by HELEN HARDT
“With your beauty, ma belle, you already stand out. What are you thinking by way of couleur?”
“Something bright. Vivid, actually.”
“For this time of year? Non, I do not think so.”
“Yes. That is what I want. How about red? Or orange?”
“Orange would be dreadful with your skin tone, my lady. But perhaps red.” She rustled through the garments she had brought with her and pulled out a red satin ball gown. “This color would be magnifique,” she said, turning Lily around and unfastening her dress.
Lily stepped out of her dress and into the gown, turning to let Madame LeRou fasten her. The gown was beautiful, featuring a scalloped neckline and a high waist. It fit Lily’s slender but voluptuous figure well, and she couldn’t help thinking how perfect the diamond and ruby jewelry would complement it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite what she had in mind.
“It’s lovely, but I was thinking of something a little more…I don’t know. Revealing?”
“Ah, so you would like to create a petite scandale?” Madame winked at her. “You are not the first well-bred lady to ask this of me. Let me take a look.” She pulled out a gown of shocking red velvet.
The fabric stretched over every curve of Lily’s body. The neckline was low, coming down in a curved V design that, between the shape of the bodice and of Lily’s chest and waist, created the illusion of a large red heart. The short puffed sleeves were connected to the frock with only the tiniest clips set with pearls.
“Could we lower the neckline a little?” Lily asked.
“Bien sur. But with your ample bosom, my lady, I don’t advise it.”
“Do it,” Lily said. “And I want the sleeves to be off the shoulder.” She gestured to her bosom right above the neckline. “From here up, I want to appear naked.”
“Mon Dieu! I cannot possibly recommend—”
“That is what I want. Cinch the waist in a bit also, and ruffle up the bustle a bit. I’ll need dancing slippers to match. Can it be completed by the hour of ten? The ball starts at eleven.”
“Oui, oui, my lady, but I must start right away. I will need you to come back here for a final fitting at, shall we say, eight?”
“Dinner is at eight.”
“D’accord. Half past seven, but that is the best that I can do.”
“I will be here. Do you require anything before then?”
“I suppose I will be hungry soon,” Madame LeRou said.
“I’ll have a tea tray sent up now, and I’ll see that a dinner tray is delivered later.”
“That is most kind of you, my lady.”
Lily nodded and left the room briskly. If Daniel wanted to make her one of his many doxies, she should at least look the part. She returned to her chamber, but Rose was still gone, so she picked up the copy of Oliver Twist and began to read. Soon she was lost in the adventures of the young orphan.
* * *
“We’re here, Lily, wake up,” Rose’s voice said.
Lily opened her eyes to Brandy’s adorable panting face. “Oh, you gorgeous little thing!”
Her sister and her cousins stood over her, giggling.
“Ally, Sophie, what are you doing here?”
“We came with Rose,” Ally said. “She told us you two were having a little celebration, and we thought we’d join the fun. What is going on?”
“You mean you haven’t heard?”
“No, Lily,” Rose said. “Thomas and I found Mummy after we left you this morning, and she asked us not to say anything until tonight.”
“Well, it’s my life, and I want them to know.” She turned to her cousins. “Apparently I am betrothed.”
“What?” Sophie gasped.
“To whom?” Alexandra wanted to know.
“None other than the Duke of Lybrook himself.”
“You’re kidding!” Alexandra squealed. “How did this happen?”
“Tell me and we’ll both know,” Lily replied cynically. “His Grace arranged everything with Papa. I didn’t have a word to say about any of it.”
“Who cares?” Ally shrieked. “You’ve just landed the most luscious man in England, Lily.”
“Yes, he has a certain appeal,” Lily admitted. “But you’re forgetting one very important point. I don’t want to be married.”
“Lily, this is such an honor,” Sophie said.
“An honor? Are you completely mad? To join his merry band of strumpets? I suppose there’s some small consolation in the fact that at least I’ll be his lawful wife, but that won’t stop him from humping—”
“Lily!” Rose admonished.
