“Very nice.”
Helena smiled wryly. “Are you having a petticoat made, my lord?”
“I was considering drawers,” he said with a waggle of his eyebrows.
She chuckled as she imagined him in ladies’ drawers and pulled down a bolt of frilly red lace. “I believe this is more suited for your coloring.”
He winked. “Who said I was purchasing the drawers for myself?”
Helena’s breath caught as his meaning hit her. He must keep a mistress. Her reflection in Madame Girard’s oval looking glass rivaled the red lace. She shoved the bolt back on the shelf and moved on to something less scandalous.
Leather gloves seemed innocuous enough.
He joined her and leaned casually against the counter. “I hope you realize I was teasing. I have no need for ladies’ drawers, either for myself or anyone else.”
She sank against the glass countertop, almost laughing in relief. She had no say in what he did in his spare time. In truth, she had no reason to be bothered by what he did at the brothels on her behalf either, but she was.
He leaned close to her ear, his nearness making her heart skip. “I didn’t just come to set up an account for Eve. I thought waiting for a report from last night might be difficult.”
She swiveled in his direction, her breath shallow and quick. “Did you find her?”
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head slowly. “I hate disappointing you, but there has never been a woman by the name of Lavinia employed at either place.”
“Oh.” Tears burned her throat, but she swallowed them. It had been naive to think Lord Thorne would find her sister immediately, but she had gotten her hopes up anyway.
He gently patted her shoulder. “We will find her. We have only begun looking.”
We. Not I.
His gaze was earnest and gave her a sense he understood how important this was to her. Her heart melted even more. He had a way of lowering her defenses, and although it seemed unwise to allow him a step closer, she couldn’t help herself.
“Could she be using a false name?” he asked.
“I don’t think so. Fergus tracked her using her Christian name.”
“True.” His smile was comforting. “I will search again tonight after the House of Lords adjourns for the day. I will let you know what I have learned as soon as possible.”
Without stopping to think, she reached for his hand and squeezed his fingers. “Thank you. I mean that sincerely.”
The damask curtains flicked open again. Helena dropped his hand and came forward with a bright smile as Eve emerged from the back room.
“Lady Eldridge has ordered me to make certain you commission at least five new gowns,” Madame Girard said.
Eve’s gaze flicked toward her brother. “I have several gowns in my wardrobe already. Five seems extravagant.”
Lord Thorne nodded at Helena. “I am trusting you to make certain she commissions twice that many. A beautiful young lady deserves beautiful dresses.”
“Sebastian, that’s too much. Really, I have what I need.”
“You heard your brother, Miss Thorne.” Madame Girard clapped her hands, the matter apparently resolved in her mind. “Come along.”
The modiste commandeered Eve, practically dragging her to a long table with fashion plates scattered over the surface.
“Oh my!” Eve held up a sketch. “Helena, you must see this gown. It is spectacular.”
Lord Thorne detained Helena before she could comply. His dark eyes sparkled and made Helena’s knees shake. “Thank you , my lady. She hasn’t been this happy in a long time.”
Helena could barely think to form a response with the heat of his touch searing through her sleeve. “It—it’s my pleasure.”
He flashed a smile, then took his leave as Helena joined Eve and Madame Girard at the table. The shop seemed less lively with him gone, as if he took the warmth and light with him. Butterflies stirred in her belly as she anticipated their next encounter. And she was ashamed to admit the prospect of receiving news about her
Helena smiled wryly. “Are you having a petticoat made, my lord?”
“I was considering drawers,” he said with a waggle of his eyebrows.
She chuckled as she imagined him in ladies’ drawers and pulled down a bolt of frilly red lace. “I believe this is more suited for your coloring.”
He winked. “Who said I was purchasing the drawers for myself?”
Helena’s breath caught as his meaning hit her. He must keep a mistress. Her reflection in Madame Girard’s oval looking glass rivaled the red lace. She shoved the bolt back on the shelf and moved on to something less scandalous.
Leather gloves seemed innocuous enough.
He joined her and leaned casually against the counter. “I hope you realize I was teasing. I have no need for ladies’ drawers, either for myself or anyone else.”
She sank against the glass countertop, almost laughing in relief. She had no say in what he did in his spare time. In truth, she had no reason to be bothered by what he did at the brothels on her behalf either, but she was.
He leaned close to her ear, his nearness making her heart skip. “I didn’t just come to set up an account for Eve. I thought waiting for a report from last night might be difficult.”
She swiveled in his direction, her breath shallow and quick. “Did you find her?”
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head slowly. “I hate disappointing you, but there has never been a woman by the name of Lavinia employed at either place.”
“Oh.” Tears burned her throat, but she swallowed them. It had been naive to think Lord Thorne would find her sister immediately, but she had gotten her hopes up anyway.
He gently patted her shoulder. “We will find her. We have only begun looking.”
We. Not I.
His gaze was earnest and gave her a sense he understood how important this was to her. Her heart melted even more. He had a way of lowering her defenses, and although it seemed unwise to allow him a step closer, she couldn’t help herself.
“Could she be using a false name?” he asked.
“I don’t think so. Fergus tracked her using her Christian name.”
“True.” His smile was comforting. “I will search again tonight after the House of Lords adjourns for the day. I will let you know what I have learned as soon as possible.”
Without stopping to think, she reached for his hand and squeezed his fingers. “Thank you. I mean that sincerely.”
The damask curtains flicked open again. Helena dropped his hand and came forward with a bright smile as Eve emerged from the back room.
“Lady Eldridge has ordered me to make certain you commission at least five new gowns,” Madame Girard said.
Eve’s gaze flicked toward her brother. “I have several gowns in my wardrobe already. Five seems extravagant.”
Lord Thorne nodded at Helena. “I am trusting you to make certain she commissions twice that many. A beautiful young lady deserves beautiful dresses.”
“Sebastian, that’s too much. Really, I have what I need.”
“You heard your brother, Miss Thorne.” Madame Girard clapped her hands, the matter apparently resolved in her mind. “Come along.”
The modiste commandeered Eve, practically dragging her to a long table with fashion plates scattered over the surface.
“Oh my!” Eve held up a sketch. “Helena, you must see this gown. It is spectacular.”
Lord Thorne detained Helena before she could comply. His dark eyes sparkled and made Helena’s knees shake. “Thank you , my lady. She hasn’t been this happy in a long time.”
Helena could barely think to form a response with the heat of his touch searing through her sleeve. “It—it’s my pleasure.”
He flashed a smile, then took his leave as Helena joined Eve and Madame Girard at the table. The shop seemed less lively with him gone, as if he took the warmth and light with him. Butterflies stirred in her belly as she anticipated their next encounter. And she was ashamed to admit the prospect of receiving news about her
Similar Books
