Embracing The Earl

by Aston, Alexa

No. Definitely not. First, she wasn’t that kind of woman. He would be horrified by her request. Second, whatever kind of kiss the duke and duchess had shared had to be meant for married couples. She and Luke would never qualify on that account. Caroline pushed aside her curiosity. She could survive without kissing a man. Especially one as handsome and charming as the Earl of Mayfield.

  She dressed, realizing how plain her gown appeared when compared to the ones her new friends wore. Fortunately, they didn’t judge her by it. She already knew the three women to care more about her than what she wore. Women of the ton, though, were an entirely different matter. She recalled Mama talking about her own come-out Season and how it was impossible to wear the same gown twice, else the ton would eviscerate you with their vicious gossip.

  How was she to look elegant, though, without spending a fortune? She supposed the key lay with the modiste she would visit today. She would have to pull the woman aside and explain her financial situation and that only a limited amount of gowns would be commissioned.

  After breakfast, the Duke of Everton’s carriage arrived, drawn by a magnificent team of matched bays. She and Rachel found the duchess and Leah already inside and greeted them.

  “Thank you for coming out so early,” the duchess told them. “Though most of the ton would never consider a visit to a modiste at this time of morning, I know time is of the essence.”

  “I’d like to thank you again, Your Grace, for allowing me to use your modiste,” Caroline said gratefully. “I hope she won’t mind that I’ll only need a small group of gowns.”

  “What?” Leah asked. “The Season is about to begin, Caroline. You must look beautiful in order to gain the attention you need in order for Evie’s to be successful.”

  “I understand. But I don’t want to frivolously waste my entire inheritance on a wardrobe when I’ve inventory to buy and a property to lease or purchase.”

  “That’s why you have your three investors,” Rachel said. “They will see to that.”

  The duchess said, “Lady Caroline wants the bulk of her inheritance to go toward setting up her new bookstore. She doesn’t want to depend solely on men.”

  Caroline gave her a grateful smile, realizing the duchess truly understood.

  “Because of that, I will be issuing Madame Toufours a challenge.” The duchess smiled at Caroline. “We are of a similar size. I have hundreds of gowns in my wardrobe. While you will certainly want to commission some new gowns to be created for you, I think I’ll ask Madame Toufours to rework some of my old ones. She designed every one of them. I’d like her to take them and make something new of them for you. That will lessen the cost since she will already have material to work with.”

  “That’s an excellent idea, Your Grace,” she said. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not a bit.”

  “Are you also having new gowns made by Madame Toufours?” Caroline asked Leah.

  “I am. I find my hips are a little broader and my bosom slightly fuller after having Rose,” she revealed. “What about you, Rachel? Has your figure changed much since Seth arrived?”

  “Some,” Rachel said. “Enough that I have had to extend my wardrobe.” She grinned and told Caroline, “I had the audacity to wear the same gowns during my second Season as I did my first.”

  “Why?” Caroline asked, filled with curiosity.

  “While Leah was fortunate enough to find love and marry Alex after our first Season, no bachelor caught my eye.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” she said. “You are beautiful, Rachel. I’m sure many men offered for you.”

  “Oh, they did,” she said merrily. “And I didn’t love a single one of them.” Rachel laughed. “I see the disbelief on your face, Caroline. You must remember that I’d seen Jeremy and Catherine’s shining example of what marriage should be and was determined that I would only wed if I fell in love. I might have gone five Seasons—ten—without marrying anyone. Fortunately, Evan came along and we realized we were meant for each other.”

  “I thought what was important was finding a titled, wealthy gentleman,” she said carefully.

  “I wanted love,” Rachel proclaimed. “I didn’t care about looks or wealth. So I wore the same gowns. I knew the man who loved me wouldn’t care if my gown had been worn before and I was right.”

  “Of course, certain women gossiped terribly about Rachel,” Leah confided. “It didn’t matter, though. She found Evan and is most happy. Those same women are envious of her every time Rachel and Evan are on the dance floor. You can tell by the way they look at one another how happy they are together.”

  “We’re here,” the duchess said.

  As a footman helped the four women from the carriage, Caroline wondered about this family of women who loved their husbands and found their love returned. Her experience regarding marriage was the example set by her parents, who rarely spoke to one another, even if they were in the same room. She’d heard vague gossip about how many women in the nobility took lovers after wedding and producing a suitable number of heirs, while men of the ton always seemed to have a mistress tucked away somewhere.

  Did true love really exist?

  They entered the establishment and Rachel and Leah made their way toward a wall of fabrics. The duchess introduced Caroline to Madame Toufours, who appraised her gown openly, her displeasure obvious. Caroline could see the modiste found her new client lacking in style.

  The duchess explained the kind and number of outfits Caroline would need, which she considered was a reasonable amount, and then told the Frenchwoman how she wanted a large number of her own gowns the modiste had designed to be remade for Caroline.

  “I know no one else could accept such a challenge and create new from old the way you will,” the duchess said, her flattery subtle. “Of course, you would be able to do whatever you wished. The material is already there so the cost to you would be minimal. Whatever you produce will set the new style for this Season and beyond. I have full confidence in your creativity, Madame.”

