was. He offered his arm, and, after a moment’s hesitation, Aurelia laid a gloved hand on the crook of his elbow. To his surprise—and disquiet, he seemed to feel that light pressure all the way down to the bone.
Ignoring the sensation as best he could, James started up the street. As they walked, he shortened his stride to match Aurelia’s. But her limp was barely observable now; he suspected only someone aware of her past injuries would notice the slight halt in her step. She had indeed come a long way in the past year.
“So, what were you thinking of getting Amy?” he asked.
“I haven’t decided yet. But a twenty-first birthday present ought to be special.” She paused, considering. “Maybe a piece of jewelry—a locket or a brooch?”
“Then we’ll start by finding a jeweler’s. I need to look at engagement rings, in any case.”
Aurelia’s brows arched. “You haven’t purchased the ring yet?”
“Not just yet, no,” he admitted. “I haven’t got round to asking which stone your sister prefers or what size ring she wears. Would you happen to know the answer to either?”
“Well, as to the first, Amy admires many kinds of gems.” She paused again, flushing slightly. “And as to the second, she and I wear the same size gloves—and shoes, for that matter. So, if you need the ring fitted properly, I should be able to help with that.”
James hesitated; it felt strange and not quite fair to ask this of her, though he could not have said why if his life depended on it.
Aurelia looked up at him, and he had the uncomfortable sense that she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. “It’s all right,” she said, quite gently. “You know I’d do anything for Amy.”
***
Even last year, when she could hardly bear to go out in Society at all, Aurelia had rather admired the Burlington Arcade. Its orderly, well-tended calm presented such a welcome contrast to the rest of Piccadilly, like an island in the middle of a turbulent sea. One could browse at one’s leisure without feeling pressured or rushed along by other shoppers. The harried look on Trevenan’s face disappeared once they were safely inside, she observed with some amusement.
Wickes and Taylor, the first jeweler they found, appeared to be doing a brisk business even this early in the day, which augured well for their search. Entering the shop just ahead of Trevenan, Aurelia spied a clerk showing a magnificent diamond necklace to a prosperous-looking gentleman of middle age. At the other end of the jewelry counter, a dark-haired man and a red-haired woman were studying a tray of sapphire rings and carrying on an animated discussion of their merits. The woman’s lilting voice would have been pretty if it weren’t so imperious, Aurelia noted absently, feeling a little sorry for the man, who seemed the patient sort.
A third clerk now came forward to greet them. “Good morning, sir—and madam,” he added, nodding to Aurelia. “How may I assist you today?”
“I am…Trevenan.” He sounded as if he were still getting used to calling himself that, Aurelia thought. “And I would like to see some of your engagement rings.”
“Certainly. We have a fine selection of them, with a variety of gems and settings.” He turned a beaming smile on Aurelia. “Does the young lady have a particular preference?”
“Oh, I’m not—”
“Miss Newbold isn’t—”
They spoke at the same time, then broke off, equally embarrassed. The clerk glanced from one to the other in obvious confusion. “This lady is not your fiancée, my lord?”
“Lord Trevenan is marrying my sister,” Aurelia explained.
“But Miss Newbold wears the same glove size as my betrothed,” Trevenan added. “So, with her assistance, we can ensure a proper fit for the ring.”
The clerk recovered at once, but then he’d probably heard stranger explanations. “Of course, my lord,” he said smoothly. “What would you and Miss Newbold like to see first?”
Aurelia
Ignoring the sensation as best he could, James started up the street. As they walked, he shortened his stride to match Aurelia’s. But her limp was barely observable now; he suspected only someone aware of her past injuries would notice the slight halt in her step. She had indeed come a long way in the past year.
“So, what were you thinking of getting Amy?” he asked.
“I haven’t decided yet. But a twenty-first birthday present ought to be special.” She paused, considering. “Maybe a piece of jewelry—a locket or a brooch?”
“Then we’ll start by finding a jeweler’s. I need to look at engagement rings, in any case.”
Aurelia’s brows arched. “You haven’t purchased the ring yet?”
“Not just yet, no,” he admitted. “I haven’t got round to asking which stone your sister prefers or what size ring she wears. Would you happen to know the answer to either?”
“Well, as to the first, Amy admires many kinds of gems.” She paused again, flushing slightly. “And as to the second, she and I wear the same size gloves—and shoes, for that matter. So, if you need the ring fitted properly, I should be able to help with that.”
James hesitated; it felt strange and not quite fair to ask this of her, though he could not have said why if his life depended on it.
Aurelia looked up at him, and he had the uncomfortable sense that she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. “It’s all right,” she said, quite gently. “You know I’d do anything for Amy.”
***
Even last year, when she could hardly bear to go out in Society at all, Aurelia had rather admired the Burlington Arcade. Its orderly, well-tended calm presented such a welcome contrast to the rest of Piccadilly, like an island in the middle of a turbulent sea. One could browse at one’s leisure without feeling pressured or rushed along by other shoppers. The harried look on Trevenan’s face disappeared once they were safely inside, she observed with some amusement.
Wickes and Taylor, the first jeweler they found, appeared to be doing a brisk business even this early in the day, which augured well for their search. Entering the shop just ahead of Trevenan, Aurelia spied a clerk showing a magnificent diamond necklace to a prosperous-looking gentleman of middle age. At the other end of the jewelry counter, a dark-haired man and a red-haired woman were studying a tray of sapphire rings and carrying on an animated discussion of their merits. The woman’s lilting voice would have been pretty if it weren’t so imperious, Aurelia noted absently, feeling a little sorry for the man, who seemed the patient sort.
A third clerk now came forward to greet them. “Good morning, sir—and madam,” he added, nodding to Aurelia. “How may I assist you today?”
“I am…Trevenan.” He sounded as if he were still getting used to calling himself that, Aurelia thought. “And I would like to see some of your engagement rings.”
“Certainly. We have a fine selection of them, with a variety of gems and settings.” He turned a beaming smile on Aurelia. “Does the young lady have a particular preference?”
“Oh, I’m not—”
“Miss Newbold isn’t—”
They spoke at the same time, then broke off, equally embarrassed. The clerk glanced from one to the other in obvious confusion. “This lady is not your fiancée, my lord?”
“Lord Trevenan is marrying my sister,” Aurelia explained.
“But Miss Newbold wears the same glove size as my betrothed,” Trevenan added. “So, with her assistance, we can ensure a proper fit for the ring.”
The clerk recovered at once, but then he’d probably heard stranger explanations. “Of course, my lord,” he said smoothly. “What would you and Miss Newbold like to see first?”
Aurelia
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