“It was Constance that set me off,” Louisa said. “She is so serious.”

Mary and Theo ate quickly. What had made them late?

“We must be off as well.” Theo rose and Mary followed.

Con looked at Rothwell. “Ladies, we should take our leave.” He leaned down and kissed Charlotte. “I’ll see you sometime today.”

Rothwell kissed Louisa. “I hope to be home before dinner.”

Once they left, the rest of them glanced around at one another.

“The table looks much larger with them all gone,” Alice commented.

They all nodded.

“Grace,” Charlotte said. “Are you joining us this afternoon?”

“I shall. Matt and I were discussing the problems that brought on Cinderloo, and I have some ideas.”

“Cinderloo?” Madeline asked.

“You must remember,” Eleanor said. “It was the killing of miners protesting their wages being reduced.” How could her sister have forgotten? “It is the reason I brought Mrs. Johnson and her family home with me from Charlotte’s, and it was in the newspapers.”

Her sister’s face cleared. “I remember the events. Somehow I missed that Cinderloo was the name.”

Charlotte put her serviette on the table. “Louisa and I must be running along as well. We promised Dotty we would help her with the meeting, and we have modiste appointments.”

“We will see you later.” Eleanor poured another cup of tea. There might be time to speak with Henrietta about Montagu today. Eleanor wondered if she would like what she discovered. But if she did not, there were other gentlemen. He was merely the first one she had met.

* * *

By the time John and St. Albans arrived at Montagu House to break their fast, Aurelia and their mother had already finished one cup of tea each. The look of shock on John’s face when he saw them almost set her into whoops. He must think she had moved in without him knowing about it.

He took a plate, filled it from the sideboard, then took his place at the head of the short table. “Good morning. Did Lytton decide not to join you?”

Something or someone had him distracted. She wished they had not had such a falling out. He was her twin. It was like losing part of herself. “He had an early meeting at the Lords. There is a vote today. Are you not planning to be there as well?”

“I completely forgot.” He looked longingly at his plate. “You’ll have to excuse me. I must change. Please stay and enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you, I will.” Still standing, St. Albans smiled and bowed before taking a seat.

“Well, then, I’m off.” John strode quickly out of the room.

When she ceased to hear his steps, Aurelia focused her attention on St. Albans. “Good morning. I trust you had a good ride.”

“Good morning.” St. Albans’s glance included her mother in his greeting. “We had an excellent ride.”