Theo left White’s and spotted his uncle’s carriage. He could have sworn he’d seen Percival take off on foot. Theo went over and called up to the coachman. “Where is the baron?”
“He chose to walk and mentioned you were still inside. He told me to wait.”
“How thoughtful,” Theo murmured. “Take me to Soho Square by way of the Ranstruther house. You know it?”
“Yes, sir. Should I stop then?”
“Er, no. I prefer a drive by.”
It was much too cold for shoppers and most of the haute ton were out of town with Christmastide upon the city. This begged the question of why Winsome would host a debut for Sophia when so very few would be able to attend. There was the added advantage of less competition with the spring debutantes, which would give Sophia more attention.
Theo suspected many would likely return to town for the event, as the duke’s country home was located near Northumberland. Regardless, a duke-hosted Christmas fête event would bring people scurrying back to town. Theo turned his gaze out the carriage window.
Lady Ranstruther’s home was not far from Hyde Park. After his rig turned onto her street, he spotted another carriage pulling away, and another two blocking their path, so Theo couldn’t follow. While waiting for the street to clear, Theo observed four young women leaving the house. He didn’t recognize any of them from this distance. Two ascended one carriage, the remaining two got into the other.
By the time bags were loaded and the street cleared, fifteen minutes had gone by.
Theo tapped the ceiling and, in a tight voice, gave the coachman another direction. An unlikely destination that would, in all probability, turn out to be a waste of time.