ale, beer?”
“None at all. I like to keep a clear head.”
“Is it difficult to abstain?”
“Not at all. I can’t stand the taste.”
They were quiet for a moment while the footmen withdrew.
“I should like to visit my modiste.”
“Of course. You should have appropriate gowns. I can accompany you first thing on the morrow.”
She tensed. Her choice of a wardrobe was perhaps the one thing she still retained control of. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll ask Josette to join me.”
“Josette?”
“She’s a friend who has been traveling with me. Josette is French. She has impeccable style.”
Sebastian gave her a measured look. “As you wish,” he said in a noncommittal voice, turning his attention back to his food.
She picked up her fork and stabbed at a piece of mutton. “What I wish is to know how much I may spend.”
“Beg pardon?”
“At the modiste. How much may I spend?”
“As much as you care to.” He sliced his meat into precise pieces. “Simply have the bills sent to me.”
Bills he would no doubt pay with her blunt. “And my other expenses?”
“You must do as you please. You have carte blanche.”
Chapter Eight
“This is parfait ,” cooed Josette, running her hands lovingly over the expensive silk fabric.
Bella eyed the violet color from where she stood on a perch being measured by Madame de Lancy. “If you think so.” She stepped down and picked up a fashion plate, eyeing a high-waisted gown with a ribbon under the breasts. “Madame, I would like gowns made of your thinnest fabric.”
“ Mais oui ,” said the French woman. “You intend to be daring in your fashion?”
“Absolutely. And this neckline is too modest. I want it to much lower.”
Madame’s eyes widened with surprised delight. “Of course, most English ladies are too provincial in their dress. You will be a leader in fashion.”
Josette laughed. “Évidemment , Madame ,” she said to the modiste. “Lady Mirabella is soon to be a duchess. All will follow her fashion lead. The entire haute ton will visit you after seeing Bella’s fabulous costumes.”
“Perhaps I should offer Her Grace a reduced cost due to the custom her patronage is certain to bring me.”
Bella glanced up from the fashion plate. “That is not necessary, Madame. Please charge me the full amount. The cost is not a concern.”
The startled modiste beamed with delight. “ Certainement . I shall have the gowns delivered at once.”
Josette’s brows lifted. Bella mirrored back the movement. “He says I am to have carte blanche. I intend to take him up on his generosity with my funds.”
Josette laughed and dropped down next to her, giving the modiste a pointed look. “Won’t you have your staff bring us tea, Madame?”
The modiste smiled, immediately understanding she’d been dismissed. She signaled her staff to leave. “Of course. I shall have it brought in,” she said, closing the door behind her.
Josette turned back to Bella with an expectant look.
Bella frowned back at her. “What?”
Josette’s catlike eyes slanted with mischief. “Tell me how you found the pleasures of the marriage bed, ma cheri .”
Bella’s cheeks heated. “There’s nothing to tell. He did not visit my bedchamber last evening.”
“ Non? ” Josette’s eyes widened. “ Pourquoi pas ?”
Avoiding Josette’s avid gaze, she shrugged her shoulders. “I made it quite clear he would not be welcome.” She hated that part of her had been disappointed with his absence.
Josette’s tinkling laughter filled the air. “ Mon cheri , why would you deny your husband your bed? He is, how do you say, very much a man.”
Bella’s heart thumped. “What do you mean?”
A rap on the door interrupted Josette’s answer. A maid entered with the tea. Josette waited until they were alone again to continue. “Monsieur Sebastian has a very strong masculinity. It is obvious. He will probably make an excellent lover.”
“How could you know
“None at all. I like to keep a clear head.”
“Is it difficult to abstain?”
“Not at all. I can’t stand the taste.”
They were quiet for a moment while the footmen withdrew.
“I should like to visit my modiste.”
“Of course. You should have appropriate gowns. I can accompany you first thing on the morrow.”
She tensed. Her choice of a wardrobe was perhaps the one thing she still retained control of. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll ask Josette to join me.”
“Josette?”
“She’s a friend who has been traveling with me. Josette is French. She has impeccable style.”
Sebastian gave her a measured look. “As you wish,” he said in a noncommittal voice, turning his attention back to his food.
She picked up her fork and stabbed at a piece of mutton. “What I wish is to know how much I may spend.”
“Beg pardon?”
“At the modiste. How much may I spend?”
“As much as you care to.” He sliced his meat into precise pieces. “Simply have the bills sent to me.”
Bills he would no doubt pay with her blunt. “And my other expenses?”
“You must do as you please. You have carte blanche.”
Chapter Eight
“This is parfait ,” cooed Josette, running her hands lovingly over the expensive silk fabric.
Bella eyed the violet color from where she stood on a perch being measured by Madame de Lancy. “If you think so.” She stepped down and picked up a fashion plate, eyeing a high-waisted gown with a ribbon under the breasts. “Madame, I would like gowns made of your thinnest fabric.”
“ Mais oui ,” said the French woman. “You intend to be daring in your fashion?”
“Absolutely. And this neckline is too modest. I want it to much lower.”
Madame’s eyes widened with surprised delight. “Of course, most English ladies are too provincial in their dress. You will be a leader in fashion.”
Josette laughed. “Évidemment , Madame ,” she said to the modiste. “Lady Mirabella is soon to be a duchess. All will follow her fashion lead. The entire haute ton will visit you after seeing Bella’s fabulous costumes.”
“Perhaps I should offer Her Grace a reduced cost due to the custom her patronage is certain to bring me.”
Bella glanced up from the fashion plate. “That is not necessary, Madame. Please charge me the full amount. The cost is not a concern.”
The startled modiste beamed with delight. “ Certainement . I shall have the gowns delivered at once.”
Josette’s brows lifted. Bella mirrored back the movement. “He says I am to have carte blanche. I intend to take him up on his generosity with my funds.”
Josette laughed and dropped down next to her, giving the modiste a pointed look. “Won’t you have your staff bring us tea, Madame?”
The modiste smiled, immediately understanding she’d been dismissed. She signaled her staff to leave. “Of course. I shall have it brought in,” she said, closing the door behind her.
Josette turned back to Bella with an expectant look.
Bella frowned back at her. “What?”
Josette’s catlike eyes slanted with mischief. “Tell me how you found the pleasures of the marriage bed, ma cheri .”
Bella’s cheeks heated. “There’s nothing to tell. He did not visit my bedchamber last evening.”
“ Non? ” Josette’s eyes widened. “ Pourquoi pas ?”
Avoiding Josette’s avid gaze, she shrugged her shoulders. “I made it quite clear he would not be welcome.” She hated that part of her had been disappointed with his absence.
Josette’s tinkling laughter filled the air. “ Mon cheri , why would you deny your husband your bed? He is, how do you say, very much a man.”
Bella’s heart thumped. “What do you mean?”
A rap on the door interrupted Josette’s answer. A maid entered with the tea. Josette waited until they were alone again to continue. “Monsieur Sebastian has a very strong masculinity. It is obvious. He will probably make an excellent lover.”
“How could you know
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