Page 10 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)

Henry stepped out of the library for an appointment to giggles, squeals of laughter and exclamations coming from the parlor.

Though he should let his cousins be because they were happy enough apparently, he was curious as to the cause and stepped into the parlor and was brought up short by his five cousins taking turns at the large mirror on the wall. Beyond stood a smiling Lady Penelope and Petrucio Valentine.

Before the mirror was a straight-back chair and the floor beneath was covered with various shades of hair. At the side of the chair were various irons, scissors and whatnot placed on a table moved from somewhere else in the room. He truly hoped that the maids were not put out when they were required to put the parlor back to rights.

“Lady Penelope, Petrucio,” he nodded in greeting.

“Petrucio has worked wonders, Cousin,” Judith exclaimed as she came forward. “We have longed to style our hair, but it was forbidden, and then we simply did not know where to begin. Now, we are in fashion.”

Henry had thought they wore their hair twisted at the back of their head out of preference, but now that he saw them with delicate curls about the face, braids pulling the hair away, and intricate knots and curls at the back of their head, he realized how truly out of fashion they had appeared.

Once again, Lady Penelope was correct, even if it was about things he may not notice where females are concerned. To think that a simple hairstyle could alter the attractiveness of a woman.

“First new clothing, then dancing lessons and now hairstyles,” Bernice exclaimed. “Thank you, Cousin Henry.”

“You are welcome,” he murmured even though he had done nothing more than open his purse and allow Lady Penelope to proceed with her plans.

“Braids even.” Damaris’ neck grew red as she ran a finger over the hair from her temple to the back of her hair.

Women often added braids to their hair and he could not understand why it was important now.

“We had only been allowed to braid our hair for sleep so that it did not tangle. Never for the purpose of style or to make it more attractive,” Judith explained.

Henry lifted a questioning eyebrow to Lady Penelope and Petrucio and hoped one of them would explain.

“Verses in First Timothy and First Peter advise women against braided hair because it draws attention to their appearance when they should remain modest,” Petrucio answered the unasked question.

“Braids are a sin,” Henry concluded with a sigh. His uncle had truly taken everything in the literal sense. No wonder his cousins were so eager to escape their former lives.

“Well, if that will be all, I do need to attend a rehearsal,” Petrucio said. “I expect each of you to call on me next time you need your hair styled or trimmed.”

“Oh, we will,” Chloe assured him.

Petrucio nodded to Lady Penelope and then Henry before he departed.

“Lady Penelope, would it be possible to shop for combs and pins for our hair. We did not purchase any because we did not think it necessary, but if we are to be fashionable, should we not have some?” Bernice asked then slid a glance at Henry, silently asking his approval.

“Of course,” Lady Penelope answered. “Run along and prepare for an outing while I speak with His Grace on another matter.”

Henry nearly groaned at what else Lady Penelope might want. What else could his cousins possibly need now?

“Are you aware that no lady’s maid has been assigned to your cousins?”

He blinked. The mansion was full of servants. “We have maids.”

“You have a housekeeper, kitchen maids, housemaids, and scullery maids, but not a lady’s maid.”

“There is a difference?” he asked slowly and realized that this was something he probably should know.

“A lady’s maid is needed to style their hair, help them dress and keep their wardrobe clean. They also see to the chamber…much like your valet. Would you expect a footman to see to the tasks you expect of your valet?”

“No, I…um…I suppose not.” Bloody hell! “Why did they not ask for one if they are necessary?”

“Because they never had one before and helped each other, but I can assure you that when the remainder of their clothing arrives and now that there is more detailed styling of their hair, a lady’s maid is necessary.”

How was it that he was always being ordered about or chastised by Lady Penelope? Just once he would like to have already done something right that she could not fault.

“I suppose I must hire five—one for each of them.”

“No. Two or three should do for now.”

“Where might I find them? Do I request applicants from a service and interview?”

Penelope frowned. “When is the last time you hired a servant, Your Grace?”

Bloody hell, she was judging him again and Henry did not like it one bit. “I have never employed a servant,” he finally admitted. “My valet was promoted from the staff when I was in need of one.”

“Then I shall see to the task,” Lady Penelope announced.

“You will not hire servants for my household!” If he did not step in right now, she would take over his life.

“I will first inquire of the housekeeper if any of the maids have the training and skills to be a lady’s maid. If so, your cousins will employ their talents. If it works out to their benefit, then your housekeeper will see to hiring servants to replace them, thus you will not need to do anything.”

“If there are no maids in the household?” he asked.

“Then either myself or your housekeeper will go about locating suitable candidates. She will have knowledge of who may have been let go, or is in search of employment, as my brother’s servants will.”

“We will leave the matter to my housekeeper,” Henry insisted because the less Lady Penelope was involved in his household the better. “She will be their supervisor and thus, can inform them of what is expected.”

