“
If only Cousin West were with us,” Pandora said wistfully
West had returned to Eversby Priory after having spent less than a week in London. He had admitted to Kathleen that there was no more novelty left for him in any corner of London. “In the past,” he’d told her, “I did everything worth doing multiple times. Now I can’t stop thinking about all that needs to be done at the estate. It’s the only place where I can actually be of use to someone.”
There had been no concealing his eagerness to head back to Hampshire.
“I miss him too,” Cassandra said.
“Oh, I don’t miss him,” Pandora told her impishly, “I was just thinking that we could buy more things if he were here to help carry the packages.”
“We’ll set aside the items you choose,” Devon said, “and have them sent to Ravenel House tomorrow.”
“I want you both to remember,” Kathleen told the twins, “the pleasure of shopping lasts only until it’s time to settle the bill.”
“But we won’t have to do that,” Pandora pointed out. “All the bills go to Lord Trenear.”
Devon grinned. “I’ll remind you of this conversation when there’s no money left to buy food.”
“Just think, Helen,” Cassandra said brightly, “if you marry Mr. Winterborne, you’ll have the same name as a department store!”
Kathleen knew that the thought held no appeal for Helen, who didn’t desire attention or notoriety in any form. “He hasn’t proposed to Helen yet,” she said evenly.
“He will,” Pandora said confidently. “He’s come to dinner at least three times, and accompanied us to a concert, and let us all sit in his private box. Obviously the courtship is going very well.” Pausing, she added with a touch of sheepishness, “For the rest of the family, at least.”
“He likes Helen,” Cassandra remarked. “I can tell by the way he looks at her. Like a fox ogling a chicken.”
“Cassandra,” Kathleen warned. She glanced at Helen, who was staring down at her gloves.
”
”