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“Thank you, Will,” Stepmother said briskly. “Be reassured that we have no haberdashers in mind for today.”
“Or stay-makers,” he murmured, and she chuckled.
“That too. But we must see if this bonnet will suit Angie… or perhaps one in blue. Shall you mind dreadfully? You may sit somewhere out of the way, and pretend you do not know us.”
“Mama!” Rosie said, shocked.
“Have no fear, Rosie,” Will said. “I shall not deny you, but I may loiter near the door in case I feel the urge to escape hurriedly.”
They entered the shop, and Angie and Stepmother at once went to the counter to discuss the bonnet in question, which was quickly settled to Angie’s satisfaction. Then it was Rosie’s turn, and while Angie walked about examining the display of hats. Will, true to his word, hovered uncomfortably near the door. He could not be at ease in a hat shop, and there were not even any young ladies there to attract his attention, for they were the only customers.
After a few minutes, however, the bell above the door jangled and a fashionably attired lady entered. The proprietress at once abandoned Stepmother to rush towards the door.
“Milady! What a delightful surprise to see you again so soon. I am certain we can once more satisfy your needs. Pray be seated. How may I help you today?”
“Time enough for that, Mrs Green, when you have satisfied the needs of your present customer,” the lady said, gesturing towards Stepmother. “I am perfectly happy to wait.”
“Oh, but, milady—”
“No, no, I insist. Please continue.”
Stepmother curtsied low to‘milady’, who nodded acknowledgement and then settled herself on a chair not far from Will. Angie was staring at her, a swansdown-trimmed bonnet in her hands.
The lady smiled at her. “It is very pretty, is it not? I believe it would suit you very well.”
“Oh…” Angie looked down at the bonnet with a frown as if she had forgotten she held it. Setting it back on its stand, she rushed across to the lady’s chair. “My lady, it is not right that we should be served before a titled lady.”
She smiled, and said, “Why should you have to wait rather than I? Your time is just as valuable as mine.”
“But we are merely provincial nobodies!” Angie blurted.
Will winced, but the lady only laughed, not at all high in the instep. “I have rather a fondness for provincial nobodies, having been one myself before my marriage.” She patted the seat beside her, and Angie sat down with a whoosh, as if her legs gave way under her. “Tell me, what is a provincial nobody doing in town? Apart from buying bonnets, that is.”
“We are here for the season, my lady.”
“And are you enjoying it so far?”
“Oh yes! It is lovely to be back in a town again, for although we have a house in the country now and it is very comfortable and excessively pleasant not to be so hemmed in, it is always so verymuddy, and not at all convenient for paying calls or shopping, and we have had only one ball since January. I hope we will have balls here, for I so long to dance again, but I do not think it will be possible for we know nobody here.”
Will winced even more. “Angie, you speak too freely to a stranger. Pray forgive my sister, ma’am, for she is not familiar with town customs.”
“Indeed, there is nothing to forgive, for such open manners are charming. There is a great deal too much artifice in society, if you ask my opinion. But tell me, my dear,” she said, turning to Angie, “from what particular part of the provinces do you hail?”
“From Yorkshire, my lady. The West Riding.”
“My own province! Where precisely?”
“A town called Sagborough.”
“Sagborough! One of my husband’s brothers lives there. We hold a ball at the Carrbridge Arms every spring and autumn.”
Will started. “Then you must be part of the Marford family, a relation of the Marquess of Carrbridge.”
She smiled even more. “I confess it. Lord Carrbridge is my husband. But I am astonished that I have never met either of you before. I am sure I should have remembered, if so. Did you not attend the balls?”
“No, never,” Angie said sadly. “The gentry went, and the farmers and tradespeople, but we were neither of those. Ma said it was not suitable for us. Pa is a mercer, you see — or was, until recently.”
“What a pity,” Lady Carrbridge said. “I never knew there were such distinctions made, and we should certainly have welcomed you, mercer’s family or not. But never mind the past, I am in a position to give you a helping hand in your present predicament. I am holding a small afternoon gathering for young ladies just like yourself, making their début in town and not knowing very many people. You will be able to make friends and then think how comfortable you will be. Is that your sister with your mama over there? Then I shall invite all three of you, and your brother, too, for presentable young men are in such short supply. Let me have your cards, and you will be sent an invitation.”
