Lady in Demand

by Wendy Vella

  “It will look badly on you, Finn, if we are not turned out just so,” Ben added.

  “I shall try to bear up under the strain.” Finn still had his paper up as he attempted to read the same line for the third time.

  “I’ll not be like that with my children, Alex. I will make sure they are turned out impeccably every season.”

  “And I shall come and eat at your table and make general mayhem in your house, and of course demand you spend money on me,” Finn drawled.

  That shut them up. He listened as chairs scraped and soon he was once again alone to finally finish his newspaper.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Did you take a groom with you, Phoebe?”

  “Yes, Will, I took Moses.” Phoebe said calmly. Lifting her cup, she then sipped her tea.

  “You took my most competent groom and still you have a bruised cheek? And by the way you are gingerly holding that cup I would say your wrist hurts, too.”

  Replacing her cup, she smiled at her brother-in-law, who was scowling at her across the breakfast table. The family always shared their morning meal together, and it was usually time for them to discuss their day and chat.

  Olivia, her eldest sister, sat to her husband’s right and was watching the conversation she was having with Will, her cinnamon eyes lit with a smile. She looked happy and content, far different from the pale, worried woman she had once been.

  The Langley sisters were all different in appearance. Livvy had red-gold curls where as Bella who sat to her left, was blonde with green eyes. Both had better dispositions than Phoebe, too.

  “Don’t give me that sweet smile, Phoebe, it will not wash. I am up to your tricks, remember, and would like an explanation.”

  After a bath, Phoebe had felt better. Her face had hit the ground as well as her wrist and was now starting to bruise, but not badly. She had thought Sally had managed quite well to cover it, yet perhaps not. Her wrist didn’t throb as it had and the bandage made it feel better; of course, she was forced to wear a long sleeved dress to cover it which could prove a bit warm today.

  “Is that the Moses who comes from a family of carnival people, Phoebe?” Bella said sweetly.

  Phoebe flashed her sister a look that she ignored. Isabella, for the most part, was sweet-natured; however, there was a mischievous streak inside her that when it made an appearance, it was usually to Phoebe’s determent.

  “I have a groom that was in a carnival?” Will questioned, looking from Bella to Phoebe and then to Livvy, who still had not entered the fray.

  “Moses,” Bella confirmed.

  Phoebe started spreading strawberry preserve on her toast, making sure to push it to the corners of the bread so she would enjoy the delicious taste in every mouthful she took. After all, it had not been that long ago that strawberry preserves were not in her life.

  “Why do I not know this?”

  “Luke knows,” Livvy said, which drew her husband’s eyes.

  “So my best friend knows but he did not inform me.”

  Phoebe put down her knife after cutting the toast in to four even pieces.

  “Is there a problem with having someone in your employ who worked in a carnival, Will?” Phoebe was happy for the topic to move away from her bruises and morning ride.

  “Luke said he’s marvelous with the horses, Will,” Bella added.

  “Of course there’s no problem with his past, but I still like to know these things. And Luke should have told me, damn him. He’s just angry because we had an argument a week ago.”

  “He will come about in time, I’m sure, Will,” Livvy said.

  “He’d better!” Will snapped. “I’m sick of his ‘yes my lord, no my lord’ act. He’s just doing it to annoy me, especially as when we were in India, I was always just Will to him.”

  Phoebe saw the flash of pain in her brother-in-law’s eyes. Luke Fletcher’s father had worked for Will’s family, so the boys had grown up together. When Will had gone to India, Luke had accompanied him and both had made their fortunes; however, upon there return Luke had resumed working for Will, much to his disappointment, and it was now Will who managed Luke’s money. They argued constantly, with Will threatening to dismiss him or Luke threatening to walk away nearly every day. They were brothers in every way but blood and birth, and it was this that would always stand between them.

  Livvy patted her husband’s hand. “Give it time, my love. With persistence, which you have plenty of, you will soon wear him down, I’m sure.”

