“Not at all. They are all perfect. Lord Worthington and I are marrying. This purchase is for his town house.”
The clerk bowed. “If I may wish you very happy, my lady, my lord?”
“Thank you, Mr. Quimby.”
Worthington murmured his thanks as well. This may be very dull work, but it was good he’d come. They’d be here all day if he wasn’t there to move Grace along.
Quimby bowed again. “If you would like to have a seat, my lord, my lady, I shall fetch some rolls for you to inspect.”
Turning to follow him, Grace said, “Thank you. I’m sure Lord Worthington would like some coffee while we wait.”
The man bowed again. The only person Worthington had ever met who bowed as much as Quimby was a Chinaman he’d once encountered. “Of course, my pleasure. Tea for you, my lady?”
“Yes, thank you.” Grace inclined her head. He wondered if he should be worried that the clerk knew her so well. How much shopping did she do here?
After assisting his affianced wife to sit and taking a chair himself, Matt leaned close to her. “Come here quite a bit, do you?”
Grace lowered her lashes. “Well, it wouldn’t do to allow him to forget me.” Her gaze lifted innocently to his. “Did you think you were marrying a nip-farthing?”
Eyeing her suspiciously, he retorted, “I think you’re making a game of me.”
“Well, of course, I am.” She grinned. “If you will act as if I’m spending your whole fortune on fabric. I shall tell you, my lord, that I know how to hold house and have been doing so for several years now.”
“Very well then.” He let out the breath he’d been holding. “Carry on.”
More quickly than he expected, several rolls of material appeared on a long table.
Quimby motioned Matt and Grace over. “My lady, if you would care to take a look?”
Worthington followed Grace, viewing the selections over her shoulder.
Glancing back at him. “Do you see anything you particularly like?”
He hadn’t expected to be asked for his opinion. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. “Am I allowed to choose as well?”
Grace looked up at the ceiling for a moment. “Don’t be a noddy. Of course you may.”
He took out his quizzing glass and inspected the fabrics with more interest. “Well then, I like these two.”
Her lips formed a very kissable pout as she thought. “For which rooms?”
“My study and the library.”
“I think they are perfect.” Her eyes flashed approvingly.
He didn’t know if it was his relief at knowing he could trust her, or one of those feelings that came with being in love, but he wanted to puff his chest out. This shopping was going extraordinarily well. “How often do we need to do this?”
“Every few years.” She turned from the fabrics to him. “Curtains especially need to be replaced when they fade or begin to look shabby. I like to have two sets for each room and change them in autumn and spring. It gives the house a fresh look and the material lasts longer.”
He tried to envision it. Then a thought occurred that didn’t please him. “How often do you change furniture?”
Grace laughed. “I don’t like to rearrange the furniture at all, once I have organized the rooms as I like, that is.” She tucked her hand in his. “We’ll do it together.”
He enjoyed that she touched him the way she did. From the first night at the inn, he’d known they were meant to be together. “If we’re able, I’d like to take you to Worthington Hall for a few days to meet the servants and decide what you wish to do.”
Grace steered them to another table. “That would be wonderful. It will also give me an opportunity to stop at Stanwood Hall and make sure things are as they ought to be.”
When they’d finished their selections from one table, they were taken to the next. In a surprising amount of time, they were finished. “Do we have time to go to the furniture warehouse?”
