Chapter5
They spent the next hour looking at dress designs and discussing fabrics.Mary was able to curtail some of the more extravagant excesses proposed by the modiste—did she really need her décolletage quite so low?—but was outvoted on many of the woman’s proposals.In the end, she allowed Amelia and Madame Argent to make most of the decisions.
No mention was made of the final cost of all the gowns, which allowed her to keep her guilt at bay.
She let out a large breath when they finally left the store.“I will find a way to repay you—”
Amelia simply smiled at her.“Seeing you happy will be all the payment I demand.Well, that and I want to extract your promise to look out for me.I haven’t forgotten how you saved me when that other woman was about to spill her drink all over my gown during our ball last year.”
Mary let out an indelicate snort.“Alas, I am used to silent hostilities.”
Amelia’s smile fell.“We need to get you away from that house even if just for the season.You are more than welcome to stay with John and me.It would be wonderful to be able to spend more time together again.”
Mary was tempted.“Perhaps later in the spring.I don’t wish to rouse my sister’s ire even further.”
“I’ll hold you to that.But please know that my invitation to stay with us is always open.You need only say the word.”
“Lady Lowenbrock.”They both turned to see a lovely woman had stopped just beside them.“It is such a pleasure to see you here.”
Amelia dipped into a curtsy.“And you as well.”Amelia turned to introduce her to the woman, who was named Lady Benington.
There was something about the woman’s blue eyes that looked familiar, but Mary couldn’t remember where they’d met.“You’ll have to excuse me, but I feel as though I know you.”
Lady Benington laughed.“You do indeed, although it has been quite a few years.Before I married, I was Jane Ashford.Our families were acquainted.”
“Oh of course, I remember now.It must be so nice to have Lord Ashford home from his years in the army.”
Jane’s eyes narrowed in speculation.“You’ve seen my brother recently?”
“Miss Trenton joined us for dinner yesterday with Lord Ashford and Lord Cranston.And last year the two men came up to Yorkshire to see my husband.Miss Trenton was there for a small ball we held so the neighbors could meet the new marquess.They were naturally very curious about him.”
“Of course,” Jane said.
Her gaze rested on Mary for several moments.Mary couldn’t help but notice the small package the woman held.It was wrapped in gilt paper and reminded her of the paper that covered her brother-in-law’s gifts of jewelry for Edwina.
“We were visiting the modiste.Are you here to see Madame Argent as well?”
“Oh no, I’ve just come from picking up something for my brother.”She looked past them and smiled.
They turned to find Ashford approaching, Amelia’s husband at his side.Mary saw the moment Ashford caught sight of his sister, the small hesitation in his step indicating he was thinking of turning around and making his escape.She recognized the emotion behind that small pause clearly, having experienced it more times than she could count with her own sister.
Lowenbrock’s eyes lit when they settled on his wife.“When I learned you’d gone shopping, I was hoping to find you here.”
Blast his sister.How had Jane managed to appear here just when his friend was looking for his wife?He should have left the man to his own devices.The last thing he needed was to be presented with a list of young women she wanted him to court.
He’d actually considered making his excuses and escaping, but no one would ever accuse him of being a coward.
Instead, he smiled at the three women.He couldn’t help but notice that Mary was, as ever, dressed demurely, but there was something about her demeanor that caught his attention.
“Have the three of you left anything behind for others to buy?”He couldn’t say why, but it was Mary’s reply he was most interested in hearing.
His sister handed him the package she was carrying, and he stared down at it in confusion.
“I’ve just been to the jeweler,” she said.“He made arrangements to have Father’s pocket watch repaired.As you are now the viscount, you should have it.”
He could feel the muscle tensing in his jaw and forced himself to unclench it.“I think Father would have preferred Henry to have this.”
Jane sighed.“Despite what you believe, Henry never desired your title.”