  The modiste bowed her head. “You are too kind, Your Grace.” Looking up at Caroline, she assessed her, having her turn slowly in a circle.

  “Your figure is one that will show my clothes off to their best advantage.” She touched Caroline’s hair. “Your hair is by far your greatest asset, along with your lovely complexion. I will choose colors that will suit you, warming your skin and hair.” Madame wrinkled her nose. “Not what you wear today, of course. I’m sure your undergarments are just as poorly made. We will change everything from your inside to your outside.”

  Turning, she clapped her hands. “Marie-Therese! Genevieve!”

  Two assistants came running. “Take Lady Caroline’s measurements while I speak with the duchess.”

  Caroline was led away and thoroughly poked and prodded. Once her measurements were recorded, Madame Toufours appeared again and took her to another part of the store, holding up swatches of color to her and discussing them with the duchess. Finally, the modiste seemed satisfied and told the duchess she needed to attend to her own fitting for clothes that were ready for her approval. Marie-Therese took the duchess in hand, while Genevieve went to speak with Rachel and Leah.

  Caroline was now alone with Madame Toufours and decided to explain to her about the bookstore.

  “We are two businesswomen, Madame. I would like to share with you what I am about to open.”

  Briefly, she explained the type of bookstore and circulating library she would run and how she would offer a unique selection of goods for women of standing to purchase.

  “Looking about your shop—and knowing the faith the duchess places in you—I would like to offer you the chance to sell your wares in my bookstore. I believe if I were the only bookseller to exclusively carry goods from Madame Toufours, sales would be brisk. You could even provide your own clerk, who would be knowledgeable about your merchandise.”

  The Frenchwoman eyed her with admiration. “You are definitely a businesswom
an, Lady Caroline. This is an opportunity I cannot refuse. How large an area do you have in mind? I already have an idea of what I would like your store to carry.”

  The two women discussed items to stock and Caroline offered the percentage she would accept from the modiste in order to sell her goods at Evie’s.

  “Then we have an understanding,” Madame Toufours said.

  “We can meet in a week or so, perhaps when I come for my own fittings, and finalize details. I should have decided on a property by then. We can look at it together and discuss the arrangement of the goods.”

  “I look forward to this venture,” the Frenchwoman said with a smile.

  Caroline said, “I do, as well, Madame, but as we will be in business together, I must be frank with you. Most of my funds will be directed to my bookstore. Leasing or purchasing a property in a prosperous neighborhood in order to entice my clientele. Buying enough inventory to fill the space. Hiring workers to staff it. That leaves me with little to spend on this new wardrobe.”

  “Say no more, my lady,” the modiste said. “You are giving me a wonderful opportunity to showcase my wares in a different venue. I believe your establishment will be successful—in part because of clever ideas such as including my goods.”

  Madame Toufours then offered her a generous discount on the new creations she would sew for Caroline, so reasonable that she doubted the woman would make but a small profit.

  “Are you certain, Madame?”

  The modiste smiled warmly at her. “I am. I think it’s the least I can do for the arrangement we’ve come to. This venture will bring me many new customers.” She took Caroline’s hand and with a mischievous glint in her eye added, “We businesswomen must stick together, non?”

  “Definitely,” Caroline said, pleased with the bargain they’d struck.

  Once all fittings had been completed, the duchess told Madame Toufours that she would send over the gowns to be remade. She reminded the Frenchwoman that the first event Lady Caroline would attend would be the very ball she and Everton would hold and emphasized the need for Caroline to look her absolute best that night in order to make a lasting impression on the women of the ton.

  “I can assure you both that Lady Caroline and the gown I design for her will be one of the most spoken about the next day, as will yours, Your Grace,” the modiste said.

  With that guarantee, they left the shop. Rachel insisted they go next door to her favorite milliner’s. Unlike gowns, Caroline was able to buy three hats immediately and she ordered another four that her friends thought would go well with the clothes that had been commissioned this morning.

  By now it was noon and the women boarded the ducal coach to return home.

  “I’m exhausted,” Leah proclaimed. “I think I will go home and nap with Rose.”

  Rachel laughed. “I plan to do the same with Seth.”

  “Are you tired, Lady Caroline?” the duchess asked.

  “Not a bit,” she admitted. “It was stimulating being back in London and shopping for a new wardrobe. I’m still hoping to look at properties this afternoon for my bookstore.”

  “Would you be able to have luncheon with me first?”

  “I’d enjoy that,” Caroline replied.

  They dropped Leah off first and then drove a few blocks further and left Rachel at home before traveling another block to the Everton’s London residence.

  As they entered, she asked, “Is the duke home?”

  “No. He’s at his shipping business today.”

  Caroline couldn’t help but react. “His . . . business?”

  The duchess chuckled. “Oh, I know. The ton frowns upon any talk of business. Gentlemen are to refrain from dirtying their hands by it and never discuss it.” She led Caroline into a small parlor and indicated for her to take a seat. “Jeremy is different, though.”

  “How so?”

