After a Fashion by Jen Turano

Dixon. May I assume your association with the lady is going according to plan?”
    “I imagine it is, although nothing is official just yet.” Everett swiped a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. “She’s certainly an ideal candidate for the position of Mrs. Mulberry. She’s friends with all the right people, and my parents approve of her.”
    “Do you approve of her?”
    “What’s not to approve? She’s beautiful, fairly well-educated, has stellar manners, and we rub along quite nicely together.”
    “But she doesn’t care for the children?”
    Everett frowned. “Why would you say that?”
    “She took it upon herself to search out a boarding school for them.”
    “Hmmm . . . I never thought of it in that light, but enough about the brats. They plague me all too often as it is.” Everett smiled. “Tell me about you—is there anything new and exciting happening in your life?”
    “You could say that.”
    Everett’s eyes widened. “You’ve finally buckled under the pressure of your grandfather’s badgering and gotten engaged, haven’t you.”
    “No, I’m not engaged, although I must tell you, a Miss Birmingham seems to have spread it about town that she was soon going to become the new Mrs. Addleshaw. Luckily for me, I discovered her true nature before our association could progress. I’m hopeful she’s even now on her way back to Chicago—even though she did end up costing me a pretty penny in the process.”
    “Pennies are worth the cost if you managed to dodge a nasty bullet.”
    “Miss Birmingham certainly did turn nasty, as did her father.” Oliver grinned. “I shudder to think how he’ll react if he learns about Miss Harriet Peabody.”
    Everett moved his chair closer to Oliver. “You’d better start at the beginning.”
    Fifteen minutes later, Oliver concluded his story, unable to help but notice that Everett was staring back at him with undisguised shock on his face. He was about to ring the bell to order a fresh drink when Everett released a grunt.
    “And you had the audacity to tell poor Mr. Birmingham that his daughter was mentally unstable.”
    “I’m not insane, Everett. Hiring Harriet to accompany me as I proceed forward with the Duke of Westmoore is one of the most ingenious ideas I’ve ever come up with. I can’t dine with the gentleman without having a lady around to add a touch of charm to the atmosphere. The duke will expect to be properly entertained, and I’m not willing to disappoint the man. I’m determined to finalize my deal with him and procure wool that’s considered the finest in the world.”
    “It’s only wool, Oliver. Don’t you think you might be taking things too far?”
    Oliver shrugged. “I’ve spent countless hours formulating this deal, and my time is money. Besides, hiring a lady to help me entertain business associates instead of counting on ladies with marriage on their minds will save me a huge amount of aggravation. I should have thought of it years ago.”
    “But it simply isn’t done. I’m of the firm belief that the social classes shouldn’t mingle—something I thought you believed as well. There are a million things that could go wrong with this plan of yours. She’s a hat girl, Oliver.”
    “She’s remarkably refined.”
    “You told me she slung Miss Birmingham over her shoulder and tossed her into a carriage. I wouldn’t think it necessary to point this out—but refined young ladies don’t normally spend their time tossing other people about.”
    “She was trying to conceal a nearly naked Miss Birmingham. If you ask me, that shows she has a great deal of compassion.”
    “You call it compassion, I call it self-preservation. Miss Birmingham was beating Miss Peabody with a parasol.”
    “True, but again, she merely tossed the woman into a carriage. She could have done something far worse, which proves she’s a lady of great restraint and will be an asset on my arm.”
    “I think a bigger factor in your