“Except, she will not be,” Lady Penelope corrected him. “A lady’s maid answers only to the lady or miss she serves, not the housekeeper, as it is with other household servants, just as your valet answers only to you.”

How the bloody hell was he to know the hierarchy? “Very well, I will speak with the housekeeper.”

Lady Penelope nodded. “I will only assist if necessary. As for now, I will take your sisters shopping for hair adornments.”

She turned to greet his cousins who had just returned from their chambers, ready to shop once again. After they were gone, Henry went in search of the housekeeper. Surely, he could manage to locate and hire two or three lady’s maids for his cousins without the assistance of Lady Penelope. She had interfered enough.

In truth, it wasn’t so much that he resented or was bothered by her interference. He just hated that she never failed to point out where he had fallen short and that he did not like.

Bloody hell! Was this what a wife did?

Well, besides warm a bed in the most delightful ways. If he had a wife, he would not even have to worry about what may have been neglected…because nothing would have been forgotten.

Blast!

* * *

It was a delightful outing that ended with ices from Gunter’s. The sisters had been excited to try new combs and feathers and all manner of combinations but were very careful in what they chose to purchase with a mind toward the budget they had been allowed by His Grace.

They now strolled through Hyde Park before returning to their home because it was a delightful day and she wanted the ton curious, which would lead to the sisters being sought after if only out of curiosity.

“What is our next project?” Judith asked as the two strolled side by side while the others walked ahead.

“When we return to the mansion, we will begin planning a ball.”

Her words must have carried because the four sisters stopped and turned.

“A ball?” Damaris asked in near panic.

“Yes. His Grace is going to hold a ball to introduce you to Society.”

“We have been in Society,” Chloe reminded her.

“It was not a proper introduction and once your cousin does so, in his home, you will be received everywhere, invited everywhere and likely receive a voucher to Almack’s,” she concluded.

Their eyes widened with excitement.

“Then there will be friends to call, and gentlemen, and possibly suitors.”

Whatever happiness the sisters might have had about the ball quickly dimmed.

“Suitors?” Damaris asked.

“The five of you are quite lovely, beautiful, no doubt courtships will follow.”

“No! We do not want suitors or courtships,” Chloe insisted.

“You do not?” Penelope asked in confusion. “Why come to London if not for husbands?”

“Freedom, for one,” Judith insisted. “Some independence and the opportunity to make our own decisions on what we want and not being told what is best for us or what we are required to do.”

Penelope could not help but grin. “Which is my philosophy as well and I will see that you achieve your goals.” His Grace may not want five independent misses in his home, but Penelope could not force them to do anything that she would not want to be forced on her.

“Is everyone required to marry?” Jael asked in fear.

“No,” Penelope laughed. “It is encouraged but I refuse to settle for anything but love and independence.”

“How can we keep Cousin Henry from making us marry?” Chloe asked.

“He already promised that he would not force us into a courtship,” Judith reminded her.

“Yes, but, what if he changes his mind?” Jael asked.

There was little they could do if His Grace decided to marry them off, but Penelope didn’t want to inform them of that fact or it would send them into a panic. Instead, she would encourage the freedom they longed for and give them the confidence to pursue it, even if His Grace objected.

“It really is unfair,” Damaris said after a moment.

“What is?” Penelope asked.

“Our cousin is a duke, yet he has not wed. He is not even courting anyone and if anyone has a duty, requirement to wed, it is him.”

“That is true,” Penelope agreed. “I am certain he will get around to it.” Though, for some reason, she did not like the idea of him courting anyone. Why was that?

“I have an excellent idea.” Judith brightened and grinned. “We shall find someone for him to court and while he is falling in love, he will forget about us courting anyone.”

Penelope wanted to warn them that Eldridge would likely first balk at matchmaking and then be displeased with them for even attempting to do so but held her tongue. Men for generations have managed the lives of women by agreeing to courtships and marriages, sometimes even arranging them without once asking a woman if that was what she wanted. It would be fun to watch a man be forced to endure the same manipulations.

“How would we even go about doing so?” Chloe asked.

“Tea!” Penelope announced. “Each day you will host a small tea for ladies and misses of a similar age in your home. You will come to know them and begin to form your opinions. This will also leave the opportunity for His Grace to encounter them in his home.”

“Who do we invite?” Judith asked. “What if they decline our invitation.”

“We will decide this afternoon as we also prepare a list of those to be invited to the ball.”

“Do you know the names of everyone in Society?” Jael asked in awe.

“I know many, but we will rely on Debrett’s to narrow down both lists.”

“They could still decline,” Damaris worried.

In turn, Penelope laughed. “Nobody declines an invitation to have tea in the home of a duke, especially if he is an eligible bachelor.”

This was also an excellent idea and Penelope wished she would have thought of it sooner. Not so much the matchmaking for Eldridge, but the sisters could use practice entertaining at home.