Emily Hendrickson (18 page)

“What will his lordship say, you taking yourself off to Salisbury like this, ma’am?” Pansy inquired with the sort of boldness she’d shown before coming to Woodbury.

“I left him a note with Randall. I fancy his lordship is as weary of my old gowns as we are.” With that, Juliet settled back in the carriage, admiring the view of the countryside and thinking it was about time she visited town for a bit of shopping.

She was almost to the edge of Salisbury when she was passed by an imposing traveling coach lumbering in the direction of Woodbury. The driver and groom were dressed in fine livery, and in the coach window Juliet caught a glimpse of a pretty face framed with golden curls, sporting a jockey hat of the latest design.

“Now that is a fine way to travel,” Juliet murmured to her maid.

“Beats a post chaise, it does,” Pansy agreed. “Slow, though, I expect.”

Juliet ignored this comment as they entered town, and she directed her groom to deposit her at the mantua-maker’s establishment and to return some hours later.

Once inside, she renewed her acquaintance with the pleasant, respectful seamstress and then prepared to spend all the time necessary in pursuit of her desire. She wanted clothes that would appeal to Alexander. Above all, she wanted a green satin gown. She didn’t know where she would wear the thing, or quite why he wanted to see her in it, but have it she would.

All went as she hoped. She selected fabric for several muslin gowns in various colors and prints, then chose a primrose sarcenet gown with tulip-shaped sleeves that would look well when she was at the harp, and would be splendid for evenings at home. Nothing would do but she would have a new riding habit in rust trimmed with smart jet beading and black embroidery. And then she brought up the matter of the green satin gown.

The mantua-maker frowned, then excused herself to go to the workroom area, returning with a gorgeous length of leaf green satin over her arms.

“How lovely,” Juliet said, but gave the woman a questioning look.

“I just finished this for a lady who then had a death in the family and must go into blacks at once. It is a loss to me—unless you might find it pleasing?”

Juliet jumped to her feet, “I shall try it on at once. The color is excellent, and if it does not require much alteration, I can take it home with me.” She wasn’t certain why, but all at once it had become important to have that green gown, thus pleasing Alexander. It would atone for her earlier behavior. Which brought something else to mind she’d do before returning to Woodbury.

The gown proved better than she had hoped. Tiny sleeves extended from the low-cut bodice, which had an elegant French style to its cut. Around the lower skirt were very nice ruffled loops of the same satin in the centers of which were delicate embroidered panels. It needed little alteration.

“It is splendid and will do quite nicely. How fortunate for me that the dress is available just when I have need of it.” Juliet took off the lovely garment, then said, “Are there perchance any other dresses such as this one that have been rejected for one reason or another? I truly have need for several additional day dresses.”

The delighted mantua-maker had three such day dresses in pretty muslins, all requiring little alteration for Juliet’s slender figure. Eyes agleam, Juliet bought all three.

“I have a few errands to do. Could they t« altered within an hour?” Juliet discovered being a viscountess had distinct advantages. Whereas a mantua-maker might have put off an ordinary lady, one with a title rated far better treatment.

“They shall be ready, I promise, my lady.”

Juliet left the shop thinking it would be difficult to go back to being plain Miss Winterton from Winterton Hall.

It took hunting through several shops before Juliet found what she wanted next. It was an exquisite oval gold snuff box, the top and side inlaid with lapis lazuli. It was the size to fit perfectly in the palm of a man’s hand. Although Juliet hadn’t seen Alexander use snuff, she wanted something special for him to remember her by just in case worse came to worst and they parted.

After that happy find, she prowled through the delightful shops to locate two parasols, three pretty bonnets, some hose Pansy reminded her she needed, a dozen handkerchiefs to embroider, and several pairs of gloves in delicate cream.

The green satin gown and the three muslins awaited her when she returned to the mantua-maker’s. The groom presented himself with the carriage in front of the shop, and Juliet entered the vehicle with a contented sigh—and a great number of parcels.

Pansy gathered the parcels around her while Juliet managed two hatboxes and her reticule with the neat package inside containing the snuff box.

* * * *

The morning had gone well for Alexander. He and Harry had returned from their ride to learn Juliet had traveled to Salisbury on a shopping expedition. It gave them a chance to stroll about the modest property, explore the tidy little estate lately belonging to Mr. Taunton, and enjoy a hearty repast at noon.

