit. Scarlett’s maid had arranged Frederica’s hair in a style more elegant than anything she had ever seen. As she stood, staring in wonder at her reflection in the mirror, Adelaide came to her side and held something out for her. It was a box and a letter.

“To complete the effect,” she said. “But read the letter first.”

Frederica thanked her and took both to the bed, where she sat and gingerly opened the letter.

To my dear niece, Frederica,

Please accept my deepest apologies that your uncle and I cannot be there with you this evening. We had hoped to be, but though his lordship is improving, it is a slow recovery. Adelaide has assured me that you are being well looked after, and I do not doubt it, but I shall not be able to rest until I have seen you with my own eyes. Pray trust that despite our delayed reunion, your uncle and I welcome you with open arms into our family. Our home is henceforth yours, and I hope you will come to treat it as such before long.

Your visit to Avonwyke gives me to hope that a slightly longer absence from the Taverstock Orphanage might now be arranged. As such, and since we cannot come to you at the present time, I hope you will consent to visit us here at Chiltern Court sooner rather than later. Perhaps a short visit of about a week would be acceptable in the first instance?

In the meantime, I hope you will accept the gift Adelaide has given to you with this letter as a token of our affection. It belonged to your grandmother and namesake, the late Lady Frederica Tipton. She gave it to me when I married your uncle. It is yours now, Frederica. I hope you will wear it with pride and remember, whenever you do, that we are inexpressibly proud to recognise you as one of our own.

Yours affectionately,

Your doting aunt, Lady Louisa Tipton

The letter was at once perfectly splendid and deeply distressing. Such a generous welcome was more than any foundling dared dream of. Yet, with her renewed invitation to visit and talk of making a home of Chiltern Court, Lady Tipton had reanimated all Frederica’s greatest fears. She set the letter aside and took up the box instead, determined to keep a cool head. When she saw the exquisite emerald and pearl necklace within, her resolve wavered. Such a gift was surely not intended for a niece they thought would continue to live at an establishment such as Taverstock. Her heart hammered loudly in her ears, muffling the sound of her sisters’ voices as they exclaimed over the necklace, marvelled at how it complimented her chosen gown, and placed it carefully around her neck.

“Aunt Louisa is excessively fond of jewellery,” Adelaide said. “She will like to hear that you have worn this piece so well.”

“Will you keep it here for me, when I go home?” Frederica asked. “I do not think I shall have much cause to wear it at my work.” She tried to laugh, and it seemed to convince her sisters, for they smiled with her. She did not tell them her real reasons—that it would not be safe at Taverstock; that there was nowhere to keep such a treasure secure, for she lived a life far removed from one in which jewels were of any importance; that accepting it felt like taking another step away from the only world she had ever known.

Her sisters left to dress shortly afterwards, and Frederica spent a few moments alone, disliking the slightly dazed feeling that had settled upon her. She splashed some water on her face and opened the window to feel the cool air on her cheeks. It helped a little, but the thing which truly rescued her was her brother. Oakley knocked on her door a short while later, and his response when he saw her was too heartening for her to remain unmoved.

“Well, I declare, Frederica! Gads but you look lovely!” He held out his arm for her. “Will you do me the honour of accompanying me to dinner? Say you will—I am the only fellow here without a handsome woman on my arm. You are just the tonic!”

His praise continued all the way down the stairs and through the house to the drawing room, where it was added to by Kem and Worthe who were already waiting there. Frederica was torn between awkwardness and delight, wholly unused to such attention. She began to wish everybody would desist when Scarlett and Adelaide arrived downstairs and started fussing over her all over again—though she was in no way averse to the way the Duke of Penrith responded to her appearance when he arrived.

He was announced into the drawing room at precisely seven o’clock, and upon seeing her, he stopped walking and did something she had never seen him do before. He smiled. It was a slow but glorious smile that chased away all the sadness from his eyes and made Frederica’s stomach do pirouettes. It meant more to her than all her brothers’ and sisters’ compliments put together. She answered him the only way she could think of; she smiled back.