“Well, it’s true!”
“You don’t know that,” Rose said. “He may be faithful to you.”
“He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”
“Lily, dear,” Sophie said, “if you’re not happy about the betrothal, what are we celebrating?”
“We are celebrating my new arrival.” Lily hugged Brandy. “Isn’t she precious?”
“Yes, she is,” Sophie agreed. “Where did she come from?”
“A gift from the duke,” Rose said, “along with all of these other incredible offerings.” She grabbed the leather case that held the diamond and ruby jewels. “Look at these.”
“Oh my God,” Ally said, her sandy eyes wide.
“And he gave her his Vermeer. Look.” Rose gestured. “I can’t even begin to imagine how much that painting is worth.”
“That reminds me,” Lily said, rising. “I’m going to move it to the dressing room. Otherwise Brandy might chew on it.” She lifted the painting. “I will miss looking at it though. My, he was inspired.”
“You’re the luckiest woman on earth, Lily.” Alexandra fingered the pearl choker and earrings. “These are beautiful. And all these art supplies. He certainly knows you, doesn’t he?”
“He doesn’t know me at all, Ally. If he did, he wouldn’t force me into this sham of a marriage. It’s his father all over again, isn’t it?’
“Not exactly,” Alexandra said. “Her Grace hadn’t even met the old duke when her marriage was arranged. You’re acquainted with your duke, and you seem to get on well enough, not to mention he’s handsome, rich, and titled.”
“None of that matters, Ally,” Sophie said. “Is he kind, Lily?”
“Well, he’s forcing me to marry him. That can hardly be called kind.”
“He is a kind man,” Rose said. “Lily and I have spent some time with him. He’s intelligent and articulate, and he has a pleasant personality.”
“Traitor,” Lily said.
“Lily, you are…fond of him. Admit it,” Rose said.
“All right, damn it. I am fond of him. Are you happy?”
“Incredibly. Now, for our celebration.”
Rose lifted a bottle of wine from the crate and summoned a servant to open it. It was returned quickly, along with four glasses.
“To our Lily.” Rose lifted her glass.
They clinked their glasses and feasted on the wine and truffles. After her first glass of wine, Lily began to feel quite celebratory, and the girls rang for the servant to open another bottle.
“Do tell us, Ally,” Lily said. “How was your tryst with Mr. Landon last evening?”
Alexandra giggled. “It was incredible, actually. We talked for a while, and then he put his arms around me and asked if I would grant him the honor of a kiss.”
“He asked? How gentlemanly of him,” Sophie said, “although I hardly approve of a man who requests that a lady meet him unchaperoned on a dark terrace.”
“I approve of him, that’s all that matters,” Alexandra said. “He’s incredibly wealthy, too. He has property in Scotland and America, and he owns a shipping company.”
“Who cares about all that?” Rose said. “How was the kiss?”
“Much better than Wentworth.”
“Well of course,” Lily said. “Brandy here is better than Wentworth, aren’t you, sweet?”
The puppy licked Lily�
�s face.
“Are you going to see him again?” Rose asked.
“Yes, we’re going on a carriage ride on the morrow. He’s in Bath today, on business, but he told me he expected to be back in time for dinner. Now, Rose, do you have any news for us?”
“Lord Evan and I—” She reddened. “Well, he kissed me after our ride yesterday. It was lovely.”
“How lucky you are!” Ally jumped up. “He’s almost as handsome as the duke. What of the duke, Lily? Has he kissed you yet?”
Lily’s skin heated all over, as memories of Daniel’s seductive kisses flooded through her. “No,” she said, glancing at Rose with a slight shake of her head. “But I expect him to be adequate, given his experience.”
“No doubt,” Alexandra agreed. “And I’m not sure I’d care one way or the other. Looking into that handsome face for a lifetime would be more than enough to keep me happy.”
Lily rolled her eyes and poured the last of the second bottle of wine into her glass. “Let’s open another bottle.”
