PoetsandPromises (5 page)

Sherbourne obliged Elisabeth with descriptions of his
voyages to India, and the two enjoyed a pleasant drive home discussing the
afternoon, Elisabeth feeling an ease in Lord Sherbourne’s company she had
heretofore not experienced. When they reached Lady Parker’s townhome and Lord
Sherbourne took his leave of her in the hall, Elisabeth thanked him for the afternoon
with obvious sincerity.

“I enjoyed it also, Miss Ashwood. I hope we have many more
such pleasant afternoons ahead of us,” Sherbourne said with a smile that caused
Elisabeth’s heart to turn over and her breath to quicken.

Instinctively Elisabeth held out her hand and Lord
Sherbourne took it between his own, pressing her fingertips. At his touch an
unexpected tingling and warmth radiated from her hand up through her arm to her
body and she knew from the slight widening of his eyes that he had felt it too.
Her cheeks flushed and she veiled her eyes, startled by the unfamiliar feelings
flooding her body.

“Good evening, Miss Ashwood,” Sherbourne said as he released
her hand with reluctance. “I shall return on the morrow.”

“Good evening, Lord Sherbourne,” Elisabeth replied, her
flush deepening at the thought of seeing him again. “I shall look forward to
it.”

As Elisabeth mounted the stairs to her bedchamber in a near
daze, she dared to think for the first time what it might mean to share a love
as close as that of the Shelleys’ and that just possibly it might come to be
like that for herself and Lord Sherbourne. What happiness it would be to be
loved as Mrs. Shelley was loved! Little had she dreamed when she had agreed to
the arrangement between herself and Lord Sherbourne that in such a short time
she would not only become reconciled to the marriage but long for it.

Late the following morning Elisabeth discovered Lady Parker
in the drawing room sorting through the post. “We are beginning to receive
invitations to musical evenings and other small entertainments that are held
before the Season,” Lady Parker said, her dark eyes thoughtful. “We really must
go to Bond Street this morning and order new gowns.” She glanced at the ormolu
clock on the mantelpiece and added, “And we do not have much time since ladies
are not supposed to be seen on Bond Street after noon. Elisabeth, can you be
prepared to accompany me in a quarter hour?”

“Lady Parker, I—” Elisabeth faltered. “It is not within my
means to purchase new gowns,” she stated baldly.

“My brother has made funds available to me for such
purchases,” Lady Parker assured her guest.

“Please, I cannot accept,” Elisabeth said uncomfortably. “It
would not be proper as we are not yet officially betrothed.” Since the
awakening of her new, softer feelings toward Lord Sherbourne, Elisabeth had
felt a new shyness. Somehow accepting something as personal as a wardrobe from
the earl before they were even officially betrothed did not seem quite right.

“Then allow me to give you a new wardrobe,” Lady Parker
suggested. “It is easily within my means and I was looking forward to the
pleasure of having someone to accompany me to the stores and to share the
pleasures of selecting new styles and fabrics.”

Elisabeth hesitated a moment more but on seeing
disappointment beginning to cloud her hostess’s eyes, she agreed. “Thank you,
Lady Parker. It is most generous of you.” Elisabeth was rewarded for her
capitulation with a warm smile from Lord Sherbourne’s sister.

“I had best make haste to be ready,” Elisabeth added,
turning to go back upstairs and fetch her bonnet.

Twenty minutes later Lady Parker’s town carriage stopped
before the first shop. The proprietress, recognizing the signs of a customer
with adequate funds, had the doors opened with ceremony and seated Lady Parker
and Elisabeth at a large table where they could look over books of plates
showing the latest fashions.

Elisabeth viewed the gowns depicted in the plates with
growing dismay. To her they appeared over-trimmed with their rows and rows of
elaborate ruchings, pleats, fabric flowers or all three. Some of the gowns were
entirely covered with sewn-on fabric leaves and flowers. Elisabeth knew her
looks were only passable, at best, and felt the over-trimmed gowns would make
her appear to less advantage than her simpler, out-of-date ones. She glanced at
Lady Parker and was relieved to see her grimace as she turned the plates over
one by one.

The dressmaker hovered nearby, aware she was not getting the
reaction she had hoped for. “My lady, these plates depict the very latest in
fashion I assure you,” she said.

“Madame Parenteau,” Lady Parker addressed the proprietress,
“I have no doubt these gowns are of the latest fashion but we—how shall I put
it? We wish to be in fashion yet not to stand out as being in fashion. We would
prefer fine fabrics made up in simpler styles. I am sure you will be able
accommodate us,” she finished with an encouraging look.

“Your ladyship is most obliging,” Madame Parenteau said, her
assurance returning as she understood what her new customers wanted. “I believe
my lady wishes the classic styles in fashionable fabrics, yes?” She flipped
through the plates and pulled out several which she laid before Elisabeth and
Lady Parker.

