Page 36 of An Extraordinary Lord

She was more disappointed at that than she wanted to admit. They’d already done a dance of sorts that first night with their swords, so she knew exactly how skilled his footwork, how light his movements. He was a natural-born athlete, and she’d looked forward to dancing with him. But the women had rattled him to the point that he’d had to flee. Veronica had struggled to keep from laughing at the stiff way he’d hurried from the room, newspaper raised like a blinder to the side of his face and his gaze glued to the floor.

It was also endearing. She’d never met another man who wouldn’t have stared shamelessly as she undressed.

Despite his weapons—and being a lawyer—Merritt was a gentleman at heart. That made this all so much worse. It should have been easy to hate a man who reminded her at every step that she’d falsely been branded a criminal, who held a pardon over her head like the sword of Damocles. Yet she’d sneaked a glimpse beneath his façade, and what she was beginning to feel for him was far from hatred.

Madame Barnaud turned away from Madame Noir and clapped her hands, signaling that all the decisions regarding the clothes had been made. She gestured to the footmen to take the repacked trunks downstairs. Her exhausted assistant let out a long sigh, grateful to be able to slink away after the footmen, while the two women charged ahead into the thick of financial negotiations.

It was almost like watching a play, Veronica mused, enacted by two very well-rehearsed actresses. They’d arrived at the final act.

“The ball gown is your top priority,” Madame Noir reminded the modiste. “It must be done by five in the afternoon tomorrow.”

Madame Barnaud feigned insult that she couldn’t alter a dress by then, even one as delicate and fine as the green satin and gold filigree creation Veronica had coveted since the assistant pulled it from the trunk. “It will be done, along with all the accessories.”

“Good. I also want to order more dresses for Miss Chase.”

That captured Veronica’s attention. What the devil was Madame planning?

“Three day dresses and all the necessary accessories,” she ordered.

“But I only need the one gown,” Veronica interrupted.

Madame Noir rolled her eyes at her as if she were a cake of a girl. “My dear, you will need far more than that.” Then she ignored Veronica and instructed Madame Barnaud, “All in the finest muslin, all in the latest fashion, and none of that pastel nonsense worn by unmarried misses. Deep colors that command attention. I want her to glow when she wears them.”

Thatwasn’t at all what was needed. Veronica knew how to do reconnaissance, and glowing certainly wasn’t part of avoiding attention. “I don’t think—”

“Along with a green kerseymere coat dress for carriage rides in the park.”

She blinked.Carriage rides in the park?Who exactly did Madame think she was?

Cold realization sank through her. Madame thought she was a mistress.Merritt’smistress. After all, they’d given her no reason to think otherwise.

She bit her bottom lip. “I think you misunderstand why—”

“She’ll need a walking dress, too, and a good pair of half boots.”

“Actually, I don’t need any of—”

“Four sets of night rails and matching dressing gowns, two for winter and two for…notwinter.”

Madame’s lips curled into a smile, and not just at the sexual innuendo. Every time Veronica attempted to interrupt her and decline the dresses, Madame added more to the list, which Madame Barnaud dutifully listed in her little account book.

Oh, that woman! Veronica didn’t know whether to shake her at the trouble she’d cause for her with Merritt…or hug her for it.

“And all the accessories she’ll need for each outfit—gloves, reticules, hats, parasols, wraps, shoes, stockings…everything you can think of. Oh, and fur muffs.”

“Muffs?” Veronica choked out in disbelief.

“Of course.” Madame blinked as if the answer were obvious. “Winter is coming.”

“Of course,” Veronica repeated in a stunned mumble.

“Charge Mr. Rivers for payment,” Madame ordered. “He keeps a small town house at the west end of Red Lion Square. Send the accounting for everything there.”

Heusedto have a town house, Veronica amended silently with trepidation. Once the tally was delivered, he’d have to sell it to settle the debt.

Madame Barnaud smiled like the cat who’d gotten into the cream. “Everything will be finished within the fortnight. I’ll assign extra seamstresses to work on it.”

And undoubtedly charge Merritt double for the additional expense. Despite a prick of guilt, Veronica knew not to argue or the two women might just decide that she also needed a riding habit. With a matching horse as an accessory.