“Perhaps we’ve had enough,” Rose said with a slur. “I’m feeling a bit lightheaded.”
“I’m marrying the duke, and I want another bottle.”
“The chocolates are almost gone,” Sophie said, hiccoughing.
“We may as well finish them,” Lily said, “and they go so sublimely with the wine, we simply have to open another bottle.” She giggled uncontrollably.
“I agree with Lily.” Alexandra rose to pull the cord.
Soon they were drinking again, laughing and chatting about their childhood, when knock on the door interrupted them.
“The modiste needs to see you, milady,” a housemaid said to Lily.
“What? Goodness, what time is it?”
“Half past seven, milady.”
“All right, I’ll be right there. I do hope I can walk,” Lily said, her words coming out in a hazy slur. “One of you must acc…company me.”
“Not me,” Sophie said. “I’m beginning to feel wretched. Ally, take me to our chamber.”
“Rose, it will have to be you,” Lily said.
Rose lay on her bed. “In a moment.” She let out a soft snore.
“For goodness’ sake,” Lily muttered. She walked against the wall for support until she came to the chamber the modiste was using.
“Ma belle, do come in.” Madame LeRou held up the red garment. “I think you will be pleased. I will do the final fitting and then bring the gown to your chamber by the hour of ten. Is that acceptable?”
Lily hiccoughed. “Yes.”
Madame turned Lily so quickly that her head spun and she nearly lost her balance. Quickly the modiste unfastened her and had her step into the new gown. Lily stood quietly, her pulse racing, while Madame LeRou measured her and placed pins on the gown.
“Bien,” she said. “Now off with you. Madame has work to do.”
Lily dressed with Madame’s help, left the room, and walked back to her chamber slowly, blinking her eyes to keep them open. Rose was asleep on the bed. She would miss dinner. Lily decided not to wake her. Her afternoon dress was in decent shape, and it was one of her more glamorous ones. It would substitute nicely for a dinner gown. She took a deep breath and judged her appearance in the looking glass. Her reflection was blurry, but she was sure everything would be fine. She went to the door and grabbed the first servant she saw in the hallway and bade her to take care of Brandy until Rose woke up. Then she made her way to the double stairway, holding the railing for support.
* * *
Daniel glanced up and saw Lily enter the spacious dining room. Something wasn’t right. He rose and swiftly walked toward her, taking her arm.
“Lily, are you quite all right?”
“Of course, Your Grace.” She enunciated her words slowly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your dress is rumpled and your hair is…” He inhaled. “Oh Christ. What have you been drinking?”
“The wine you gave me, my lord. That is, Your Grace. Who are you again?” She started to giggle.
“Come on.” He briskly ushered her from the room.
“What will people think?” She hiccoughed. “Oops, sorry.”
“Since when do you give—how do you like to put it?—two figs what people think?” He led her to the servants’ stairway and up the two flights to his suite.
“Oh, no. I’m not going to bed with you.” She hiccoughed again. “I’m not, I tell you.”
“You must really think the worst of me.” He shook his head. “Do you honestly believe I would take an inebriated woman to bed?”
“What?” Then, “Where’s Brandy, Daniel? Oh, I left her with a maid in my chamber. I want her.”
“Here, lie down.” He led her gently to the bed.
“I want my puppy.”
“I’ll get her for you.”
He pulled the bell cord and Putney appeared quickly. Daniel whispered to him for a few minutes and then went into his bath chamber. He returned, poured a glass of water from a pitcher on his dressing table, and went to Lily. “Here,” he said, tearing open a small packet. “Put this on your tongue. It will ease your headache.”
“My head doesn’t ache.”
“Call it a preemptive strike then. Stick out your tongue.”
She obeyed, and he poured the powder on it.
“It’s bitter!”
“Yes, I know.” He held the water to her mouth. “Drink.”
She gulped down a few swallows.
“Now, do you want to tell me why you were drinking wine this afternoon?”
“Not really.”
“Indulge me anyway.”
Lily hiccoughed again. “I’m not feeling very well, Daniel.”