“May I suggest this style for one day dress for the young
lady,” Madame Parenteau said, placing a plate depicting an untrimmed
high-waisted gown of a jonquil yellow. “This will set off the young lady’s
beautiful brown hair,” she opined.

“Excellent,” Lady Parker agreed.

“And for your ladyship, may I suggest this as a day dress,”
Madame Parenteau continued, laying a plate showing a gown with wide bands of
intricate, multi-hued embroidery around the neck and sleeves. “It has simple
lines but done up it will flatter my lady’s unusual coloring of dark eyes and
fair hair.”

“Also an excellent suggestion,” Lady Parker agreed. “I see
we may place complete faith in your taste, Madame.”

The proprietress visibly puffed with self-importance at the
compliment and within an hour all the styles and fabrics for a complete
wardrobe for each had been selected and measurements taken.

“I shall give your ladyship’s wardrobe my first attention,
and all the gowns should be delivered within a sennight,” Madame Parenteau
promised Lady Parker.

“Now for the milliner’s,” Lady Parker said gaily as a shop
attendant opened the door for them and she and Elisabeth walked back onto Bond
Street. “I believe we have time to stop there before noon, it is only two shops
down.”

After they had selected several hats apiece Lady Parker
glanced at clock on themillinery wall. “It is
later than I thought, Miss Ashwood. We must make haste, as it is almost the
noon hour.”

“Do you wish to have everything delivered, my lady, or do
you wish an attendant to take the packages them to your ladyship’s carriage
now?” the proprietor asked.

“Please have them taken out to our carriage,” Lady Parker
ordered, thinking that Elisabeth would enjoy being able to try on the hats with
her maid that afternoon.

The owner snapped his fingers for the attendant to carry the
bandboxes but the young man was not able to carry all at once. “I will take
these out first and come back for the last two, your ladyship,” he proposed.

“There are only two, we shall carry them ourselves,” Lady
Parker said. “The carriage is not far away and we shall not be noticed,” she
added at the shocked look on the proprietor’s face at the idea of a lady
carrying her own bandbox.

“Please, my lady, it will only take a moment for me to come
back for them after I have put these in the carriage,” the attendant dared to
insist.

“Nonsense, time is running out. I shall carry one and Miss
Ashwood will carry one,” Lady Parker said, handing one of the bandboxes to
Elisabeth and taking one herself.

Knowing better than to argue any further, the servant left
the shop as the proprietor himself held the shop door open for the ladies. Lady
Parker exited, holding the large bandbox before her, and began walking toward
their carriage. Laughing, she turned back to speak to Elisabeth, and in a flash
Lady Parker and the bandbox were both on the ground. The attendant stood
motionless, not knowing whether to drop all his boxes and assist Lady Parker or
to run to the carriage and relive himself of the boxes and then return to help
her up.

“I beg your pardon, madam, allow me to assist you.” A gloved
hand was offered to Lady Parker, who accepted it gratefully and rose with some
difficulty.

“You are injured,” the gentleman added, his gaze settling on
Lady Parker’s torn glove, a reddish stain spreading down the soft kid. “It was
unpardonable of me not to be paying attention where I was going.”

“It is nothing. Do not distress yourself,” Lady Parker said,
brushing her skirts off and attempting to restore order to her dress as the
Elisabeth ordered the attendant to take the bandboxes to the carriage and
return for the others. “I am at fault for insisting upon carrying my own
parcels.”

“Allow me to introduce myself,” the gentleman continued. “I
think such informality may be excused under the circumstances. I am John
Orcutt, Duke of Norland, at your service,” he said with an elegant bow.

“Your Grace,” Lady Parker said with an equally elegant
curtsey. “I am Lady Parker and this is my houseguest, Miss Ashwood.”

“You must allow me to accompany you home and assure myself
of your safe arrival,” the duke insisted.

“Thank you, Your Grace, but such attention is not required,”
Lady Parker assured him. “It was only a fall. I am quite recovered.”

“You must at least allow me to call upon you and Miss
Ashwood tomorrow to assure myself of your well-being,” the duke insisted.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Lady Parker agreed with admirable
sang-froid, given the damage to her toilette. “We shall be honored to receive
your call at our residence on Half Moon Street.”

When the duke had continued down Bond Street on his business
and the women were safely seated in their carriage, Elisabeth turned to Lady
Parker with a teasing smile.

“I do believe you have made a conquest, Lady Parker.”

“I think not,” Lady Parker disagreed. “His grace was only
very well-bred and concerned about the mishap. I have no doubt the duke is
married and has several grown children. I should perhaps recognize him, but I
have been absent from London for so many years I do not recognize most of the
members of the
bon ton
any longer,” she admitted.

