“Don’t fret, Aunt Charlotte.” Laura pressed a swift kiss to her aunt’s cheek as she bent to retrieve the letter. “I’m going to tell Teddy.”

Aunt Charlotte gave her an affectionate pat. “Order a bath as well. You smell of pond water.”

Laura grimaced. She did, rather. “I’ll have Yardley bring in the tub.”

Since Papa’s death, baths were taken behind a screen in the kitchen. Yardley carried in the tub and Mrs. Crabtree filled it with hot water from the fire. It wasn’t conducive to a leisurely soak, but it was efficient enough for washing. Even so…

As she bounded up the stairs to her brother’s room, her skirts clutched in her hands, Laura imagined the additional staff they could hire if everything turned out the way she planned it.

There would be a footman to assist Teddy, and to help Yardley haul the tub up the stairs. A housemaid to relieve Mrs. Crabtree of doing the laundry, dusting, and scrubbing the floors. And to relieve Laura, too, from all those hours spent in the kitchen each week clear-starching their muslins and lace.

Perhaps, if the Hayes family’s finances were restored to some of their former glory, they might even afford a small open carriage, and a pair of horses, to take Teddy out for a daily airing.

“Laura?” Teddy called as her footsteps sounded in the hall. “Aunt Charlotte said a letter came from the solicitor?”

She entered his room smiling, determined to put as positive a light on the situation as possible. “It did. I’ve brought it for you to read.”

He was at his desk, as always, garbed in an ink-stained linen shirt and dark woolen trousers. His black hair stood half on end.

She ran her fingers through it as she came to sit down beside him. “It’s past time I cut this.”

“Don’t fuss.” He took the letter from her and then waved her away.

She watched his face as he read it. His reaction wasn’t very different from Aunt Charlotte’s.

“I don’t know how you can smile,” he said when he’d finished. “For all we know, Weatherwax is about to cut our household allowance in half.”

“I won’t believe that. Solicitors are bound by oaths of confidentiality.”

“Like doctors?” Teddy snorted. “Someone should inform Dr. Taylor. He’s never hesitated to share the business of our family’s health with the entire village.”

“Our family’s health isn’t exactly a secret.”

Teddy gave her back the letter. “You’ll go to London?”

“I will. At the very least, Mr. Finchley can provide us with the name of another solicitor.”

“The 31st is the day before your birthday. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“I’m not likely to forget that,” she replied with a laugh.

Teddy didn’t join in her laughter. “Laura…” He contemplated her for a long moment. “Do you wish you’d married?”