“Do you need a basin?”
Another hiccough. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Now, why were you drinking?”
“Oh, that. Rose, Ally, Sophie, and I were celebrating our betrothal. They’re all terribly envious of me you know. Perhaps you should marry one of them.”
“I don’t want to marry one of them. I want to marry you.”
“Oh. I think I’ll take that basin now.”
He brought it to her.
“Oh, never mind,” she said. “It passed.”
“Keep the basin here just in case.” He went to answer a knock on the door, took a glass of brownish red liquid from Putney, and delivered it to Lily. “Drink this, and I’ll get a cold compress for your head.”
Lily shook her head at the thick liquid. “I’m not putting that in my mouth.”
“Yes, you are, young lady. Come on, drink.”
She took a quick sip. “Oh, it’s disgusting!”
“Yes, I know, but it works. Come on, all of it.”
Lily held her nose and swallowed the thick liquid until the glass was empty. “If I wasn’t going to be sick before, I will be now.”
“You’ll be fine. In fact, within an hour you’ll feel much better. The basin is here if you need it.”
Another knock on the door delivered Brandy.
“Here’s your puppy, Lily,” Daniel said, placing Brandy in her arms.
“You adorable creature. I missed you.” She yawned. “I’m sleepy, Daniel.”
“Lie back now. Get some rest.”
“What about Brandy?” she asked drowsily, snuggling into Daniel’s pillow.
“Putney will take her to the kennels. They’ll care for her until tomorrow.”
“All right then.” She closed her eyes.
Daniel pressed a damp cloth to her forehead.
“That feels nice,” she murmured. “Come lie with me, Daniel.”
“No, love, not while you’re foxed.”
She opened her eyes abruptly. “I am not foxed!”
He laughed softly. “Of course not. Now go to sleep, I’ll wake you in a bit.”
“I need to dress for the ball.”
“I’ll wake you in time. Close your eyes. I’ll stay and watch over you.”
“You�
�re so sweet.” She reached for him. “Hold me. I want to feel your arms around me.” She closed her eyes.
What could it hurt? He lay down beside her and gathered her in his arms.
“That’s nice,” she murmured and then began to snore softly.
Daniel kissed her chastely on the forehead, smiling because she wanted him. Perhaps she did care for him.
In vino veritas, he thought. In wine, there’s truth.
Chapter 13
Lily awoke, naked, in Daniel’s bed. He held her gently, making love to her, softly crooning her name. “Lily, Lily, Lily.” She sighed, enjoying the feel of his hands on her skin. “Lily, Lily…”
Something cool and crisp fell from her eyes when she opened them to see Daniel sitting next to her, shaking her arm gently.
“Lily, Lily.”
She was still fully clothed, lying on his bed. The lovemaking had been a dream… What had fallen from her eyes appeared to be thin slices of…cucumber?
“Daniel?”
“I’m here. How are you feeling?”
“Why was there cucumber on my face?”
“It’s an old trick of my mother’s. When her eyes are tired and puffy, she swears by slices of cucumber, so I had the kitchen send some up.”
“Ugh. What is that awful taste in my mouth?”
“Just an after effect of your…indulgence.”
“It’s probably from that horrible glop you forced down my throat. What was in that stuff anyway?”
He chuckled. “You don’t want to know. Does your head hurt?”
Lily shook her head. “I must look dreadful, though.”
“You’ll always be beautiful to me, love. Your face looks good, actually. I’ll have to tell my mother that her old wives’ tale has merit. But your hair needs a little work, and you need a bath and tooth brushing.”
Lily twisted her face into a grimace. “You’ve seen me at my worst. Do you still want to marry me?”
“I’m sorry to tell you but, yes, I do.”
“Good God.” She stood, a little lightheaded, but remarkably sturdy on her feet.
“Lily, if you don’t feel you can attend the ball tonight, we can announce our betrothal on the morrow.”
“No, I feel…better. Surprising, but true. Perhaps Putney should market that concoction of his.”
