Page 106 of Dick Stone, Regency Stud
“Your brother…” said Edward, the wheels in his head turning. “The thing is, I need to get my horse back.”
***
By the time Lady Banastre, formerly known as Molly Trenchard and forever called the Buckskin Breechess, fetched Edward from the lounge, he and Bonnie had hatched a whole plot involving invitations for him and Tabby, an alternate identity for her, and ideas for how to wear the new pantaloons. That Bonnie had done all of this without opening his eyes was both remarkable and expected.
With the world’s problems sorted, Lord Bonnie had finally collapsed into his nap, so Edward carried baby Bonnie into the hallway leading to the dressing and fitting rooms.
“You’ve a woman in the shop, Lady Banastre,” said Lord Peter Sidwin, a stuffed shirt if there ever was one. He directed his quizzing glass at a dressing room. “A dashed pretty woman.”
“The shop abounds with females these days, Lord Peter,” she said, somewhat exasperated. She took the infant from Edward’s arms and handed her to Lord Peter, who stood rooted to the spot.
Then he looked down in dismay. “Oh, a baby.”
“She’s inside,” said Molly to Edward, nodding to the open doorway. She paused. “And she’s delicate.”
“She is a little thing, isn’t she?” asked Edward, thinking of how small Tabby was in his clothes. His lids felt heavy recalling the braces running over her breasts, the—
“No, I mean,” said Molly, considering. “She has feelings after seeing herself all trussed up like a lady. Be gentle with her.”
Edward snorted and walked into the room. When hadn’t he been gentle with his friend? Some would say they’d landed in this mess because he was too gentle with her! As she said herself, she’d seen plenty, growing up on the streets. A little lace wouldn’t upset Tobias…
And then he saw her.
Tabby sat before a mirror, her hands in her lap. Molly must have gotten a wig on her, a good one this time, and her hairstyle ended in the sort of fat curl over her shoulder that he longed to tug. Around her neck was a thin ribbon, a saucy little thing girls without jewels wore to let a man know they’d be the most tasty piece with the tightest little throat—
“Edward?” she asked, turning on her seat when she spotted him in the mirror.
He walked to where she sat and gave in to temptation. His finger slid under the ribbon easily. And then they were connected.
“Do you like it?” she asked, her voice wavering.
“I do,” he said gravely, drawing her nearer to his chest by the ribbon. All the while, she kept her eyes trained on his face.
“It’s just that…”
Edward leaned down and looped an arm around her waist as if he meant to waltz. Tabby followed him up from the seat and let him lead her about the small room.
“It’s just that it’s all rather a lot of money,” she said, her head tilting down again. “Kitting me out. We have to think of Tencendor and what he’s going to eat when we get him back.”
Edward guided her through steps she had never been taught while tucking Tabby’s head against his chest, below his chin.
“We must also think of your aims,” murmured Edward, praying someone wouldn’t pass by the door and carry out news that Dick Stone had fallen in love. Would be bad for business.
“I suppose,” she said, sighing into his cravat.
“The only problem is that there’s no way a wife of mine would tolerate me having you as a friend,” said Edward. “She could be the most understanding woman in the world, but talk would destroy her.”
“Well, at least this way I’ll have my own money,” said Tabby.
“And even if my wife opposed our friendship, I wouldn’t blame her. I wouldn’t like it, but I’d understand her concerns.”
Tabby moved to pull back from his chest, presumably so she could look Edward in the eye, but he placed a gentle hand at her neck and held her in place.
“Why’s that?” she asked, her exhalations hot against his cravat.
“You’ve now slept in my bed—”
“Ourbed.”
