Page 57 of Vying for a Viscount
“We are thrilled by your visit, but did we not see you yesterday?” Aurora said, pouring her a cup of tea. “Milk and sugar?”
“Yes, please. I saw you both yesterday, but I thought I would stop by today.”
“We’re glad you did,” Anastasia said with a smile and an inquisitive look. “But if you are calling on us hoping to see our brother, you will be sorely disappointed. We were told he left early this morning.”
She ignored the silent tumble her stomach took at the knowledge that he was not home. “It would’ve been nice to see him, but that is not why I came,” she lied, which she despised.
“Both Anastasia and I wanted to say thank you for the engagement presents. They were perfect. Also, Warren and Hunter were both thrilled with their brandy decanter and matching glasses.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Letitia replied. “Where is Charity?”
“She has a headache and is resting,” Anastasia answered.
“I’m sorry to hear this. Give her my regards.”
They made small talk for the remainder of her visit, discussing wedding plans. Thirty minutes later, she bid them farewell and left Danbury Hall with a heavy heart and a more jumbled-up mind. Until she came face-to-face with Greyson and talked things through, she would be a mess of contradictory emotions.
Instead of going home, she had the driver take her to Bond Street and to her modiste, Madame Serena. She had been there several days earlier and had picked out the green-and-gold evening dress, but she was in the mood for something else. She entered the crowded shop and looked over bolts of fabric while she waited for Madame Serena to come out of the back room. Perhaps she should’ve made an appointment. She was just about to leave when she heard, “Lady Rutherford, how nice to see you again. How may I help you?”
“I would like to order a ball gown.”
“Come,” she said, holding back the curtain separating the storefront from the back.
“Thank you.”
“Do you have a color in mind?”
“I do. Do you have any blue fabric?”
“Yes.” She went to a shelf full of bolts of cloth in every color andfabric, and pulled out a beautiful sky-blue taffeta. “This just arrived yesterday.”
“It’s perfect.” After reviewing several style plates, she combined several to create the perfect ball gown and matching cloak. Then they went over trimmings and embellishments until Madame Serena had everything set aside.
“I will send a note when it’s ready for your fitting sometime next week,” Madame Serena said. “It’s going to be the most beautiful gown I’ve created yet.”
Letitia found herself laughing and feeling more like herself. “You say that every time someone orders a new gown.”
“Yes. And I mean it every time,” Madame Serena laughed.
Letitia left the modiste with a lighter heart and walked down Bond Street, window-shopping and enjoying the bright, sunny day. Since it was mid-October, it would be too cold to enjoy window-shopping much longer, especially if it snowed. She stopped outside a clock shop and listened to the sounds coming from inside. The proprietor, who designed the clocks, was a true master. She knew his clocks graced many royal homes. Several of his clocks also resided in Rutherford Manor. One masterpiece sat on Rutherford’s mantel in his study, a gift from her for their first anniversary. Her deceased husband had been a lover of clocks and timepieces. She hoped Simon would someday enjoy his father’s love of clocks and his collection.
“What brings you here, Lady Rutherford?”
At the sound of Greyson’s voice, her heart skipped a beat and her insides warmed. Then she remembered she was upset with him. More than upset. Heartbroken and disillusioned. “I just came from the modiste and decided to window-shop and get some fresh air and sunshine. You?”
He stood a little too close for propriety’s sake, but she didn’t move. “I was riding in my carriage, minding my own business, when, out of the corner of my eye, I spied the most beautiful, enchanting lady I’veever seen, and I knew I had to make her acquaintance.”
“Who was she?”
His deep chuckle made her skin tingle. Damn her traitorous body. She needed to keep reminding herself that she was upset with him. “As if you don’t know. Would you like to accompany me to Gunter’s for lemon ices?”
Lemon ices sounded heavenly. “Forgive me, but I must return home now to spend time with my son.”
His posture straightened, and he frowned. She saw it in his reflection in the large glass window. “Perhaps another time, then.”
“Yes. Perhaps another time.” She did need to talk to him about his lie, but here on the street or at Gunter’s with an audience wasn’t the right time. Thankfully, her carriage was right there. She pivoted and climbed in with her footman’s help. Against her better judgment, she glanced out the window at Greyson standing in front of the clock shop, his eyes on her. She shivered and tried not to feel guilty about hurting his feelings. It was right there in his expression. It hurt her as much as it did him for her to turn down his offer to go to Gunter’s. Her entire being, against her wishes, wanted to be with him at all times.
Chapter Twenty