  “I hope you are right, Livvy, because I’m investing his money and it’s growing daily, yet he will do nothing with it.”

  “He is a stubborn mule.”

  “Bella!” Phoebe looked at her little sister. “You are usually the one defending Luke.”

  “Yes, but no more. He needs to grow up.”

  “Here, here,” Will said, lifting his tea cup in agreement. “And don’t think that by changing the subject, young lady, I have forgotten what we were discussing,” Will said, looking at her once more. “If I find out that you have been riding in the park learning carnival tricks and that is how you got that bruise, I will not be pleased, Phoebe.”

  She didn’t roll her eyes because she was old enough to know better, but the urge was still there. “Will, I would never do anything to damage your name or break myself. I don’t take risks that have not first been thought out; therefore, I would ask you to trust me.”

  She was subjected to Will’s steady gaze for several seconds.

  “I know you would never do anything to damage our name.” Phoebe heard the emphasis on the word ‘our’, and felt warm inside as she often did when he spoke that way. “And I have no wish to know your every move, but I do admit to a certain amount of anxiety over what you do when I or your sisters are not with you.”

  “She has always needed excitement, Will, and to the best of my knowledge this is actually the first time she has injured herself,” Livvy said, patting her husband’s hand. “She is no fool, even if she does need to feel the thrill of testing herself in whatever capacity.”

  Phoebe smiled at her sister. Livvy had seen her do more than her share of hair-raising activities in the past and was used to them by now.

  “I will leave it for now, but no more injuries, Phoebe.”

  “I understand, Will,” Phoebe said. Unlike Lord Levermarch, her wonderful brother-in-law would not take drastic measures to stop her from riding, or leaving the house without a full compliment of servants watching her every move.

  Phoebe left the house at eleven o’clock with her maid. Hannah’s note had arrived this morning and been irritatingly vague by stating only that she was to meet her at midday at 12 Plimley Lane, a location that was just a stone’s throw away from Bond Street. She had told Bella she was going to visit a friend, but Livvy and Will had already left the house so she had not been able to tell them.

  The drive through London was not fast, as there were plenty of horses and carriages taking advantage of the lovely weather. It was twenty minutes later that Luke pulled the carriage to a halt. The narrow lane was a short distance away, but as the carriage could not maneuver up there they must get there on foot.

  “I shall get Stephen to hold the reins whilst I escort you Miss Phoebe.”

  Looking up at Luke Fletcher’s determined face, Phoebe wondered why he believed he should be in service when there was nothing subservient about the man. Tall and lean, he was a man who issued orders with frequency and little doubt they would be followed. She could see so much of Will in him, and the time they had spent together had changed the boy who had left England so many years before into a man

  “That won’t be necessary, Luke, as you can see the sun is shining and there are plenty of people about. We will meet you back here in one hour.”

  He opened his mouth to argue with her, so Livvy simply started walking, knowing Sally would follow.

  Phoebe enjoyed her own company, not that she was on her own exactly as Sally was with her. However,
it was nice to be alone with her thoughts.

  “Miss Langely, what a wonderful surprise.”

  Or not, Phoebe thought looking up into the smiling face of Alexander Hetherington.

  “Mr. Hetherington,” Phoebe said, acknowledging his bow. “How lovely to see you. Your brother stated last night that he thought you would not return until next week.”

  She had met Alex and Ben Hetherington at Will and Livvy’s wedding and had enjoyed their company immensely. Alexander was the epitome of an immaculately turned- out gentleman. Today’s coat of midnight blue had all the hallmarks of the tailor George Stulz, and his waistcoat was perfection in matching blue and pale rose stripes.

  “I’m sure it was more wishful thinking on his part, Miss Langley. However, my brother and I did return to London a bit earlier than planned.”

  “I’m sure he missed you and your brother whilst you were gone, Mr. Hetherington.” Phoebe felt she needed to protest.

