Lady Victoria appeared shocked. “You get to choose whom you marry? I don’t believe my parents are going to let me. They care too much about his position—their position.”

“Hopefully it’ll work out that the man you love is the man they want you to marry.”

“I don’t know that I have to love him, but I would very much prefer to like him.”

“We’re all going to have splendid matches,” Lady Penelope said.

“I’m certain we are,” Fancy concurred.

“Oh, my goodness. Is that a cat on that shelf?” Lady Penelope asked.

Looking toward the bookcase to the right of the fireplace, Fancy saw Dickens lounging between Austen and Brontë. “That’s Dickens. He keeps a watch over things for me.”

“I love animals, but my mother would never let me keep one inside.” She wandered over to the bookcase, lifted her arms, then glanced back at Fancy. “Will he scratch or bite?”

“No. He loves to be held.”

Carefully, Lady Penelope shifted him from his perch into the cradle of her arms. “Isn’t he a sweetheart? Does he stay here alone at night when you return to your residence?”

“I have rooms here, on the floor above.”

The ladies blinked at her as though they were having difficulty deciphering her words.

“You live here . . . alone?” Lady Victoria asked.

“Yes. It’s quite safe.”

“You’re so independent,” Lady Alexandria said. “Living with my mother can be a nightmare at times. She has to know what I’m doing every moment of every day.”

“At least you don’t have a sister who is always poking around, trying to find your journal.” Pressing a hand to her lips, she looked at Fancy with mirth reflected in her eyes. “I hide it in the fireplace flue. She doesn’t like to get dirty, so I know she’ll never look there.”

Fancy had never really talked with others about their families. It made her realize how fortunate she was to have hers. “Would you all care to join me for some tea in the hotel gardens?”

“I like this room too much and hate the thought of leaving Dickens,” Lady Penelope said. “Would it be possible to enjoy our tea here?”

While the ladies settled in, Fancy dashed over to the hotel dining room, spoke with the majordomo, and returned to her guests. A short time later, the hotel staff delivered tea and cakes. The ladies stayed longer than they should have for a morning call, a full half hour, but Fancy enjoyed visiting with them, felt as though she was making inroads to being accepted.

Chapter 15