  “His father almost bankrupted the family. When Jeremy became the Duke of Everton, he had very little wealth. He was forced to use his business acumen in order to restore the St. Clair fortune. He found he was quite shrewd at investing and almost everything he touched turned to gold. Within a few years, he’d repaid all his father’s debts and his investments had tripled. Even quadrupled. We are quite comfortable now. He understands the ton disapproves of flaunting business connections and so he tries to be discreet in visiting his businesses. He has a wonderful manager and solicitor who both act on his behalf but he is still the one in charge, making the decisions.”

  The duchess studied her. “I know you must have wondered why Jeremy did not leap at the opportunity to invest in your bookstore, as the other three did.”

  Caroline had thought that very thing. Now hearing how the duke was so wise regarding business, it disappointed her that he didn’t feel her venture to be a solid investment.

  “If Jeremy had become involved, Luke, Evan, and Alex would have sat back and deferred to his experience. He and I discussed how he wanted the three of them to begin to learn about business on their own, without any direct influence from him.”

  The duchess leaned forward. “My husband very much believes in you and what you are wanting to accomplish. He told me how very much he admires you and your fortitude. You have had to deal with disappointment and death. Instead of succumbing and crumbling, you have remained strong and confident.”

  She felt tears sting her eyes. “Thank you, Your Grace, for sharing that with me. It means a great deal, knowing how successful the duke is in his finances, to think so highly of me.”

  “You must call me Catherine. I am about as unduchesslike a duchess as you will find.”

  “Then I am to be Caroline to you.”

  “Agreed.” Catherine smiled. “I have a surprise for you. I think you’ll rather like it.”

  “What? You’ve already done so much for me. Helping me with my wardrobe. Agreeing to come to my bookstore. Offering me your friendship.”

  Catherine rose. “There’s a guest waiting for you at luncheon. He’s quite eager to meet you.”

  Chapter Nine

  Luke didn’t think Caroline would be busy an entire day at Catherine’s modiste. She didn’t seem very interested in her clothing, other than wishing to look presentable in order to fit in at ton events. He didn’t think it mattered what she wore. Caroline Andrews’ maturity and beauty would speak for itself.

  At least with the gentlemen of the ton. They would be attracted to her for her looks, first and foremost, but a good portion of them would also enjoy her wit and intelligence. He realized their opinions didn’t hold any water with Caroline because she needed the women of the ton to like her. They were the ones who would make up her clientele. Buy her books. Pay for a subscription to the lending library. Consume her tea and baked goods. And hopefully, buy merchandise from what was offered. That’s why this morning was important. Caroline needed a wardrobe to go into battle with the dragons of the ton, one that would make her still seem humble but feel victorious.

  In the meantime, while she gathered her armor of corsets and parasols and hats which would accompany her gowns, he could aid her in ways she would notice. His first stop would be Catarina’s. Though he’d hoped never to see his former lover again, this was too important. Luke would put aside his reservations and see if he could reason with the fiery courtesan.

  He knocked at the door and saw the startled look on the butler’s face.

  “Lord Mayfield. You . . . were not expected.”

  “I know. May I come in?”

  The butler couldn’t very well deny Luke entrance to the home he’d purchased and so he stepped aside.

  “I’m here to speak with Mrs. Withers first,” he said. “I’ll see myself to the kitchen.”

  As he hurried away, he wondered if the butler had the nerve to interrupt whatever Catarina was doing and tell his mistress that her former protector had returned uninvited.

  He found Mrs. Withers rolling dough. She was covered in flour, wisps of graying hair peeking out from her cap
.

  “Lord Mayfield!” she exclaimed, her surprise evident. “I never thought we’d see the likes of you again.”

  He pulled out a stool from under the table where she worked and seated himself. “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Withers. How have you been?” he asked with a smile.

  Her face softened. The St. Clair smile never failed to work. He’d also learned from Cor to treat all servants with respect, showing an interest in them and their lives. It had paid off in loyalty over the years.

  “I’ve been well. My sister, though, lost her husband a week ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Are you close?”

  “We are.”

  “Is she a cook as you are?”

  “She is. Don’t tell her I said so but she’s probably more skilled than me.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Here. In London. It’s not much of a challenge for her. The old earl she works for is all that’s left in the house and he can only gum his food. Bessie’s stuck preparing soft, bland foods. She’s bored silly.”

  Things were definitely looking up.

  “I’d come to offer you a position,” Luke confided, “but perhaps your sister would be better suited.”

  Anger sparked in Mrs. Withers’ eyes. “Now, why would you being doing that, Lord Mayfield? I would love to come cook for you.”

  “It’s not for me, actually.”

  Her face fell. “Oh. Then I suppose it would be best if I stayed here.”

  He let her feel sorry for herself a moment and then mused aloud, saying, “This opportunity could actually use two cooks, I suppose.”

  Mrs. Withers perked up. “Really? For Bessie and me?”

  “Yes. Let me tell you about it.”

  He explained how he had a friend who wanted to combine the ideas of a bookstore and tearoom together, where customers could flow between the two establishments.

  “There would also be access to other customers from off the street, as well, ones who merely want a spot of tea and something sweet to eat. Your cakes and scones are the best I’ve ever tasted, which is why I thought of you. Business would be brisk, though, so it might take two of you to bake everything needed.”