Marius and Lord Taunton joined Harry and Alexander. Alexander figuring the more the better, insisted upon their dubious company. They had settled in the cool of the library with glasses of claret when they heard the sound of a coach and four coming up the drive to the house.

“Expecting company?” Marius inquired lazily. It was quite evident he was in no hurry to leave the charming manor house.

“It is always possible friends come to pay a visit when one is living in the country,” Alexander countered, not revealing the possibility of Camilla’s arrival on the scene. “Your stepsister went to Salisbury this morning, but I doubt she returns so soon.”

“Juliet? Shopping? Suppose she might take some time. Spend your money, too,” Marius concluded with a snide little laugh.

“But not for long,” Alexander replied. “You will release her dowry to me soon, I feel certain. My solicitor will see to it.” There was a hint of steel in Alexander’s voice that even Marius could detect.

“Oh, yes, to be sure,” Marius replied, somewhat abashed the others had to hear that bit. “Immediately I return.”

Mrs. Bassett, looking harried and displeased, entered the room, pausing just inside the door to say, “You have more guests, my lord. A young lady and her mother.” She might have added the maids and other servants, but didn’t. Servants did not count as guests, never mind they had to be housed and fed.

Alexander took his time about going to the entryway to greet his unwanted visitors. He wasn’t looking forward to the meeting in the slightest.

“Lord Hawkswood, how providential we found you in this little village,” Mrs. Shelford boomed, the feathers on her bonnet trembling as she spoke. A massive-bosomed, well-corseted, and highly rouged lady, she was probably one of the most irritating woman Alexander had ever met.

“Indeed?” Alexander said in reply, looking politely curious, but certainly not welcoming.

“Hello, my lord,” Camilla gushed, the brim of her jockey bonnet tilting dangerously to one side as she dashed to greet him with a dainty kiss on his cheek.

“My, my, what a surprise. I hadn’t expected to see you
here,”
Alexander said with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, stepping away from her as though she might be contagious. Any other woman with even a modicum of intelligence would immediately have known her presence was not wished. Camilla was not so blessed.

Marius, Lord Taunton, and Harry Riggs sauntered out to join Alexander and his new guests with varied reactions, none of which were agreeable.

“Hullo, Miss Shelford. Fancy meeting you here, of all places,” Harry said in dulcet tones.

“I thought I left
you
in town,” she snapped with not quite the sweetness of voice and manner displayed when greeting his lordship.

“Alexander needed something, and I brought it to him. Friends do that sort of thing, you know,” Harry said, not the least put out by her reception. Camilla Shelford might be a beautiful girl; she was not known for her many friends.

“Allow me to present these gentlemen, Miss Shelford. Marius Winterton—a relative of mine—and Robert, Lord Taunton, come to claim an inheritance. His late uncle was a neighbor.”

The men bowed politely and stood shifting from foot to foot while looking uneasy.

“I am sorry my wife is not here to greet you; she went to Salisbury to shop today.” Alexander waited while his little bomb dropped into the following silence. It took, but moments for a reaction.

“Wife? But you are not married! You could not be married!” Camilla vowed. “You were not married when you left London
...
there has been nothing in the papers, no news of you. How could you possibly have married in so little time?” Camilla gabbled. “I was worried; I wondered if you were ill and thought to offer comfort. Mama recalled this little estate that once belonged to your grandmama, so
...
” She halted in her wild speech, her gaze darting from one impassive gentleman to the next.

“Mr. Riggs, it is a joke, is it not? A good joke,” Camilla cried gaily, somewhat desperately.

“I have met the lady,” Harry said with a pleased smile. “She is a charming creature.”

“You are lying to me,” Camilla snapped, her voice a trifle shrill. “There is no wife. It is a nasty little plot to tease me.”

“Look here,” Marius inserted, “that’s my stepsister being nattered about. Nothing havey-cavey about it. She is married to his lordship, and that is that. They are as any married couple right down to the rings.”

“When!” Camilla demanded, sounding more shrewish by the minute.

