“Oh, he is, is he?” Sarah replied in a deceptively innocent tone. As though they both weren’t aware of what he and Della were planning on doing—besides pretending to be engaged to thwart single ladies in search of an eligible gentleman as well as trying to find Sarah’s husband. Those tasks should have been enough, but then Della had to find it impossible to resist her own reaction to him.

She shook her head at her own foolishness. Even though that foolishness was, she also had to admit, going to be entirely and absolutely pleasurable.

She just knew he was going to be an excellent bed partner.

“Della?” Sarah’s tone made it clear it wasn’t the first time her friend had said her name.

“Sorry, what?” She put a bright smile on her face as she looked at Sarah.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “I was asking if you would mind if I took Nora and Emily and some of the girls with me to the zoo. We started talking about animals at the society yesterday, and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to take them out. They’ll learn something in spite of themselves.”

“Oh yes, absolutely.” A thought struck her mind. “And you should take Becky, she can help.” And that would mean that Della and Lord Stanbury would be unchaperoned, but that was what Della wanted, wasn’t it?

Honestly, it was remarkable more women hadn’t just gone and gotten ruined since it made life so much easier—not having to have a maid tagging along with you wherever you went, not worrying if you were seen alone with a man.

In exchange, you were ostracized from your parents and regarded with suspicion by every member of Society you might meet. So perhaps not entirely easier, but certainly easier to manage.

“Mmm-hmm,” Sarah said, her tone indicating she knew precisely why Della had suggested Becky be included. “We’ll be gone all day,” she said pointedly, “so you’ll have the upper floor to yourself.”

Oh. Well, then.

Della reached across the table to clasp Sarah’s hand. “You truly are an excellent friend, aren’t you?”

Sarah squeezed her fingers, a knowing smile on her face. “I am. But you are just as excellent since you’re trying to find Henry for me. I never could have done it by myself.”

“It’s the least I can do. Especially since you’re clearing out the house,” Della added with a wicked grin.

Sarah laughed and shook her head.

“Good morning.”

It was her opening the door again. Griffith stepped inside, shutting the door behind himself.

“Don’t you have someone who can do that for you?” he asked.

“Do what?” she replied.

He gestured to the closed door. “Open the door to visitors? What if there is some ne’er-do-well who decides to pay a call?”