Page 61 of Storm of Bells
‘Show us the best of everything you have,’Lady Samantha commanded, in full Marchioness-mode, making my heartswell with love for the old lady. ‘The very best.’
‘I, um, hate to bring up so menial asubject…’ Madame Legrand cleared her throat. ‘But if you would beso kind as to indicate a budget…’
Adaira narrowed her eyes at the woman. ‘Mydear friend Lillian is about to marry Lord Rikkard Ambrose.’
All colour fled from the fake Frenchwoman’sface—amazingly, even the one she’d painted on.
‘You don’t mean…’
‘Yes.TheRikkard Ambrose. Who,incidentally, happens to be my big brother. So, unless you want tobe selling hankies on a street corner tomorrow, you had better stopstalling. There is no budget. The sky is the limit.’
‘Yes, My Lady! Of course, My Lady! I’ll beback directly, My Lady!’
Curtsying repeatedly, Madame Legrand vanishedinto the back room.
Turning towards Adaira and her mother, Ibeamed at them.
‘Have I ever told you two that I loveyou?’
Adaira gave a little queenly wave. ‘By allmeans, don’t stop. I adore basking in the adoration of themasses.’
‘And do you think your brother is going tolove finding out that in regard to the budget of my wedding dress,“the sky is the limit”?’
‘I imagine not.’ Her eyes sparkling, shegazed over at the door to the back room, from whence MadameLegrand’s frantic screeches were issuing, calling for silk andsatin. ‘And, if I know my brother, when he finds out, he will becoming here. And he will be…displeased with the owner of thisestablishment.’
My smile widened until it threatened to splitmy face apart. ‘You, Lady Adaira Louise Jannet Melanie GeorgetteAmbrose, are an evil little witch.’
‘Why, thank you.’
‘Would you like to join my bridesmaidsquadron?’
The joy I saw shining in Adaira’s eyes tuggedat something deep inside me. She grabbed me by the hand. ‘As if I’dlet you go down that aisle without me!’
‘That’s what I like to hear.’
The door to the back room flew open, andMadame Legrand bustled back in, chasing half a dozen hapless juniorseamstresses in front of her.
‘All right, enough talk, Ladies!’ Patsyclapped her hands. ‘Looks like it’s time for the big event!’
Up until that moment, I had never reallyenjoyed fittings—mostly, because they weren’t aptly named. Myderrière always seemed to be insistent on making dresses not quitefit as they were supposed to. This time, however, a dress was beingtailored from the ground up, just for me. And while Madame Legrandwas about as talented at tailoring as a drunken dolphin, herdowntrodden minions were actually quite good at their jobs, andturned out to be surprisingly pleasant, after they’d watched me puttheir boss in her place once or twice.
‘H-here you go, Miss.’ With a shy smile, oneof the girls handed me a strip of blue cloth. I eyed it withtrepidation.
‘What am I supposed to do with this? It’s abit small for a scarf.’
The girl’s eyes went wide. ‘Oh no, Miss! It’snot a scarf. It’s a ribbon. You tie it into your hair, like this.You see?’
‘Why?’ I asked, confounded and genuinelycurious.
‘Err…because it looks pretty?’
‘Ah. You think so?’ I eyed myself criticallyin the closest mirror.
‘Can’t you tell?’
‘Well… how can I put this…’
…over the last two years, most of the timeI spent looking in the mirror was spent thinking: do I look manlyenough? Should I buy myself a fake moustache?