  “No, he probably didn’t,” the young man said with a wry smile. “However, Ben and I believe it is important for us to constantly disrupt Finn’s orderly existence as he is often surrounded by people who agree with him. My brother can be quite controlling should the need arise and can put people back a step with just one look, Miss Langley.”

  Phoebe laughed because the description of Lord Levermarch was indeed accurate.

  “May I ask what has you here alone, Miss Langley?

  “I have my maid, Mr. Hetherington, so I’m not actually alone,” Phoebe said. “And I was about to walk up Plimley Lane to meet my friend, Miss Wooller.”

  “Well, then I shall walk with you.”

  Perhaps he had more of his older brother in him than even he realized, because before Phoebe knew what was happening, she was being propelled forward by Mr. Hetherington with little say in the matter.

  Plimley Lane had several small shops, and most were fashion establishments.

  “They have a superb boot maker in this lane, Miss Langley. It is where I come for mine.”

  “Do you really? And there was me thinking you frequented the more popular shops along with the rest of society.”

  “If the product is of good quality, I have no need to pay more for it just because of where it was made.”

  Before she could reply, she saw Hannah appear out the front of a building to their left.

  “Phoebe!”

  “Hannah, this is Mr. Hetherington. He is Lord Levermarch’s brother.” Phoebe made the introductions as they drew near.

  “Oh, you brought someone with you.” Hannah’s words indicated her displeasure at Mr. Hetherington’s presence.

  “We met at the beginning of the street, Hannah, and Mr. Hetherington insisted on escorting me, as he knows the street well because he shops here.”

  Hannah looked at Alexander with a studied eye, taking in his clothing before returning to his face. The man just took the appraisal calmly, as if it happened every day, which it probably did, in fairness. He really was well turned out.

  “Are you to meet someone here, Miss Wooller?”

  “Ah…well as to that, Mr. Hetherington,” Hannah looked behind her into the building she had recently exited. “I wanted to show Miss Langley something.”

  “I have some time before my next appointment. I would be more than happy to keep two such beautiful women company until then. That is, of course, as long as I am not intruding on one of those mysterious womanly secrets a man should not be privy to?”

  Phoebe watched Alexander Hetherington smile at Hannah, who in turn scowled.

  “I-I suppose you could come, though I’m unsure why you would as it is merely a business proposition I wish to discuss, and as I’m sure like other gentlemen you feel a woman should not be even discussing such matters I fail to see why you would want to come.” Hannah’s scowl darkened as she glared up at him. “In fact, I don’t think you should.”

  “Ah, but I am not my brother, Miss Wooller, and very forward thinking, I assure you. I will not judge you unless you ask me to.”

  “That will never happen,” Hannah muttered.

  “That will do.” Phoebe put an end to their conversation. “You’re both making my head ache with all this arguing back and forth. Lead on, Hannah, and I’ll make him leave if I deem he should.” Phoebe ushered them both into the shop Hannah had recently walked out of.

  The room was quite large and had lots of shelving on one side and hooks and racks on the other. There was a curtained room that Hannah led them into, which had two long benches and more shelving.

  “Come clean now if you please, Hannah. What is going on and why am I here?” Phoebe looked at her friend, while Alexander Hetherington continued to walk around the room, pulling out drawers and looking into cupboards.

  “You must not say a word of what you hear in this room, Mr. Hetherington.” Hannah followed up this statement with a glare and a pointed finger this time. Alexander placed both hands in the air and then continued to explore the room.

  “I want to start my own fashion establishment,” Hannah said defiantly. “I want to design the best gowns for the women of society and eventually make something that is affordable for other woman of less affluent means.”

  Phoebe had run through many scenarios in her head about what Hannah would show her, but that hadn’t been one of them.

  “You hate the idea.” Hannah deflated before her.

  “No!” Phoebe grabbed her friend and hugged her. “Not at all, I love it.”

  “You do?”

  “I do,” Phoebe released her. “But it will take money and planning.”