“Why do we not all go into the drawing room and have a cup of Mrs. Bassett’s excellent tea?” Alexander inquired suavely. How he was enjoying this tempest in a teapot; it quite made his entire day.

The formidable Mrs. Shelford firmly grasped her daughter by the arm to propel her along to the drawing room of the interesting old manor house.

“I do not see how it happened,” Camilla grumbled in an audible aside to her mother.

Mrs. Shelford pushed her daughter down on the sofa, looking about her all the while. The room was spotless, with carefully arranged bouquets of summer flowers gracing several tables. Music sat on the stand by the harp, witness to recent usage. Everywhere one looked feminine touches could be seen. The final blow was the charming workbasket, a piece of needlework in progress dangling from beneath the cover.

“I do not know if you indeed have a wife, my lord,” Mrs. Shelford intoned majestically, “but it is evident there is a woman here. Somewhere,” she added a moment later after realizing she didn’t see said wife.

Tea was duly brought and drunk by all. The room was remarkably silent, considering Camilla and her mother sat therein.

“Miss Tackley said there is a village fete coming up,” Lord Taunton at last offered.

“Indeed,” Alexander said. “I believe my wife agreed to open the thing. Parson Richards has asked her to do a special bit of needlepoint for the altar, you know.”

The four men discussed the coming fete for a bit.

“Nonsense,” Camilla murmured. “All nonsense. I shan’t believe you are married until I see your wife, and I may not believe it then.” She took a long sip of her tea, then hungrily bit into one of Mrs. Bassett’s excellent lemon biscuits.

Alexander raised his brow at this bit of impertinence, but he was relieved to hear the sound of a carriage in the drive. It was too soon for Juliet to return, unless she had hurried.

“Mrs. Ogleby and Mrs. Tackley, my lord,” Mrs. Bassett said with a smile, for the ladies were admired by all.

“Good day, ladies.” Alexander made the introductions, then sat back to wait and watch.

“You have traveled far?” Mrs. Tackley politely wanted to know of the visitor.

“Salisbury,” Camilla snapped, while at the same moment her mother said, “London.”

“All the way from London with a stop in Salisbury,” Mrs. Ogleby said, sounding impressed. “My, I doubt I could manage such a trip in a brief time,” she added, taking note of the strained atmosphere in the room.

“We have come,” Mrs. Tackley said to Alexander, “to ask dear Lady Hawkswood about the fete. We are so pleased that someone from the manor will be there this year. It has been a long time
...
” Her voice faded off as she took note of the expression on Camilla’s face. “Are you well, Miss Shelford?” Mrs. Tackley inquired. “You do not look at all well, I think.”

“He said he is married,” Camilla blurted, unmindful of the scene she created.

“And so the dear man is,” Mrs. Ogleby said comfortably in reply. “You have not had the pleasure of meeting his wife, then?” She gave the two women on the sofa a penetrating look.

“Such a dear creature,” Mrs. Tackley gushed. “She is so talented, so lovely, so fine in every way, quite the most proper lady to be the viscountess.”

Those words could not be pleasing to Camilla. She looked about to explode when Alexander rose. “I believe I hear her carriage now.” At least he hoped that was her carriage he heard. He walked to the door, fancying that he resembled an anxious, lovesick, newly married husband without half trying. Naturally he was anxious—he needed Juliet to fend off this man-eating tigress.

Mrs. Bassett bustled to the front door, and soft voices were soon heard. Within minutes Juliet rushed into the room and threw herself at Alexander. Delighted, Alexander held her close in his arms and bestowed a lingering kiss on those delectable lips.

“Oh, dearest, the morning was far too long without you at my side. I missed you very much,” Juliet purred charmingly. “But just wait until you see what I have brought home with me.” Then she gave a pretty start, seeming to take note of the callers for the first time.

“Mrs. Ogleby and Mrs. Tackley, how very nice to see you. I trust you are well?” Juliet said pleasantly.

The ladies murmured greetings and preened a little, pleased with being noticed before the strangers.

Turning to Alexander, Juliet linked her arm with his, drawing him toward the sofa. “I do believe this is that young lady you mentioned—the one with the yellow hair? And her mama, no doubt. I can see a resemblance,” Juliet said with patent satisfaction. At this Alexander interrupted her flow of speech to make a proper introduction.