Lydia shook her head. “No. Aunt Agnes and I are doing a bit of shopping. No need for you to attend me.” She tied the ribbons of her bonnet under her chin, slipped on her gloves, and grabbed her reticule before going to her aunt’s bedchamber. By the time she came back downstairs, the carriage was waiting outside. She handed her aunt the straw bonnet. “I brought your shawl as well.”
“Thank you, my dear. I find I get chilled easily these days,” Agnes said, tying the bonnet ribbons under her chin. “Shall we go?”
Lydia nodded, and Prescott opened the door. Owen was waiting beside the horses and handed the women up into the carriage.
“We’re going to Mrs. Dumont’s shop,” Lydia said.
“Of course, Miss Weston,” Owen said.
Once seated, Agnes heaved a sigh of relief. “I wanted to leave before your father had a chance to change his mind about us going to the modiste today. He’s still very angry with me for revealing the secret, but once he thinks everything through, he’ll realize I did the right thing. You and Lord Hutchinson deserve all the happiness in the world, and that means being able to marry. Being the granddaughter of a viscount should make your union less controversial, although I’m sure there will still be sticklers who believe you aren’t worthy to be a marchioness.”
“I’ll be fine as long as I know George is by my side. I’m worried about you, though. Papa isn’t very happy with you, Aunt.”
“No. I don’t suppose he is, but it was time you learned the truth. I would have told you sooner if I could.”
“Have you known all along?”
Agnes nodded. “I have, but your father refused to allow me to tell you. As I didn’t have enough funds to live on my own, I was forced to keep the secret. I hope you don’t despise me for it?”
Tears pooled in Lydia’s eyes. “Oh, Aunt Agnes, I could never despise you. You’ve been here for me my whole life. What would I have done without you?”
Agnes patted her hand. “I love you, my darling girl.”
“I love you too.”
“Now, what color would you like for your wedding dress?”
“I don’t know yet, but let’s not tell the modiste she’ll be designing a wedding dress. After the Surry ball, when the betrothal is announced, we can make any adjustments necessary to the design.”
“Of course. Whatever you prefer. Are you nervous about being introduced as Lord Surry’s granddaughter?”
“Absolutely terrified.”
Chapter 14
When Lydia entered the modiste’sshop, the last people she wanted to see were Miss Darvey and her friends. Lydia started to turn around to leave, but her aunt grabbed her arm and whispered, “You don’t need to run from them anymore. You’re going to be the Marchioness of Hutchinson soon. Hold your head up high, especially since they’ll soon be curtseying to you.”
“You’re right, Aunt, but I really don’t want to endure any of Miss Darvey’s insults today. There’s been enough turmoil today, don’t you think?”
“Agreed. We’ll keep our distance from her.”
The shop girl walked to them. “May I help you?”
“Yes, my niece would like to commission a new dress,” Agnes said.
“Of course, let me show you some fashion plates.”
Lydia and Agnes followed the young woman to a table strewn with various designs for them to look through.
“Let me know if you find anything to your liking,” she said.
As they started to look through the designs, Lydia could hear whispers as Ms. Darvey and her friends drew nearer. Why couldn’t they have just ignored her? That would have been too much to hope for, and she braced herself for whatever Miss Darvey was about to say.
“Why, if it isn’t Miss Weston,” Miss Darvey said. “Whatever are you doing in this shop? Surely your kind cannot afford such expensive designs.”
Lydia was fuming at the insult but refused to rise to the bait. It was a ridiculous barb in any case—her father was wealthier than many of the ton. She turned toward her tormentor. “No need to worry your pretty little head about my choices.”
Miss Darvey’s mouth fell open at her retort. Evidently, she’d thought Lydia didn’t have the courage to stand up to her, perhaps because Lydia had never challenged her in the past.
