Something Scandalous. Christie Kelley
While he should feel angry with her attempts to flirt with him, he didn’t. He understood her reasons far too clearly. Survival. Nothing more. Unfortunately for him, his body only wanted her closer.
He raced up the steps before one of his brothers killed the other.
She was a wicked woman. To use her wiles to get what she wanted had to be the worst thing she’d ever done. She had almost let him kiss her. The idea only stirred more sinful thoughts in her. Still, a little smile of satisfaction tugged at her lips.
Slowly, she walked up the stairs to his sisters’ room. After opening the door, she sat on the bed next to Sarah. “Did you get fitted yet?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes! It was so much fun. Madame Beaulieu said she would make me dresses. Lots of dresses. I asked her if she would make one for my doll, but she said no.” Sarah’s legs kicked the side of the bed.
“I shall help you make a dress for your doll,” Elizabeth replied.
Sarah smiled and leaned on Elizabeth. “Thank you, Lady Elizabeth.”
The warmth of the little girl’s appreciation went straight to Elizabeth’s heart. She looked over at Ellie, who appeared overwhelmed with the choices she had to make. “I think I need to help your sister,” Elizabeth said to Sarah.
“I don’t know which fabrics to choose,” Ellie whimpered.
“The white silk and pale blue muslin to start,” Elizabeth said as she reached the table where Madame Beaulieu had laid out the fabrics. “The light fabrics will look wonderful on you.”
Ellie clasped Elizabeth’s hand. “Thank you. I could never pick all this fabric without your help.”
Elizabeth smiled. “We will have you all set with clothing in no time.” She turned to the dressmaker and added, “The white silk is for her bow. It must befit the sister of a duke.”
“Yes, my lady,” Madame Beaulieu replied. “I believe sapphires would be just the thing to set off the blue in her eyes.”
“Sapphires?” Ellie murmured.
“That is a perfect choice, Madame. Nothing too ostentatious. I believe my mother had a beautiful sapphire pendant and earring set that should go perfectly with the gown.”
Elizabeth prayed William wouldn’t be too upset over the costs, but a court gown had to be the most beautiful gown a young woman would wear for some time. And it must conform to the queen’s demands of what it should look like, no simple task.
Once they had all the fabrics chosen for Ellie, Lucy stood with a frown as Lady Beaulieu took her measurements. Madame Beaulieu and Elizabeth conferred for a few minutes on just the right fabrics for Lucy. With her darker coloring, the pastels that suited Ellie would look washed out on her.
“We cannot go too dark while she’s so young,” Madame Beaulieu said.
“I agree, but the pastels just aren’t right on her.” Elizabeth stared and wondered what Jennette did at this age and then remembered. “Ivory for her bow and light jewel tones for the rest.”
“Are you certain?” the dressmaker asked.
“Yes. Lady Jennette did the same at Lucy’s age.”
Madame Beaulieu nodded. “I remember! I will do some of the same colors.”
“Who is Lady Jennette?” Lucy asked impatiently.
“A dear friend of mine,” Elizabeth replied. “And you can meet her soon. Once we are done with the fittings, we will have a few lessons on comportment. And I must hire a dancing instructor.”
Lucy and Ellie looked at each other, then shrugged. “Comportment?”
“Manners,” Elizabeth replied with a sigh. This might just be more difficult than she imagined.
Lucy snickered. “She sounds like Abigail with her fine manners and stiff posture.”
“Abigail who?” Elizabeth asked, hoping this was the same Abigail who William regarded with affection.
Ellie shook her head. “Abigail Mason. Will actually thinks he’s in love with her.”
“And you don’t?” Elizabeth prompted.
“No,” Ellie and Lucy answered at the same time.
Elizabeth waited for the dressmaker to leave before she asked more questions. “So why don’t you think your brother is in love with this Abigail Mason?”
Lucy flopped on the bed. “She is a horrible person. He can’t possibly be in love with her. All she cares about is position and money.”
“He has all that now. So why didn’t she marry him before he came over to England?”
“Neither of us could figure that out, either,” Ellie said. “I never understood what he saw in her. She seemed very…well, selfish. Maybe she’s changed over the past five years, but I doubt a person can change that much.”
Elizabeth frowned. None of this made any sense. “Do you think Will really loves her?”
Lucy laughed. “My brother is a fool when it comes to women. He thinks because she comes from a good American family that she must be the epitome of a wife.”
“So it’s her name and connections,” Elizabeth whispered.
“Yes,” Ellie said, nodding her head.
A name was more important to him than true love.
A name.
Something she didn’t even have.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.