isn’t done.”
Certainly not in the company of the Dowager Duchess of Eddington.
For the first time Lily felt a flicker of gratitude to her brother for putting her in the path of such a formidable woman. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I wouldn’t have scheduled this fitting, because your brother has been most generous in his largess when it comes to your wardrobe, but I feel we need something truly stunning for the Wainworth gala next month.”
The next several hours were a bit grueling because the duchess had very rigid ideas and was not averse to expressing them, and bolts and bolts of fabric were trundled out, dismissed, and sometimes ordered brought back in until a delicate blue watered silk was selected, the style of the gown debated from the plates offered, and Lily was measured yet again.
It wasn’t until they were back in the carriage that the duchess leveled at her an appraising stare and resurrected the forbidden topic. “
Did
Sebring come to see you?”
Oh, wonderful
…
she overheard
.
They were in the ducal carriage, which was an impressive vehicle. Lily leaned back against the comfortable squabs and decided to be as honest as possible, though complete disclosure wasn’t an option. “Yes,” she admitted. “But it was hardly covert. He called at the house in Mayfair. Jonathan was out with Carole and Betsy, so I did receive him alone, but until now, I wasn’t aware his wife knew of it.”
The dowager folded her hands in her lap, her gaze direct. “May I ask why you chose to see the man who damaged your reputation and offered nothing in return?”
It wasn’t the easiest question to answer. A part of her resented the intrusion, but then again, her mother was gone, and the duchess had taken some time and effort to try and support her sisters—and herself—this season. It was probably only because her granddaughter had married Jonathan, but still, she did deserve a reply. Lily cleared her throat and caught the strap as they rounded a corner. “Arthur came to tell me he feared his wife was barren.”
That was innocuous enough, since the viscountess had not yet produced a child, which was hardly a secret.
A frown deepened the wrinkles on the forehead of the woman seated across from her. “I… see. Well, no, I retract that. I
don’t
see. Why confide in you, of all people? Tell me he wasn’t lamenting his decision to not marry you because you might make a more fertile broodmare.”
There was no help for it. Though it was hardly a humorous discussion, Lily had to stifle a laugh at the blunt analogy from someone who was usually much more refined. “No.” She could say that with conviction. “I do not believe he thinks of me in that manner at all.”
“Then?”
There seemed no choice but to be as frank as was possible. “We were friends long before he offered to wed me. I think he was at a loss and just needed to tell someone about his wife’s failure to conceive. Someone who would listen. A man hardly wishes to confide in his fellow males he might be unable to sire the needed heir.”
“You do not seem the most logical sympathetic ear.”
With a gloved hand, Lily adjusted her embroidered skirt as she contemplated her answer. Eventually, she said, “We didn’t understand each other back during our engagement, he and I. We do now. I do not regret he married someone else.”
“Does he?”
That was a tricky question, to be sure. Lily waited a moment, and then said, “I don’t know if he regrets marrying his wife, but I do know he doesn’t regret not marrying me.”
For a minute sharp eyes studied her from across the carriage and then the duchess nodded once. “Fine, then. Lord Sebring is dismissed. Assure me I am correct.”
“Absolutely,” Lily was able to say.
Chapter 9
O
nce a spy, apparently always a spy.
She
was
there.
Damien was not even conscious that he’d been scanning the crowd for her, roaming the room as casually as possible, and usually he was quite aware of
Certainly not in the company of the Dowager Duchess of Eddington.
For the first time Lily felt a flicker of gratitude to her brother for putting her in the path of such a formidable woman. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I wouldn’t have scheduled this fitting, because your brother has been most generous in his largess when it comes to your wardrobe, but I feel we need something truly stunning for the Wainworth gala next month.”
The next several hours were a bit grueling because the duchess had very rigid ideas and was not averse to expressing them, and bolts and bolts of fabric were trundled out, dismissed, and sometimes ordered brought back in until a delicate blue watered silk was selected, the style of the gown debated from the plates offered, and Lily was measured yet again.
It wasn’t until they were back in the carriage that the duchess leveled at her an appraising stare and resurrected the forbidden topic. “
Did
Sebring come to see you?”
Oh, wonderful
…
she overheard
.
They were in the ducal carriage, which was an impressive vehicle. Lily leaned back against the comfortable squabs and decided to be as honest as possible, though complete disclosure wasn’t an option. “Yes,” she admitted. “But it was hardly covert. He called at the house in Mayfair. Jonathan was out with Carole and Betsy, so I did receive him alone, but until now, I wasn’t aware his wife knew of it.”
The dowager folded her hands in her lap, her gaze direct. “May I ask why you chose to see the man who damaged your reputation and offered nothing in return?”
It wasn’t the easiest question to answer. A part of her resented the intrusion, but then again, her mother was gone, and the duchess had taken some time and effort to try and support her sisters—and herself—this season. It was probably only because her granddaughter had married Jonathan, but still, she did deserve a reply. Lily cleared her throat and caught the strap as they rounded a corner. “Arthur came to tell me he feared his wife was barren.”
That was innocuous enough, since the viscountess had not yet produced a child, which was hardly a secret.
A frown deepened the wrinkles on the forehead of the woman seated across from her. “I… see. Well, no, I retract that. I
don’t
see. Why confide in you, of all people? Tell me he wasn’t lamenting his decision to not marry you because you might make a more fertile broodmare.”
There was no help for it. Though it was hardly a humorous discussion, Lily had to stifle a laugh at the blunt analogy from someone who was usually much more refined. “No.” She could say that with conviction. “I do not believe he thinks of me in that manner at all.”
“Then?”
There seemed no choice but to be as frank as was possible. “We were friends long before he offered to wed me. I think he was at a loss and just needed to tell someone about his wife’s failure to conceive. Someone who would listen. A man hardly wishes to confide in his fellow males he might be unable to sire the needed heir.”
“You do not seem the most logical sympathetic ear.”
With a gloved hand, Lily adjusted her embroidered skirt as she contemplated her answer. Eventually, she said, “We didn’t understand each other back during our engagement, he and I. We do now. I do not regret he married someone else.”
“Does he?”
That was a tricky question, to be sure. Lily waited a moment, and then said, “I don’t know if he regrets marrying his wife, but I do know he doesn’t regret not marrying me.”
For a minute sharp eyes studied her from across the carriage and then the duchess nodded once. “Fine, then. Lord Sebring is dismissed. Assure me I am correct.”
“Absolutely,” Lily was able to say.
Chapter 9
O
nce a spy, apparently always a spy.
She
was
there.
Damien was not even conscious that he’d been scanning the crowd for her, roaming the room as casually as possible, and usually he was quite aware of
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