AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Oh, well enough, I suppose. I am sure Sir Michael would write if anything were amiss. They are still at home in Bedfordshire. Sir Michael finds Town such a bore: I always tell him not to disturb himself, coming up on my account.’
Marissa repressed a smile at Jane’s snort of disapproval and added maliciously, ‘But your dear sons, how could you bear to leave them?’
‘Oh, the country air is better for them,’ Lady Valentine responded with a toss of her head which sent her luxuriant dark curls bouncing. ‘Besides, there is very little for them to do in Town.’
Captain Cross had wandered off, scarcely bothering to conceal his boredom with this talk of domestic circumstances, but now he reappeared, a dashing half-boot in his hand. ‘Try this, Susan.’ He dropped to one knee and eased the scarlet slipper from her foot, his finger lingering at her ankle. Marissa became aware of Nicci’s dropped jaw and astounded expression and jabbed her briskly in the ribs.
‘Pay attention, Nicole. Does the shoe chafe your toes? The colour is perfect for your new walking dress, do you not agree, Miss Venables?’
But even Jane was distracted by the outrageous behaviour of Lady Valentine and her male companion. He was buttoning the half-boot with fingers which strayed frequently to the skin above.
‘Andrew, behave,’ Lady Valentine admonished indulgently, bending down to pat away his questing fingers. She gestured for the assistant. ‘Yes, I will take those too.’ While her purchases were being packed she asked, ‘Do you make a long stay in Town?’
‘We are here for the Season. Lady Nicole is making her come-out.’
‘I shall see you again, then.’ As she passed Lady Valentine touched Nicci’s cheek. ‘Charming, so fresh. Andrew, stop staring and come along. Good afternoon.’
It was as much as Marissa could do to keep Nicci quiet until they reached their carriage. ‘Well,’ the girl burst out. ‘Showing so much ankle – and letting Captain Cross put her shoe on like that! How very fast she was. The Captain is extremely handsome, but surely quite a bit younger than she is? And does her husband not mind?’
Jane twitched her pelisse straight and fixed Nicci with a gimlet eye. ‘That is what happens when a lady allows herself to behave in a fast and indecorous manner. Let that be a lesson to you, my girl.’
‘You mean I would attract handsome army captains and wear beautiful scarlet shoes?’ Nicci asked, wide-eyed.
‘Do not be pert, Nicole, this conversation is at an end. I think we have had quite a surfeit of shopping today and I am in need of a cup of tea. Marissa, shall we return to Grosvenor Square?’
Their energies returned the next day, however, and a prolonged expedition saw Nicci’s muslins, stockings, ribbons and laces purchased. An early start enabled them to scour the shops before the crowds grew too great and Marissa then indulged herself with a lengthy consultation at Madame Lavall’s. Jane displayed an unexpected interest in evening gowns herself and it was three very tired, but very excited, ladies who finally returned home for tea.
‘Is my brother in, Matthews?’ Nicci enquired as the under-butler held the door open for the laden footmen to stagger in under their burden of hat boxes, packages and parcels.
‘I believe he has just gone out, Lady Nicole. Shall I have tea sent to the Blue Salon?’
‘No, to my room, please. Marissa, Miss Venables – shall we take tea upstairs and unpack all our shopping? I have quite forgotten what I have bought, we visited so many shops.’
They spent a very agreeable and thoroughly frivolous hour re-examining every item, spreading the muslins out for Mary to see and thoroughly confusing the maid by disagreeing over which pattern in the Mirror of Fashion she should use for which fabric.
Jane had invested in a pair of long kid evening gloves with silver embroidery. Now she was having second thoughts. ‘Are they a little much, my dear?’ she asked Marissa anxiously. ‘I normally wear much plainer gloves, but these are such beautiful work I could not resist.’
‘They are very fine, Jane. I agree you have nothing suitable to wear with them, but just think of that lovely cream silk shot through with silver we saw in Debenham’s. You could have that made up in a simple, elegant style for evening and that would quite set off the gloves.’
‘I do declare, Marissa, you are too extravagant. To
buy gloves and then have a gown made to match is quite the wrong way round – I do not know what has come over me.’
Marissa jumped up. ‘The gauze scarf I brought with me would be perfect. Let me fetch it and we will try it out with the gloves.’
She darted out of the door, leaving it ajar, and hurried down the corridor. Behind her she heard Jane call, ‘Marissa, come back. This is really too frivolous for me!’
She spun round and called back, laughing, ‘Nonsense, Jane, it will be just the thing, you will see.’ She turned, stumbled and found herself colliding with a strong, warm male body. ‘Oh! Oh, Marcus – I thought you had gone out.’
‘Did you?’ He smiled down at her. ‘What have you been up to? Mischief, by the look of you. I like that gown.’ His words were warm, his gaze appreciative as he took in her dress of jonquil twill.
Marissa was seized with an overwhelming desire to press herself against him, kiss him with the passion they had shared on the beach.
Something of her desire must have reached him. He went very still, his blue gaze intent on her face as the laughter faded, leaving her staring up at him, wide-eyed.
‘No, not mischief. Shopping with my minx of a sister,’ Marcus said softly, the look in his eyes at odds with the light words. ‘I wish I could make you laugh like this.’ His fingertip traced the curve of her cheek, down the line of her jaw, then up to her lips. He let it rest there until Marissa let them part. Slowly, almost of its own volition, the tip of her tongue crept out to touch the pad of his fingertip.
A sharp intake of breath was his first response, then he swept his arms around her, pulled her to his body and bent to kiss her. Behind them the sound of footsteps on the staircase made them both freeze, then Marcus stooped, swept her up into his arms and shouldered open her bedchamber door.
