“I am very, very sorry, Mia.”
“Oh, what is the use of you being sorry?” she demanded furiously. “And you a lawyer!”
Mia came to dinner with red eyes and ate little. When the ladies withdrew to the parlor, leaving the gentlemen to drink wine, Julia Reekie remarked to Alys that Mia was probably suffering from carriage sickness and that Rob could give her some laudanum to help her sleep.
“She’ll be all right tomorrow,” Alys said comfortably. “She’s probably missing Ma. They’d grown very close.”
“I am sure that we all do,” Julia said frigidly. “We all miss Mama Reekie.”
Alys, sewing fever-tea bags, gritted her teeth at the correction to her speech. “Will you come to church tomorrow?”
“Oh yes!” Julia was looking forward to the progression to the Peachey pew at the front of the church and the recessional when Matthew stood near the church gate, and his tenants came up to bid him good morning. “So quaint,” she said. “Do you expect the Nobildonna for Christmas Day?”
“Lord no!” Alys said, gladly. “She’ll have to stay with the queen. Especially now she’s breeding.”
A quiver of dismay went across Julia’s face at the term. “Did the Nobildonna tell you Her Majesty was so happy? I’ve heard only a rumor? Is it true?”
“We took an order for Venetian silk for a cradle,” Alys said. “The court buys their best silks from us. This was an order for curtains for a cradle and silk sheets for a crib, lace for a gown and silks for a cap and gown. Sounds like they’re hoping for a prince.”
“How wonderful for the queen and for the Nobildonna!”
“It’ll be the saving of them if it’s a boy,” Alys said, snipping off a thread. “I quite thought to see parliament rise against them.”
“Surely not!” Julia hesitated for a moment. “And I saw in the newspaper that the Nobildonna had been widowed?”
“Aye.” Alys put two pieces of muslin together and started on another bag.
“So sad!”
Alys said nothing, but she did not look sad.
“It said that the estate was entailed on a cousin.”
“Did it?”
“But that there were a number of bequests.”
Alys threaded her needle and started to hem. Julia regarded her in silence for a moment and then made one last try. “Did Sir James remember his stepson in his will? Was there anything for our dear Matthew?”
“I don’t know,” Alys said. “Because it’s not my business.”
“Avery House?” Julia whispered longingly.
Alys shook her head. “Not my business,” she said staunchly.
Fairmere Priory,
Boxing Day.
I write to you from beautiful Fairmere. Your new gates look very handsome! What a charming gift. We are having a delightful time but were so sorry not to see you on this occasion.
Matthew and Hester make a delightful couple together, he gave her his arm into church on Christmas Day, and everyone remarked what a handsome pair they make. Her foot is so much better that I will bring her to a drawing room this spring, and she will be able to dance. I so hope to see you there?
Matthew tells me that he has a pupilage and is going to set out his plate as a lawyer. I am sure that should Dr. Reekie have need of a lawyer, he would go nowhere else. I will also mention Matthew’s name to my papa, Alderman Johnson.
I send you the compliments of the season and, of course, congratulations to our dear queen!
Julia Reekie