Page 29 of Watching the Earl

“Do you? I’m so glad. I imagine you all think of me as a mouse, scurrying quietly about before finding a place to settle in.”

Georgina laughed. “That fits you perfectly. Do tell me who will be arriving. Maybe we can find an animal that fits them as well.”

Sophie touched the side of her jaw with two fingers. “Let me see. Rose will be here, and she is bringing Arabella in her coach. Felicity is also coming.”

“Felicity loves all animals and birds. Deciding on one will be difficult for her. Rose is always getting into mischief like a monkey, but I don’t think she’d like being thought of that way, since she is always so proper otherwise. She is truly like two different people sometimes.”

Sophie grinned and nodded. “I agree. A monkey won’t do for Rose, no matter how apt it is. She’d probably prefer something like a wise owl, with all the medical knowledge she has. What about Arabella?”

Georgina thought long on that. Arabella was in a wheeled chair and so she could be a turtle, but it didn’t quite fit her. She had wavy chestnut hair and warm brown eyes, but it was her vibrant happy personality that drew people to her. Since her studies were focusing on Greek mythology, she’d probably prefer something more ethereal. “What about a Pegasus? I know there’s no such horse, but she is so lively and plans to walk again someday, so it would be a bit like flying.”

“That’s brilliant. I’m sure she would like that. That still leaves us with Felicity.”

“I don’t know. Maybe she could be the keeper of the menagerie?”

“No. Though she has many animals at her home in Wendover, she’s more like me, like a shepherdess.”

“But that’s a person. We are already people.” Georgina smiled. “Maybe we should let her choose, since she’s our animal expert.”

“No, that wouldn’t be fair. When I think of Felicity, I think of…a rabbit.”

“A rabbit? How?”

“She is soft and sweet and quiet, but if you move too fast, she’ll hop away.”

Georgina jumped up. “That’s perfect. I do think she’ll like it.”

Sophie smiled, then rose. “Let me order the tea and hot chocolate.”

“With cinnamon?”

“Of course.” Sophie laughed as she moved to the open parlor door and spoke to a footman.

Georgina wandered about the room. It was not particularly large but very comfortable. It was mostly decorated in beige and tans, but the chairs and settee were upholstered with small, flowering vines. There was a fireplace, a writing desk, and a sideboard, so one could break their fast here.

At the sound of the butler opening the front door, Georgina turned, quickly moving toward the entryway, anxious to see more of her friends. For someone who had previously gone out and about every day, only seeing people twice a week was difficult. She just hoped her future husband planned on allowing her to return to London with him after the wedding…if they had a place to stay.

Felicity stepped across the threshold, her honey-brown hair catching the sunlight before the door closed.

Immediately, Sophie greeted her, and Georgina strode forward. “Felicity, it’s lovely to see you.”

Felicity turned in her pale pink day dress and her sea-green eyes widened. “Georgie! I’m excited to see you. Tell me, are you well?”

Georgina grasped Felicity’s hands. “I am, and even better now that I’m here with my friends.” She looked at Sophie then back at Felicity. “Come in and tell me all that you’ve done in your first Season out. I haven’t been to any balls, so you must start there.”

Felicity laughed and followed Georgina into the parlor. “To be honest, I’ve only attended two. But I’ve been to three lectures, visited the Panorama, which is featuring Athens, and attended the play Rob Roy in Drury Lane.”

Sophie joined them. “For our next get-together, we should all have a walk in Hyde Park. The weather has been perfect for strolling.”

“I was just there on Monday and I spotted a rabbit.” Felicity nodded.

Georgina looked at Sophie, and they both laughed.

“What? It’s true. It’s not the first rabbit I’ve encountered there.”

Sophie shook her head and laid her hand on Felicity’s. “We believe you. We were just talking about what animal we each resemble. I’m the mouse and Georgie is the swift. We decided that you are a rabbit.”

“A rabbit?” Felicity cocked her head and wiggled her nose. “I like that. Will you be serving carrots, Sophie?”