1) Portia decides to brag like a boy when she discovers that her

husband’s closest friend has lost his ships and is going to try in
the court for a pound of flesh from his body. She decides to turn
her ‘mincing steps’ into a ‘manly stride’. She will tell boastful lies
about brave fights like a young man.

2) She sends one of her most trusted attendants- Balthazar to

her cousin.  He was to bring all the notes and advice from her cousin to
Portia for Antonio’s trial. 

3) Their husbands were in Venice at that point, with their dear

friend-Antonio who is going to die because his ships are dismantled in
the sea and he has forfeited the bond with his ‘bloody creditor’ who
demands a pound of flesh of flesh from his body. So Antonio might not
live another day, hence they have gone to see their friend.