“Oh,” Charlotte said, frowning at paper. “No, certainly your help is not unwelcome, although I am unsure of just what, exactly, his lordship expects you to do for me. What is this?”

“I believe, my lady, it is a list of dates and locations suitable to a person contemplating the act of marriage. His lordship had recently researched the very same for Miss McGregor’s upcoming nuptials, and thought you would like to have the benefit of his labor.”

“Excellent. Let me see…oh, no, no, Batsfoam, this will not do, not in the least. You see here that Lord Carlisle has not listed any church of consequence. I couldn’t possibly be wed in anything but a church of the utmost consequence, for if it is held elsewhere, no one in the ton will wish to attend. No, this list will have to be revised dramatically. I shall be pleased to do so now.” She turned to Patricia. “How do you suppose you spell Westminster Abbey?”

“My lady, if I might humbly beg a fraction of your attention for a moment that I shall endeavor to make as brief as possible, there is more.”

Charlotte looked up from where she was adding St. Paul’s Cathedral to her list. “More churches?”

Batsfoam moved his features into one expressing regret. “Alas, my lady, no, not more churches. His lordship has asked me, in the guise of his man of affairs, a role I have the honor of bearing, in addition to that of butler, valet, draftsman, knife-boy, and now, lady’s maid to your gracious ladyship, to ascertain the direction of your ladyship’s most honored brother, Lord Collins, so that his lordship might ascertain the exact amount of your ladyship’s dowry.” He bowed and spoke the last word in such a reverent and hushed tone, Charlotte had difficulty hearing him.

“Alasdair wishes to ask Matthew about my what?”

“Dowry, my lady.” He bowed again.

She blinked in surprise at him. “What dowry?”

He blinked back at her. “I am quite certain that ladies of your station and gentility often have bestowed upon them by some member of their family a sum of money or property that is customarily referred to as a bridal dowry.”

“That may be so, but I don’t have one.”

“I do,” Patricia piped up. “Dare sold out the last of some bonds or something to give it to me, although David didn’t want to accept it at first, but Dare told him he had to take it, or he wouldn’t agree to the marriage.”

Both Batsfoam and Charlotte ignored the interruption.

“You don’t have a dowry, my lady? Not even a small house tucked away in the country?”

“Nothing.” Charlotte shook her golden head.

“Perhaps there are some government bonds you might have forgotten?”

“There is nothing, Batsfoam.”

“Not even a groat or two invested in canals?”

“No groats, invested or otherwise.”

“Your late husband…?”

“Was kept on a very small allowance by the conte. It was just enough for a few sheep and the occasional purchases of brocade.”