Back in the town house on Half Moon Street, Elisabeth
hovered around her hostess while the maid tended to her mistress’ scrapes. Lady
Parker submitted to the attention with good grace and then ordered tea to be
brought to the drawing room. Revati, seeming to sense her mistress needed
comfort, curled up at her side, purring.

“The Season will begin early this year, since Easter day is
early,” Lady Parker commented as she allowed Elisabeth to pour the tea. “We
must soon begin making calls and attending small entertainments. However, I
shall not be applying for vouchers to Almack’s. There really is no need, since
you are to be betrothed to my brother. I suspect we might not receive them if I
did apply, since I have been in India so long and your family keeps to the
country. I hope that will not disappoint you unduly?” she finished
interrogatively.

“It is of no consequence,” Elisabeth assured Lady Parker. “I
shall not miss attending Almack’s. Truly I had not even thought of it.”

The footman entered with a large basket, which he placed on
the low sofa table near his mistress. “This was just delivered, my lady.”

Lady Parker pulled a card from the basket.

“I shall call tomorrow to assure myself that you are
recovered from this morning’s mishap,” she read. “Meanwhile, I hope these
fruits from my hothouse will aid your recovery.”

“How thoughtful!” Elisabeth exclaimed as Lady Parker set the
card down and began to investigate the contents of the basket.

“Mmm, oranges! And a mango,” Lady Parker said in wonder.
“How I have missed mangos since I returned from India!”

“I have never tasted one,” Elisabeth admitted.

“Then you must try one now,” Lady Parker said. She rang for
the footman and ordered a fruit knife and plates be brought, after which she
then carefully peeled and sliced the mango, placing several slices on a plate
and handing it to Elisabeth.

“It has an unusual flavor,” Elisabeth commented after she
tried a bite. “But I think I like it.”

Lady Parker laughed at Elisabeth’s conditional recommendation
and finished the mango on her own plate with obvious relish.

“Hothouse fruits, sister? Do you intend to consume then all
or will you share with your hungry brother and his friend?” Sherbourne asked,
entering the drawing room with Earlywine, both clad in the standard morning
dress of frilled shirt with starched cravat, waistcoat, dark blue coats,
trousers and shining boots. Only in their waistcoats did their toilet differ,
Sherbourne’s being of plain buff while Earlywine’s was of more modish stripes.

“Please help yourselves,” Lady Parker invited. “But I must
confess that I already consumed the only mango.”

“Who do you know who is sending such delicacies?” Sherbourne
asked after he and Earlywine had exchanged greetings with Elisabeth.

“It is the Duke of Norland,” Elisabeth volunteered. “He and
Lady Parker collided in Bond Street this morning.”

“Dear sister, this will never do, making a spectacle of
yourself in Bond Street!” Lord Sherbourne teased as he and Earlywine each
selected a fruit from the basket.

“I thought he was quite taken with Lady Parker,” Elisabeth
continued, much more at ease with her betrothed since their excursion to
Hampstead. “However, she assures me he is mostly likely married with six
children.”

Earlywine swallowed his bite of orange. “No, Norland is a
widower. Matchmaking mamas, my own included, despair of him ever entering the
parson’s mousetrap again, though. Not that m’sisters are interested in trying
to attach his interest—they find him much too old. Any gentleman over two score
years they consider ancient.

“Miss Ashwood,” Earlywine continued, turning to the younger
woman, “how did you find Mr. Hunt and the literary set Saturday last?”

“I found them interesting—intelligent and well-spoken, if a
bit eccentric in their manners,” Elisabeth answered. “Except for Mr. Keats, who
said very little but appears to enjoy his food greatly. Mrs. Hunt was very kind
and the Shelleys were personable and appeared very well-informed about a great
many issues.”

“I have heard Shelley is a bit of a crusader,” Earlywine
agreed. “But now I fear that after such stimulating company you will most
likely find the invitation I bring rather dull,” Earlywine added with a twinkle
in his blue eyes. “My mother and sisters wish me to deliver this invitation to my
sister’s come-out ball. She plans to have it early in the Season, before there
are many entertainments,” he finished, handing Lady Parker a cream-colored
envelope.

“I should enjoy it of all things,” Elisabeth protested. “And
shall very much enjoy meeting your sisters.”

“We shall indeed be delighted to attend,” Lady Parker
assured Earlywine. “It will be an excellent place to begin the Season’s social
rounds.”

“Now for my invitation,” Lord Sherbourne said. “Miss
Ashwood, would you and my sister enjoy an excursion tomorrow afternoon to a
delightful bookshop I have discovered?”

“We should very much enjoy such an outing at another time,”
Lady Parker answered. “But I fear tomorrow afternoon is out of the question,
for the Duke of Norland intends to call at that time.”