The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) by Lori Wick Page A
Authors: Lori Wick
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Regency, England, Love Stories, Religious, Christian, INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE, captivity, Survival After Airplane Accidents; Shipwrecks; Etc, Arab Countries
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and told to strip down to her underclothes. Minutes later a parade of women had entered. Under the direction of a petite woman with a beautiful head of gray hair, the fitting began. Sunny was introduced to Madam Angelica, london's premier dress designer. Madam Angelica, although pleasant, was all business. She directed the proceedings expertly and with a majestic air.
Heavy wools to the sheerest of linens were brought forth and considered. Still in her underclothes, Sunny was measured and then directed to sit on a stool. Bolt after bolt of fabric was placed beneath her chin. She understood most of what went on, but was confused by Madam Angelica, who came repeatedly to stand before her. She would gaze into Sunny's eyes and then say something in a language Sunny did not understand.
Sunny looked to Heather each time it happened, but her sister only smiled at her. By the time they all left, Sunny was feeling hungry and a little cold. Heather buttoned the back of her dress and just as she was finishing, Madam Angelica returned. She had forgotten something and was bustling her way out the door when she spied Sunny in the velvet dress.
Her hands rose to heaven as though supplicating someone above, and then she moved toward her.
"The color is good, but the fabric and style are much too old. She is but 14," Madam Angelica stated as if this explained everything. "Tonight," she spoke dramatically as she went out the door, "tonight she will wear her first Madam Angelica creation." She looked at Sunny again, repeated the foreign words one last time, and went out the door.
"What did she say, Heather?"
Heather's smile was very amused, which only added to Sunny's confusion.
"I won't translate word for word, but Madam Angelica is quite taken with your eyes.**
"My eyes?" Sunny asked, still uncertain. Heather smiled at her lack of artifice.
"They're quite an unusual color, and she's looking forward to dressing you."
Sunny nodded, still not sure what all the fuss was about. They were just eyes, like anyone else's. She had moved to the fire to warm her hands when she remembered she hadn't seen Brandon all morning.
"Where is Brandon?"
"He had some pressing matters to attend to this morning, but he left you this." Heather retrieved a folded note from her writing desk and handed it to Sunny.
94
95
Dear Sunny,
I'm sorry I missed you this morning but trust you slept well. I hope to return for supper, but if Pm delayed, will you please go riding with me at 10:00 tomorrow morning?
Until then, Hawk
"He signed it Hawk. I never call him that."
"I think it's habit. What did the note say? Will he be here for supper?"
"He's not sure. He asked me to go riding with him in the morning, though."
"Oh, we'll have to come up with a riding habit for you between now and then." Heather eyed her critically. "I think I know just the person."
In keeping with the pace of the whole morning, Sunny found herself scurrying down the hall behind her sister. Questions ran through her mind, and her head moved from side to side in an attempt to see things she'd only had time to glance at, but she kept up with her sister, thinking she'd never had such a busy morning in her whole life.
"I took your advice," Heather whispered to her husband, catching him before they were joined by the rest of the family. "I've kept her so busy she hasn't had time to think. I wish you could have seen her face when Madam Angelica was here; her eyes looked like moons."
Foster smiled and kissed her. "Has she missed Brandon?"
"She asked about him, but he left a note. He asked her to go riding with him in the morning. I sent word to Margaret Arenas just an hour ago to see if Sunny could borrow one of Katie's habits."
Husband and wife, still as much in love as they were the day they were married, would have stood and talked all afternoon, but they knew their daughters and Sunny were waiting. They moved into the dining room for a delightful meal with the newest addition to their
Heavy wools to the sheerest of linens were brought forth and considered. Still in her underclothes, Sunny was measured and then directed to sit on a stool. Bolt after bolt of fabric was placed beneath her chin. She understood most of what went on, but was confused by Madam Angelica, who came repeatedly to stand before her. She would gaze into Sunny's eyes and then say something in a language Sunny did not understand.
Sunny looked to Heather each time it happened, but her sister only smiled at her. By the time they all left, Sunny was feeling hungry and a little cold. Heather buttoned the back of her dress and just as she was finishing, Madam Angelica returned. She had forgotten something and was bustling her way out the door when she spied Sunny in the velvet dress.
Her hands rose to heaven as though supplicating someone above, and then she moved toward her.
"The color is good, but the fabric and style are much too old. She is but 14," Madam Angelica stated as if this explained everything. "Tonight," she spoke dramatically as she went out the door, "tonight she will wear her first Madam Angelica creation." She looked at Sunny again, repeated the foreign words one last time, and went out the door.
"What did she say, Heather?"
Heather's smile was very amused, which only added to Sunny's confusion.
"I won't translate word for word, but Madam Angelica is quite taken with your eyes.**
"My eyes?" Sunny asked, still uncertain. Heather smiled at her lack of artifice.
"They're quite an unusual color, and she's looking forward to dressing you."
Sunny nodded, still not sure what all the fuss was about. They were just eyes, like anyone else's. She had moved to the fire to warm her hands when she remembered she hadn't seen Brandon all morning.
"Where is Brandon?"
"He had some pressing matters to attend to this morning, but he left you this." Heather retrieved a folded note from her writing desk and handed it to Sunny.
94
95
Dear Sunny,
I'm sorry I missed you this morning but trust you slept well. I hope to return for supper, but if Pm delayed, will you please go riding with me at 10:00 tomorrow morning?
Until then, Hawk
"He signed it Hawk. I never call him that."
"I think it's habit. What did the note say? Will he be here for supper?"
"He's not sure. He asked me to go riding with him in the morning, though."
"Oh, we'll have to come up with a riding habit for you between now and then." Heather eyed her critically. "I think I know just the person."
In keeping with the pace of the whole morning, Sunny found herself scurrying down the hall behind her sister. Questions ran through her mind, and her head moved from side to side in an attempt to see things she'd only had time to glance at, but she kept up with her sister, thinking she'd never had such a busy morning in her whole life.
"I took your advice," Heather whispered to her husband, catching him before they were joined by the rest of the family. "I've kept her so busy she hasn't had time to think. I wish you could have seen her face when Madam Angelica was here; her eyes looked like moons."
Foster smiled and kissed her. "Has she missed Brandon?"
"She asked about him, but he left a note. He asked her to go riding with him in the morning. I sent word to Margaret Arenas just an hour ago to see if Sunny could borrow one of Katie's habits."
Husband and wife, still as much in love as they were the day they were married, would have stood and talked all afternoon, but they knew their daughters and Sunny were waiting. They moved into the dining room for a delightful meal with the newest addition to their
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