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“Ah, Lady Leticia!” the Viscountess said brightly. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“You have?” Leticia was taken aback by the statement, and she let it show as she gave the Lady a look of bewilderment.
“Yes,” she replied. “Your aunt and the Dowager explained that you were already dressed. I’ve been looking for an extra set of hands to help my daughter with her dress.”
“Oh,” Leticia said, glancing sideways as she now felt vaguely uncomfortable. “I am not sure I should help with such personal matters. Doesn’t your daughter have a lady’s maid who is meant to assist?”
The Viscountess laughed jubilantly. “Yes, but it is tradition for unmarried ladies of thetonto assist on the wedding day.”
“But it’s not her wedding day.”
Why must I be the only one who recognizes this?
“Yes,” Lady Loery returned calmly, “but wouldn’t it be nice to surround yourself in the company of other unmarried young ladies? You could all talk and chatter and, of course, ask my Laura lots of questions.”
“I do not think—” Leticia began, ready to explain that surrounding herself with other unmarried ladies didn’t sound like the most enticing idea, but then, unexpectedly, Lady Loery extended one hand and placed it on her forearm.
“Run along,” she whispered, giving Leticia a gentle but insistent squeeze. “They’re all expecting you.” Leticia hardly knew what to make of that statement.
Miss Laura Loery barely knows me.
But this was one of those special occasions where Leticia kept that to herself. Instead, she smiled winningly at Lady Loery and made for the staircase. Electing to take the servant’s stairs probably would’ve been seen as bad form had anyone caught her doing it, but Leticia made her way so quickly up the steps, no one was the wiser.
I’ve already endured several admonishments for my behavior this morning, I’ve no intention of garnering any more negative attention today.
With that in mind, she slipped down the hallway in the direction of the chamber she knew the bride to be occupying. As her own chamber was two doors down on the left, she’d had the opportunity to watch as the footmen hefted one trunk after the next into Miss Loery’s chamber just the day before. She’d marveled to Aunt Amelia that one lady could travel with so many accouterments, but her aunt didn’t seem the least surprised. She only sighed and shook her head but remarked nothing on the matter.
Now, as Leticia walked toward the bridal chamber, she prepared what she might say in way of an opening.
It’d be silly to burst into the chamber and pretend as though I am one of the bridesmaids…but I also can’t bow or curtsy and stammer about while conducting a formal introduction.
She paused for a moment just outside the doorway to collect herself and come up with a salutation that would be appropriate but also not very embarrassing. The heavy wooden door was slightly ajar, and when Leticia laid her hand on one of the ornately carved panels, it gave way even further, making it so she could hear and see inside the chamber.
Ah…that’ll do. Now, at least before I go in there, I can see who else is in the chamber with Miss Loery.
Leticia leaned forward, careful not to push the door any further for fear that it might creak and give away her position but just enough so that she could see the chamber was desolate except for Miss Loery, her closest friend, Miss Walch, and her lady’s maid, Mrs. NeVille.
What luck! None of them are looking at me.
Leticia strained to hear their conversation.
“All that thick curly black hair—ah! I just want to run my fingers through it,” Miss Walch said with a touch of envy in her voice. “Tell me, Laura, is it as luxurious as it looks?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Miss Loery replied, dropping her chin and fluttering her eyelashes. “Richard and I have yet to share such intimacies.”
Mrs. NeVille let out a stiff chuckle but said nothing. Miss Walch, on the other hand, moaned loudly. “I don’t believe you,” she teased. “If the Duke had proposed to me, the very first thing I’d have done was run my fingers through his hair and plant a kiss on those luscious lips. Come on, Laura—” She feigned swooning backward onto the bed. “Tell me everything about the perfect husband.”
At that, Leticia crept closer to the door, and as she did, she saw Mrs. NeVille and Miss Loery share a conspiratorial smirk in the reflection of the mirror. “Oh, he’s perfect all right,” Mrs. NeVille said, her voice soft but also husky. She brushed carefully at one of Miss Loery’s errant curls. “Or at least he will be.”
“He alreadyisperfect,” Miss Loery countered, sighing heavily and once again fluttering her eyelashes at her own reflection. Leticia took a step back then and resisted the urge to wretch.
Richard? Perfect? Have they even met? I’ve never met a more unyielding and headstrong in my whole—
But Leticia’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard Miss Loery begin cackling. Leticia cautiously opened the door even further, and now, she could see that all three women were doubled over with fits of laughter. Miss Loery laid a hand prettily on her delicate collarbone and chuckled into her free gloved hand. Mrs. NeVille held both hands to her middle and bent over while Miss Walch sat up now, giggling lightly, her pale cheeks infused with pops of pink, but it was clear she was not comprehending the joke to its full extent.
“Laura,” Miss Walch said slowly, her words almost whiny, “you are keeping something from me. I demand you tell me this delicious secret.”
“Who said anything about a secret?”
