Page 32 of The Book of Lost Stories
But when Nell’s wardrobe was displayed to her, it was clear that she had spoken the truth and was not merely trying to do her friend a kindness.
‘You seem to have favoured shades of sea green,’ she said, peacocking before the mirror in a spotted muslin dress trimmed with small flat rosettes.
‘Yes. I can’t think what came over me, and not just once,either, but several times. That dress looks so much better on you than it ever did on me, or it would if it were long enough. Jane, will it let down, do you think?’
‘It will, and I will do it for the young lady in a trice,’ agreed her maid, who had thrown herself into weeding out the garments that ill became her mistress with enthusiasm. ‘Indeed, I will set about the alterations this very day.’
‘You are very good. Thank you,’ Alys said gratefully.
‘It will be a pleasure, miss.’
Nell surveyed the array with some satisfaction. ‘Striped walking dress and spencer – and dove grey does become you, while it makes me look like a ghost – muslins, the Norwich shawl that was much too bright for my colouring, but so pretty. The blue silk ball gown that made me look like whey—’
‘Indeed, Nell, I do not see how I would need anything else!’ Alys said, overwhelmed.
‘Oh, this is nothing, for you will need quite an extensive wardrobe, besides slippers, sandals, silk stockings, gloves … the list is endless. So now, let us go to that popular bazaar where we can obtain that kind of thing at very little cost.’
‘The bazaar?’
‘It is the most wonderful emporium, and though it is not much frequented by theton, a positive Aladdin’s cave of treasures.’
‘That sounds just the thing, but I must not spend too much money until I have spoken to Mr Grimshaw, Letty’s nephew, who has been handling my business affairs. If you recall, he is to visit tomorrow to lay his accounts before me, and then I will have a better idea of how I am fixed. I expect he will bring the gold medallion with him, if Letty has unsewn it from her stays by now.’
Nell giggled. ‘I think she has been pressed bosom to bosom with Neptune for long enough!’
‘Well, shewoulddo it. I must see about returning it to my grandfather.’
‘It is probably very valuable, although it does not sound like the sort of ornament you would want to wear.’
‘All the more reason to return it, for I am very sure I have no right to its possession. I will show it to you when Thomas Grimshaw brings it. He may carry back with him to Letty the revised last chapter of my new book, to be copied out, and then see if he can get a good price from the Minerva Press for it.’
‘Oh, Alys, you are so clever, and I quiteburstto tell everyone that you are a famous author, although I know I must not. But when people are trying to guess who this Orlando Browne might be – and always a man, as though a woman could not do such a thing! – then sometimes I have to keep my lips pressed together.’
‘I pray you continue to do so. If I decide to live in some small quiet town, as I am inclined to do, then I will be thought quite beyond the pale if I am known as the infamous author of such shocking novels asRavish’d by Cruel Fate!’
‘Then let us go and be ravish’d by fashion instead,’ said Nell gaily, and they went out into the weak February sunshine to where the carriage awaited them.
14
Death or Dishonour
Simon immovably barred the way, his burning dark eyes fixed on her face. ‘Cicely,’ he said softly, ‘do not see me as your gaoler, but as your protector.’
Ravish’d by Cruel FatebyORLANDO BROWNE
Thomas Grimshaw presented himself next day and gave her an accounting of her business affairs. He also returned, with an amused smile, the golden ornament that had been sewn into Letty’s stays.
‘My aunt was in a worry that I should be robbed of it on the way here, but of course, how should anyone know that I had any such thing about my person?’
‘Thank you. I suppose I must write to my grandfather and enquire whether it is indeed a Hartwood family heirloom that he would like returned to him. If so, I expect he will send a trusted servant for it, and that will be the end of the matter.’
‘It must be worth a great deal of money for the gold alone,’ Mr Grimshaw suggested.
‘I dare say, but I do not feel that it is mine to dispose of.’ Dismissing the matter, she turned to something that concerned her more: the sum they might receive forRavish’d by Cruel Fate, when Letty had completed her task of copying it all out in a fair hand. ‘And I do not know what I would do without her, for my handwriting is such a scrawl that no one else could read it.’
‘She has told me your plans to set up house together, although she thought probably not in London.’
‘No, I do not think London life would suit me even if I could afford it, which evidently I cannot.’
