Page 2 of Devil in Her Details

“I’m not sure what the future holds,” Lilly admitted, smoothing her hand over the body of the corset, satisfied. “Let’s see.”

“You can always wed a duke and shut the mouths of those wagging tongues.”

Lilly shook her head. “And then what? Calvington knows of my hobby. I’m not so comfortable that if I continue in London, my clientele won’t be exposed.” She met her friend’s gaze. “That you won’t be exposed. Have you forgotten how he followed me around? He hadn’t even been discreet about his unwelcome hovering.”

Allie grimaced.

Exactly.

“At least here, he should leave me in peace.” Only the people she trusted most knew her whereabouts at this point in time. Not that she was hiding. Lilly Trenton did not hide. And Brighton, after all, did attract some of the fashionable, and her shop was located on North Street. She was simply not advertising where she was. She also harbored no illusions that her location would be kept in confidence forever. That, however, was a worry for another day. The seaside town, surprisingly, held its own unique charm, and she had no desire to rush back.

“Well, if you require any help, be sure to ask.”

Lilly chuckled. “How can I ask for help from a client?”

“Must you act so distant with that word?” Allie countered with a pout. “I might pay you for your services, but we both know you don’t need the funds.”

No. But be that as it may, her ambition remained to build a life governed by her own terms, free from any man’s claim. Well, with the exception of her brother, who championed her wholeheartedly. He was the only male in the world she trusted implicitly, and he would never claim any part of her life against her will.

That was her one uncompromising requirement she’d also demand in a future husband. A requirement Calvington failed to meet at every turn.

“Very well,” Lilly murmured to her friend. “If not a client, shall I call you my patroness in impropriety?”

Allie grinned. “That sounds so much better, does it not?”

Lilly chuckled. “Does your husband appreciate your enthusiasm for this commission as much as you do?”

“Well, I try to imagine his eye rolls are a form of indulgence and not from long-suffering resignation. But enough about me. How are you finding Brighton?”

“Quiet,” Lilly said simply. “A most agreeable relief.”

Allie studied her for a moment, biting her bottom lip.

“What?”

“Well . . .”

Lilly’s heart sank. “Oh Lord, something happened and you’re not telling me, correct?”

Allie sighed. “Yes, well, I wasn’t going to mention this, but seeing as you have no troubles here, I should probably warn you that there are rumors that Calvington is enquiring about your whereabouts most insistently.”

The “most insistently” gave Lilly pause. While she’d been in Brighton for three, six months had passed since that horrifying night. So Calvington hadn’t given up? She’d received no news from her brother. That aside, had she not rejected him thoroughly enough? Upon her word, she’d come close of taking a walking stick to the man. She’d even left. Surely he must have given up by now. “I do not understand his mind. Do you suppose he wants revenge on me for thwarting his plans?”

“I’m not sure,” Allie said, concern lining her brows. “But seeing as his character has been revealed, I won’t put it past him. So be careful.”

“Oh, do not worry. As you well know, I can hold my own.”

Allie nodded. “That’s good then.” She studied the mess of the backroom thoughtfully. “Are you going to hire someone to tend to the front of your shop? I’ve noticed these past days you’re not open at expected hours.”

Ah, yes.

Up until now, she’d been a mood proprietor—only opening when the mood struck her. The rest of the time she was all too happy to spend time alone with her creations. A shop assistant, however, wasn’t the worst idea for appearances, and it seemed a hired guard might not be a misplaced precaution either. She might even have to weigh relocating her lodgings to her shop if Calvington insisted on being a fixed nuisance. The man could be as slippery as an eel, so vigilance would not go amiss. After all, calm waters often hid the strongest currents.

“I’ll certainly entertain the notion of a shopkeeper then.”

“Do not alter your course on my account,” Allie remarked, waving her hands. “I’m merely fascinated. You’re the first lady I’ve met to follow her heart so purely. It’s truly inspiring.”

Lilly smiled faintly at that. Purely was not the word she would have chosen. Stubbornly, perhaps. Determined, most certainly. When news of her shop found its way to London, it would surely cause a stir, if not downright scandal. She almost looked forward to that moment. “Then I shall try not to disappoint.”