  “I know, but I have money and I have been making plans for over a year, lots and lots of plans,” Hannah added. “It’s just that lately I have been thinking that it was a project too big for me to take on alone, and although my father has offered to help, I wanted this to be something I achieve without his assistance.”

  She looked like a small, eager child as she spoke, her eyes alight with excitement.

  “I was hoping that if you wanted to join me in my venture, Phoebe, that you could ask your brother-in-law if he will supply us with fabrics and trimmings. I know he has warehouses as my father mentioned them, and that he imports goods from exotic places.”

  Phoebe watched Alexander Hetherington draw near, no longer wandering around the room, his eyes were now focused on Hannah. “And as I am going to be the third business partner in this consortium, then I say yes.”

  “You?” Hannah said. “What do you know of women’s fashions, Mr. Hetherington?” she scoffed.

  “Firstly, let us dispense with the formalities. My name is Alex, and I believe yours is Hannah. Phoebe I already know.”

  Phoebe nodded, Hannah frowned.

  “I also know that over the past few years, necklines have broadened and are often square with puff sleeves and a bodice is sometimes gathered, sometimes trimmed. The bust lines are, to my lasting regret, higher. Whilst I prefer the plainer unadorned gowns, the strong vertical embroidery on the front center skirt has made an appearance. Silks are more prevalent and there is a touch more color about, I think, which I find heartening. Shall I continue?”

  Phoebe and Hannah just stared at him, open-mouthed.

  “Personally, I am partial to the net gowns with chenille embroidery. However to find a skilled embroiderer will be quite a task, I fear.”

  “Good God, your brothers will kill you if they hear you talking like that!” Phoebe said, still wide-eyed.

  “And that is why we will not tell them,” Alex said, softly pinning both her and Hannah with a hard stare that rivaled his elder brother. “If I join you, it is on the stipulation that my name is left out of it. My brother is trying to get me to invest in the locomotive industry and other manly ventures. However, they have no interest for me. This, however, does.” His eyes once again swept the room and Phoebe saw the same excitement she felt. “If you feel it is too hard to keep my name a secret then I, of course understand, especially as, Phoebe, your brother-i
n-law is my brother’s friend and often business associate.”

  “I’m happy to keep your name out of any discussions if that is your stipulation for joining us,” Phoebe said. “And as I am determined to be an equal partner, I will need to speak with my brother-in-law with regards to a loan before I commit any further.” Excitement was bubbling inside her at the prospect of what they were about to do. “However, all going to plan, I am definitely in,” she added, sticking her arm out, her palm face down in front of her.

  “As am I,” Alex said, placing his hand on top of Phoebe’s while he looked at Hannah with a raised eyebrow that could only be a dare. “And I have some capital already.”

  Hannah looked at them both and then sighed. “Fine,” she said slapping her hand on the top. “But we are equal partners. No one is more senior than the other.”

  “Unless we are talking age, then I’m the oldest,” Phoebe felt compelled to add.

  “By one year, if that, Phoebe.”

  “It matters not if it is one week, Alex. All that matters is that I am.”

  He had a lovely smile. It made his face light and Phoebe wondered how this man could be related to the controlled, often somber Lord Levermarch.

  “Right, now then,” Hannah said, all business. “We can only meet briefly today. Therefore, I have a list of matters that we need to discuss urgently. I have set some things in motion, such as the purchase of the lease on this property, but of course there is much more to do.”

  “What about a name, Hannah? We will need a name and someone to front our business as none of us can be seen serving people,” Phoebe added.

  “A French woman,” Alex said, “and I may have just the one, or two actually.”

  Phoebe followed her new business partners to the desk where they spent the next thirty minutes outlining plans, and Phoebe thought they were quite possibly the most exciting thirty minutes of her life.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Finn and his brothers made their way along Bond Street after they had been fitted for new jackets, waistcoats and whatever else they could get him to spend money on.