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“I think you should bring Mary with you to the wedding.”
“Is that allowed?” Natalie asked. “I mean, St. John’s been invited. Through him I’ve been graciously included. Would it be appropriate to bring a maid?”
Rayne nodded and smiled at her. “Oh, my dear, I promise you every woman in attendance will have a maid with them.”
Natalie’s eyes grew wide. “Truly?”
“Yes. You will be mingling with the Upper Crust,ma darlin’. There are some women you will meet who have never dressed themselves in their entire lives. Some men, too.”
“Sterling?”
“No. He did at one time employ a valet, but any problem he has getting dressed—or undressed,” she added with a wink and a blush, “I happily assist him with.”
They both laughed and then Rayne stood. “Let’s get Mary to finish packing while we take Annalise on a trip to Milsom Street and see about finding some nice gloves for you and a few hair ribbons for your daughter.”
As they collected Annalise and climbed into the Sterling carriage for their trip to the stores, Natalie reflected on the upcoming wedding. She certainly liked Lord St. John, would enjoy his company for sure, but could they pretend to be betrothed to each other? She’d never seen a betrothed couple because she ran off with Milton when she was only seventeen years and began her life of misery until he died. Her older sister had already married and, when Rayne had invited them to her wedding, Milton had refused to go and wouldn’t allow her to go either.
His lordship had been engaged once before, he’d told her, so she would just follow his lead. How hard could it be?
St.John arrived the next morning at the Sterling townhouse, quite cheerful as he greeted the butler at the front door. Sterling strode down the corridor and shook hands with St. John, suggesting they meet in his library for a few minutes to give the footmen time to load Natalie’s luggage.
With Rayne already gone to the infirmary, and Annalise at school, there was nothing for Natalie to do except sit at the breakfast table and subdue panic. She tried various ways that Rayne had taught her to calm herself, but nothing seemed to help.
Too soon, it seemed, Lord St. John entered the breakfast room. “Are you ready, Mrs. Shaw?”
No. I am not ready. I am, however, prepared to run to my bedchamber and climb under the bed like a child. But I expect you would follow me up there and drag me out.
She took a deep breath and nodded yes.
He extended his arm, and she linked her arm with his as they made their way down the steps.
As the carriage left Bath, Lord St. John leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs. She tried her best to ignore how very handsome the man was. Would anyone believe he betrothed himself to her? No more than a plain-looking mother and nursing assistant, with nothing graceful or polished about her?
“Just a few things we need to go over.”
Natalie continued to nod; since her mouth was so dry, she was unable to speak. Hopefully that condition would clear up before she had to present herself as a happily betrothed woman to dozens of people she’d never met.
Oh, God, what was I thinking?
“Since we are to act as though we are in love and happily betrothed, you must call me Alex and I will call you Natalie.”
Natalie nodded.
He reached into his side pocket and withdrew a ring. “This is my mother’s engagement ring she gave me when she first started pressing me to find a wife. I believe I was seven years at the time.”
Despite her nervousness, she smiled at his joke. Hoping it was a joke.
Taking her hand, he slid her glove off and placed a beautiful ruby ring with small diamonds surrounding the stone onto her finger. “Perfect,” he said.
Still shaking from the feelings that erupted in her when he slowly slid her glove off, she held her hand up and admired the beautiful piece of jewelry. “It’s stunning.”
He smiled at her. “And it fits perfectly. Let us hope the rest of our ruse works perfectly as well.”
And let us hope I don’t make a complete arse of myself, stepping so far out of my realm.
The ride was taken up with St. John—Alex—asking about her likes and dislikes and sharing his with her. “We will have to squeeze a couple months’ courtship into a carriage ride,” he said as he stretched and leaned back against the seat.
“Will your mother not be suspicious that you became engaged after so recently suffering a broken betrothal?”
