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Chapter4
It was late morning when a footman found her in the library.Mary glanced at the white card he held aloft on a silver tray, but she already knew it would have Amelia’s name on it.
They’d arranged to visit the modiste today.Mary’s dresses were fine for the country, but they were out of date.When she’d tried to explain why she couldn’t attend all the evening entertainments to which Amelia wanted to drag her, her friend had insisted Mary allow her to buy her a few new dresses.
Mary wasn’t comfortable with the idea of Amelia arranging for an entire wardrobe.She did have some money set aside, a small amount left to her by her parents for a dowry as well as a small yearly stipend.She knew it was unlikely she’d ever wed, and since she hadn’t needed to touch any of her allowance in the years since her parents’ passing, she intended to pay Amelia back the money they’d be spending today.She had no doubt that her friend’s offer was genuine, but Mary didn’t want to take advantage of Amelia’s generosity.
When she reached the drawing room, she wasn’t surprised to hear her sister’s voice floating out into the hallway.Edwina was ever the opportunist, and she wouldn’t miss this chance to ingratiate herself with the new Marchioness of Lowenbrock.
Mary swept into the room and, aware of her sister’s eyes on her, hugged her friend.She took a step back before saying, “I see you have already met my sister, Baroness Fairbanks.”
Amelia smiled at Edwina.“Yes, she has made me feel welcome.”
“Any friend of my sister’s is always welcome here.”Edwina’s smile was stretched to an almost unnatural width.
Mary resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Edwina’s obvious attempts at flattery.She could almost see the wheels turning in her sister’s head.No doubt Edwina was imagining how she could sweep in and become Amelia’s new best friend.But her sister didn’t realize that Amelia was that rare being among the ton—a loyal friend.
“I was just telling Lady Fairbanks that we’re visiting the modiste today.”
“And I was just about to tell Lady Lowenbrock that I would be very happy to accompany you.”
Of course she would.Mary’s own smile felt tight as she faced her sister.“I thought you were planning to visit Lady Dalrymple?”Of course, the woman was merely a baroness like Edwina.Her sister would throw aside that acquaintance like last year’s fashions for the chance to become friends with Amelia.
Edwina couldn’t quite hide her exasperation, but she kept her smile in place.“I’m sure she’ll understand—”
“Oh no,” Amelia said with just the right amount of sincerity.“Please don’t change your plans on my behalf.”
Edwina’s smile dimmed.“I would be delighted to show you around.You’re new to London, are you not?”
“I am, yes.But my sisters-in-law will be joining us afterward.They’ve taken me under their wing and, by extension, Mary.”She beamed in Mary’s direction.
Which was her cue to deliver the killing blow.Edwina never paid attention to what Mary had to say, so she was certain she had no idea who Amelia now counted as family.“Oh yes, Lady Overlea and Lady Kerrick are delightful.I met them last summer when I visited Amelia in Yorkshire.”
Mary delighted in the way her sister’s mouth tightened when she realized that Mary would be spending the morning with two marchionesses and a countess.Her smile had dropped entirely, but somehow she’d managed to keep from frowning.Which, in Mary’s opinion, must have taken an act of extraordinary will.Her sister was never one for hiding her displeasure.
Still, she wasn’t about to give up.“It will be no hardship…”
“Please don’t let us put you out,” Amelia said.“I’m sure we’ll have the opportunity to become better acquainted soon, but for now we must be going.I was already late when I left the house this morning, and if we don’t hurry, we’ll miss our appointment with Madame Argent.”
The name meant nothing to Mary, but clearly it did to Edwina because she looked as though Amelia had kicked her in the stomach.Which could only mean that the person who would be making Mary’s gowns was above her sister’s reach.
Mary hoped she would be able to pay Amelia back soon for her kindness, although it might take her longer than she’d expected.
Knowing that their window of opportunity to escape was short, Mary linked arms with Amelia and led her from the house.She could almost feel her sister’s glare boring holes in the back of her head.
“We must hurry,” Mary said, her voice pitched low.
Amelia shot her a curious glance but didn’t argue.When they were seated in the carriage and pulling away from the town house, Mary finally felt the tension begin to leave her body.
Amelia leaned against Mary, allowing their shoulders to bump.“You act as though Lady Fairbanks was going to force her way into the carriage.”At Mary’s nod, her mouth dropped open for a moment before she snapped it closed again.“I know she wasn’t pleased, but surely she wouldn’t have…”
Mary let out an indelicate snort.“If we had tarried a moment longer, it would have been a very real possibility.And since you’re much too kindhearted to have her tossed back onto the street…” She shuddered.“It would have been horrible.”
Amelia sighed.“I hope I haven’t made things worse between the two of you.”
“I’m sure you haven’t.Edwina ignores me most of the time.And she wouldn’t dare do anything that would reflect badly on her.”Mary shrugged.“No, she’ll save that for later, when we return to the country.”
Amelia bit her lip.“Perhaps I should invite her and Lord Fairbanks to dinner one evening.”
